organic gardening

Organic Gardening And You: Helpful Tips And Advice

~ craigb

TIP! When laying sod, it is important that you do it correctly. Get your soil ready before you lay the sod.

In order to be a good organic gardener, you need to have a lot of patience and a knack for how to take care of plants. It is an enjoyable way to grow your own nutritious foods that are free of pesticides and other harsh chemicals. However, organic gardening obviously isn’t as easy as it might sound. Read the following tips to discover how to begin horticulture like a pro.

TIP! Choose the varieties of plants that will produce a higher yield. There are genetically modified plants that resist cold and/or disease.

When winter arrives, transfer some plants into the house to save them. Choose the plants that are most likely to survive. Dig the plant up without damaging the roots and place it a big enough pot.

TIP! Brighten your garden with biennials and annuals. Annuals and biennials that grow quickly can really wake up your flower beds, and they allow you to have a new garden look every season or every year, if you choose to.

Your soil needs to be of good quality before you start a garden. An inexpensive soil report can be used to adjust soil nutrients to optimum levels, which will ensure your garden thrives. Save yourself the trouble of a failed crop by contacting your local Cooperative Extension to preform the soil test.

TIP! Let your new seeds soak in a dark spot overnight. Soak the seeds by placing them in a container where they are covered with water.

Plants need C02 for maximum growth. Typically, the higher the levels of carbon dioxide present in a plant’s environment, the better it will grow. Greenhouses provide the best levels of CO2 for plants. The levels need to be kept high for optimum greenery growth.

TIP! If you’re a new gardener, it is vital that you follow the instructions when it comes to your chemicals and tools. If you don’t pay good attention, you could wind up with skin irritations or other issues.

When you are mowing your lawn do not cut it too closely to the dirt. If you let your grass keep some height after mowing, it will be able to absorb more sun and moisture resulting in a lusher, greener lawn. Short grass on the other hand is more susceptible to drying out.

TIP! Think about berry-producing trees that are green year round for your garden. These types of trees can offer your garden a splash of color, especially during the winter when all other plants and trees have lost their hues.

Protect your delicate deciduous shrubs from harsh elements. If you have tender shrubs in pots, they need to be protected in the cold weather. Tie these canes at the top, and place a blanket over it. This will work better than wrapping your plant with plastic, because air can still circulate, which will help to prevent rotting.

TIP! Use a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool when you’re working in your garden. In order to relieve stress on your knees when gardening, always use a small garden stool to be more comfortable.

A touch of organic mulch will boost the potential of the vegetable plants in your garden. Mulch will keep soil moist for longer. It will also prevent weeds from sprouting. This could save you lots of weed-pulling time.

TIP! Heat softens vegetables, so you can damage them immensely by pulling them out of the ground or cutting them off vines when it is too hot outside. Do not twist the vegetable to remove it from the vine; instead, cut the stem to avoid damaging the plant.

Purchase a wheelbarrow, and a kneeling stool to use in your garden. Get a portable stool if you want to garden comfortably without damaging your knees. A wheelbarrow will come in handy to easily move dirt, rocks and other heavy objects.

TIP! If you have a high priority for sustainability in your organic gardening, try leaving a corner of the property undeveloped as a mini wildlife refuge. The kind of birds and insects needed for pollination will be naturally present on your property and help with your organic garden.

Before planting any perennials, you have to make the ground ready. Turn over the soil in your garden so it will be soft and easy to plant before spreading wood chips around your garden. Let this sit for a couple weeks, next dig into it to plant your new plants.

TIP! To make the most of your time in the garden, you should store all of your tools and implements in a close, accessible location. You have several options including using a bucket to hold your tools or wearing pants with lots of sturdy pockets.

Do not plant your seeds in a rush. Begin by adding moisture to the dirt. Then, evenly spread the seeds according to the type of plant and how much room they require for good growth. Typically, seeds should be planted at a depth that is equal to three times their size. Some seeds require direct sunlight to grow, and these should be left on top of the soil.

TIP! Get the most out of what you have, and your property. If you are looking for high returns, landscaping gets you a lot of your money back.

To be most efficient in your horticulture, always keep your tools close at hand. You should use a large pail and wear sturdy pants that have several pockets. Have gloves, small shears, a trowel and any other tools you may need on hand to make it simpler to maintain your garden.

TIP! Killing weeds the natural way? Pile newspapers on top of each other to kill weeds. Weeds can’t grow without sunlight.

Use approximately two or three inches of natural, organic material as some mulch in every single flower bed. Not only will you be adding nutrients, but weeds will be less likely to grow and moisture will be retained more easily. It also adds a uniform and cohesive look to the garden.

You can cover your muddied gardening footware easily by keeping plastic bags around. This allows you to keep going, getting back to your garden quickly.

TIP! You need to make a bed that is efficient for your plants. One way to achieve this is to use a garden tool to carve out a small slice of earth.

Consider the climate and season when watering your plants. You will need to water differently depending on what time it is or what kind of soil you are using. In warm climates with high humidity, for instance, plants often develop fungal infections when water is applied to the leaves. Instead focus on watering the root system.

TIP! When determining what you would want to plant in your garden, you should be as specific as possible. There are certain types of vegetables and flowers that may not do well in a particular environment, whereas others will flourish.

A good tip for an organic garden with tomatoes, is to plant an additional set of tomatoes once three weeks have passed since you planted the original ones. Staggering the planting times ensures that you are able to consistently enjoy ripe tomatoes. Also, if something goes wrong during one harvest, all your tomatoes won’t be ruined.

TIP! If you are mulching your plants, you should use a layer of approximately three inches deep. This will conserve water, which will save you money and help the environment at the same time.

Consider the value of the crops you choose to grow. However, different people can have varying opinions as to how much a specific plant is worth. You can actually save money by growing plants that are initially more expensive to buy. So, plant things that you love and enjoy their results.

TIP! Remember to buy plants for your organic garden in an intelligent manner. This is very true of perennials or annuals.

The watering of organic garden plants should be done with care. Test out a soaker hose in your garden. This type of hose has many small holes that allow the water to trickle downward to the plants roots. It also helps to lock in moisture. The best time to water your garden is early in the morning before the sun’s rays get too strong.

TIP! You can be a bit more environmentally friendly by doing things like saving rainwater. To collect rainwater, use rain barrels or buckets.

Conserve your rainwater! Use barrels or buckets to trap rainwater to use in your organic garden. This saves you from paying for extra water to do your watering. Rain is an abundant source of free water! Rainwater also does not contain the added chemicals that tap water has.

TIP! If you want to continue your organic gardening throughout the winter, you can create a tent with materials laying around your home. Make use of old bean poles as you stick them to the edge of your beds.

To succeed at a nature based hobby like organic horticulture, you need a little hard work and a whole lot of patience. However, the tastiness of the produce you grow will be a reward in itself. This article is full of advice that you can use, along with a little old-fashioned hard work, to get off to a great start in organic gardening.

Huge Profits From Growing Your Own Microgarden

~ craigb

TIP! Find some plants that will give you a higher yield. A hybrid designed for your weather, and resistant to local diseases, will give a better yield than non-hybrids.

As the desire to make gardens organic becomes more popular, it is found that the overall holistic lifestyle is starting to be the way to go. People who want to develop a more environmentally friendly attitude may not know where to start to reap the benefits of organic gardening. This article will provide some great tips to help you explore the world of organic gardening.

TIP! If your plants have a powdery mildew, don’t use expensive chemicals on them. Mix some baking soda and a very small amount of liquid soap into water.

Your plants need to adapt and must be gradually introduced to changes in temperature or condition. When starting the transition, leave the plants in the sun for just 1-2 hours. Then over the next week, gradually increase the time they are in their new habitat. By the end of the week, your plants should be ready to make the big move with no problem!

TIP! If you want the best results, you need to choose the right soil. Your soil may not be correct, but it depends on what sorts of plants you want to grow.

It can be very hard to shovel clay soil, especially when it sticks to your shovel as you are working. Simplify the process by putting a bit of wax onto the shovel. The clay won’t stick then. The wax will enable the clay soil to simply slide off the shovel, and will also prevent the shovel from rusting.

TIP! Deciduous shrubs and young trees need to be protected. Cold weather is very hard on these tender shrubs, and potted shrubs should be shielded and protected.

As fall arrives, it is the time to prepare for planting fall edibles. Why not plant lettuce and kale inside a hollowed-out pumpkin? Cut an opening in the pumpkin and scoop the insides out. Then spray the edges and empty inside of the pumpkin with Wilt-Pruf so the pumpkin doesn’t rot. After that, your pumpkin planter is ready to use!

Knee Pads

TIP! A great garden starts from the seeds and not from the plants. Starting from seed is far less harsh on the environment than using plants you buy at the nursery.

If your landscape includes low-growing plants, you should invest in a set of knee pads specifically designed for horticulture. Gardening can really put a lot of pressure on your knees that will leave you cramped and uncomfortable. A set of quality knee pads designed for horticulture can be a world of relief for your central leg joints.

TIP! To grow peas, try growing them indoors first, instead of outside. When the plants are started inside, the seeds will have an easier time germinating.

The best way to start a garden is from first principles: seeds. When you begin a garden, it’s most eco friendly to do so with seed. The planters used to hold nursery plants are generally not made from eco-friendly materials, and thus get thrown into landfills. Starting from seeds, or buying from one of the few nurseries that use biodegradable planters, prevents this.

TIP! Buy a wheelbarrow and kneeling stool to work with in the garden. In order to relieve stress on your knees when gardening, always use a small garden stool to be more comfortable.

Spread a little bit of organic mulch, around two inches worth, in and about each vegetable plant. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch. It will also prevent weeds from popping up around your plants. This can prevent you from having to constantly pull weeds.

Produce Berries

TIP! Prior to working in the garden, make sure any cuts on your hands heal completely, or shield any cuts from contact with chemicals and dirt. Your cut could get infected if you’re dealing with grime and dirt when gardening.

Think about planting evergreen plants that will produce berries in the backyard. This will allow your garden to have color, even in the dreary winter months. Some examples of evergreens that produce berries and color in the wintertime are the American Holly, Cranberrybush, the Winterberry and the Common Snowberry.

TIP! Having a garden of perennials can be an easy and quick process. Simply slice into the ground with a spade, flip the top layer of soil, and then cover it with several inches of wood chips.

It can be tough to keep insects and other plant-ruining crawlies from infesting your garden. Don’t spray harsh chemicals since they will spoil your veggies. Persistence and care is a much better solution for pest control, but many avoid it because it actually requires some work on their behalf. When pests are noticed early, the best way to get rid of them is to remove then from the plants by hand.

TIP! Plant your seeds carefully, taking your time. To begin with, you need to dampen the soil sufficiently.

Use only pesticides designed to kill the specific type of pest in your garden, and avoid the broad-spectrum kind. These pesticides will kill every type of pest in your garden, including beneficial bugs that eat garden pests. Useful insects are more sensitive to these pesticides than the pests, so by killing them, you could be growing your pest population. If this happens, you just fuel an expanding cycle of needing even more pesticides.

TIP! Pine makes a much better mulch than you might think. Some garden plants have a higher acidity, and prefer a more acidic soil.

Scent the grass around your garden with old perfume or discarded aftershave to prevent your dog from wandering into your garden. This will mask the garden smell that is attracting your dog, and it will make it a less appealing place for your dog to visit.

TIP! Is there a natural way to kill weeds? Try using several newspaper layers to control weeds. Weeds can only grow when there is adequate sunlight.

If you are gardening with a cut, make sure that you adequately protect it from dirt and chemicals. A cut that has come into contact with extraneous materials like dirt can become seriously infected. However, there are bandages available that will seal the cut completely. Using these should protect the cut from any infection while gardening.

TIP! Too much water can be harmful to your plants because the excess water can hinder the ability of the roots to acquire nutrients from the soil. Before watering plants outdoors, check with some weather stations to find out if it will rain anytime during the day.

Prepare the ground for a perennial garden quickly and easily. Using a garden spade, dig underneath the turf and flip it. Then, create a layer of wood chips at least three inches deep over the area you just flipped. Give the area a couple of weeks, then dig into it and plant your new perennials.

TIP! Try cultivating organic gardening. Plant some individual garlic cloves into well-drained soil in early spring.

One of the most important things to consider when plotting your garden is to make note of your available space. It is easy to underestimate the amount of space that the plants will take up once they start to grow. Your plants will need the space not only because of their physical size, but also because the space will provide air circulation for the garden. Plan your garden accordingly, and make sure the right distance is between the seeds.

TIP! Plant twice- three weeks after planting tomatoes in the organic garden, plant more seeds. You will not have to harvest the tomatoes at the same time.

When planting seeds you should cover them with fine soil. Determine its depth by looking at the seed’s size and multiplying it by three. Some seeds need to be in direct sunlight, though, so you need to know information about each type of seed. These seeds include petunias and ageratum. The directions for how to handle the seeds will usually be found on the seed’s package. You can also find this information online.

TIP! When you think about how you want to water your garden, look into a soaker hose, this is the best option available to you. This type of hose allows you to water roots directly without wetting the plants’ leaves.

Use these tips and think about some ideas of your own. Organic horticulture can become a part of your life. This article is just the tip of the ice-berg when it comes to organic gardening information.

Organic Horticulture Can Be Easier Than You Think

~ craigb

TIP! While working in your garden during the fall season, watch out for those stink bugs! These destructive pests enjoy many kinds of fruit, as well as beans, peppers and tomatoes. If left uncontrolled, they can cause substantial damage in your garden, so make plans for how to protect your plants from these pests.

As the trend of organic horticulture becomes more popular, so do holistic lifestyles. People who are part of this lifestyle will often need to grow their own herbs for the best health benefits, and these plants should be grown organically. Check out fantastic organic gardening tips here in this article.

TIP! You could try to boil weeds if you are trying to remain organic. The safest herbicide that you can use in your garden is a simple pot of boiling water.

Use the handles of your tools as a handy ruler when doing your outdoor chores. Large handled tools such as shovels, rakes, and hoes can be used as measuring sticks. Place the handles on the floor, then set a measuring tape alongside them. Label the distances with a permanent marker. When the need arises to measure something while in your garden, the measuring tool you need will literally be “on hand,” sketched into the handles of your tools.

TIP! Ensuring your plants are both dry and aerated is a great way to keep them healthy. Moisture not only attracts parasites, but also makes it easier for your plants to contract diseases.

Plant some perennials in your garden that repel slugs. Snails and slugs are garden nightmares, and only need a single evening to obliterate a plant. These pests are particularly fond of young perennials and those varieties with leaves that are tender, smooth, and thin. Some perennials aren’t that tasty to snails and slugs since they have tough and hairy leaves, and an unappetizing flavor. Several good choices include heuchera, campanula, achillea, and euphorbia.

TIP! Make sure to fertilize your garden. Manure is great in enabling plants to grow, although it’s vital to use commercially composted products in order to lessen the risk of a variety of pathogens.

Use climbers to cover walls and fences. Climbing plants are known to be very versatile, and can help hide any ugly wall or fence, and this often only takes one growing season. They may also grow through tress and shrubs that are already grown, or you can train them to cover your arbor. Some require a support, while other climbers attach to surfaces using twining stems or tendrils. Trusted variations of climbers are honeysuckle, jasmine, clematis, wisteria and climbing roses.

TIP! Use natural pest control when possible. Slugs stay away from marigolds and onions when they are planted in a garden.

When winter comes around, save some plants by putting them in the house. It’s a good idea to save any expensive plants or those that will thrive in indoor heat. Dig carefully around the roots and transfer the plants to a pot.

Carbon Dioxide

TIP! Learn the appropriate time to pick different vegetables. Individual vegetables have distinct windows of time to pick for getting the greatest flavors.

For proper optimum growth, plants require sufficient amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). Typically, the higher the levels of carbon dioxide present in a plant’s environment, the better it will grow. A greenhouse has the best levels available. For the best growing conditions you should keep the CO2 levels high.

TIP! Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides in the garden. Besides killing the insects you don’t want, this type of pesticide will also kill beneficial insects.

When horticulture in the fall, you need to be watching for stink bugs. They love to inhabit peppers, beans, tomatoes and all kinds of fruit varieties. If you do not check, they do a lot of damage to plants so try to get rid of them if you can.

TIP! Be sure to plant using the colors of Fall. However, that does not have to be the case! If you plan properly, you can make your fall garden the most colorful time of the year.

When it’s autumn, you know what that means. It’s time to plant fall vegetables! Try something different by planing kale or lettuce inside a pumpkin, instead of using the planter pots you traditionally use. Cut an opening in the pumpkin and scoop the insides out. Then spray the edges and empty inside of the pumpkin with Wilt-Pruf so the pumpkin doesn’t rot. Finished? Now you’re all set for planting!

Toxic Pesticides

TIP! Add some heather plants to your garden, to attract good insects. Heather will attract bees early in the spring as well as other beneficial insects.

Avoid using broad-spectrum pesticides in your garden. It’s true these pesticides kill the pests you don’t want, but they also lay waste to the advantageous insects that make those same pests a regular meal. Beneficial insects are more susceptible to toxic pesticides than their annoying counterparts, so a broad-spectrum pesticide could kill all of the good bugs first, allowing the population of bad pests to multiply. As a result, gardeners often have to resort to using more toxic pesticides to get rid of garden pests.

TIP! If you have children, plant strawberries, especially everbearing strawberries, in your organic garden. Small kids enjoy picking fruit themselves out of a garden.

Gardening is an excellent relaxation tactic. You can relax and be at peace in many different ways. Gardening is at the top of the list of ways to relax for many people. It requires a small monetary investment and has numerous returns. One particularly enjoyable return is the pride you will feel when you grow your own food.

TIP! If you’re working to build a sustainable organic garden, try leaving a portion of your garden untouched so that the wildlife will be able to thrive. This will also benefit your cultivated gardens as it will attract more bugs and birds to pollinate your other plants.

In the middle of the day the vegetables have softened, which means they are easily damaged. See to it that you cut their connection to the vine as opposed to twisting them, because twisting could hurt the plant.

TIP! When growing indoor plants, the thermostat should be set between 65-75 degrees throughout the day. Plants require a warmer climate to grow.

Protecting your knees while you are horticulture is very important. Bending over for a long while is quite difficult for a lot of people. You can get to your plants without straining your back if you kneel in your working area. A knee pad can be placed under your knees to protect them from damage and strain while you are working.

TIP! A great tip when running your own organic garden, is to lightly ruffle your seedlings with your hand or cardboard, around once or twice per day. This probably sounds like an odd recommendation, but research has shown that this technique encourages more plant growth, than no petting at all.

If you have recently sustained a cut, you should allow it to heal entirely before toiling in your garden. If you simply cannot wait to get back to gardening, you should at least cover the cut to protect it. A cut could get infected if it gets in contact with grime and dirt in the garden. Get the appropriate bandages to seal the cut completely.

TIP! Organic gardening has been made much easier! Make use of flowers, native grasses, and bushes in your landscaping. When you choose plants that can work with your soil type, climate and nearby plants, you can reduce the need of fertilizers and other aids.

Just as when outside, plants kept inside need varying degrees of sunlight, which can be harder to obtain from indoors. If your windows are small or receive little light due to their positioning, a plant that requires little sunlight will be more comfortable and healthy. If the type of plant does not help, you can always use lights to help.

TIP! Plant your organic garden in the shade. These kinds of gardens are usually low in maintenance, which a lot of individuals like to hear.

Make sure you have some plastic bags around so that you can cover any muddy gardening shoes you have. You will be able to go in and out without having to keep taking your shoes on and off.

Green Plant Material

TIP! There are many effective ways to use mulch in your gardening projects. Mulching also helps lessen water evaporation in your soil and it keeps the weeds away.

Use equal parts dried and green plant material for your own compost. Examples of green plant material are spent flowers, fruit and vegetable waste, grass clippings, weeds, and leaves. Your dried material can be things such as sawdust, paper shreds, wood shavings, straw and cardboard. Don’t throw charcoal, meat or manure into your compost.

TIP! Water is essential to maintaining a vibrant garden. Just like people do, plants need to have water in order to live.

Mulch should be added to your flower bed and garden using at least 3 inches of material that is organic. Doing this will nourish the soil in your garden and improve its ability to retain moisture. It will also prevent weeds from growing, which will make your garden look neater and more attractive.

TIP! If you have a snail problem, spray them with some water that has ammonia mixed into it. Your valuable plants will not be hurt by the ammonia.

By obtaining a greater number of organic gardening ideas, you will soon find the process to be increasingly effortless. This article is just the tip of the ice-berg when it comes to organic horticulture information.

Organic Horticulture Tips That Will Help You Get A Better Garden!

~ craigb

TIP! Insects and various garden pests can be avoided by making your soil healthy. Healthier plants are greater in strength and resistance to illness and insects.

Organic horticulture is as old as human cultivation but many people are just discovering the benefits. With the application of the simple, yet effective advice in this article, you should soon be able to cultivate your own flourishing organic garden. Read on to discover some helpful tips and learn how to take advantage of them.

TIP! While caring for your garden in the fall, you will want to keep a lookout for stinkbugs. This insect will gladly devour your tomatoes, beans, and peppers, as well as a variety of other fruits.

Before you even start planting the garden, check the soil. For a small fee, a soil analysis can be obtained – based on that report – the soil can be properly enriched to support a vibrant garden. The cost of the analysis will be easily offset by the benefits of a healthy and vibrant crop.

TIP! Take all of the weeds out of your landscaping! Weeds will cause your garden to become overgrown and cluttered. White vinegar can be used as a natural herbicide.

In order for plants to grow, they must have enough CO2. The majority of plants grow much better when CO2 levels are at their highest. A greenhouse has the best levels available. When it is exposed to high carbon dioxide levels, a plant has the best growing condition possible.

TIP! Bulbs planted in the spring can flower all the way into summer. Typically, bulbs are simple to grow, and they’ll grow every single year.

There are grass varieties, such as wheat grass or catnip, that will give your feline something to nibble on besides your garden. Try putting mothballs or citrus on your soil to wards pets away.

TIP! You can keep pests away from your garden by using other plants or natural materials. For example, if you plant onions or marigolds along the edges of your vegetable garden, you can ward off slugs.

You can prevent pests from invading your garden with certain plants and natural materials. Onions and marigolds can get rid of pests in the garden. Wood ash, when used like mulch, can keep away pests after it is spread around a tree base and shrub seedlings. You will be able to stay away from harsh chemical based pesticides by incorporating these techniques into your gardening.

TIP! Use care when you are watering the garden. Use a type of soaker hose so that you don’t need to do individual waterings with the hose nozzle, or be refilling a watering can constantly.

Don’t use pesticides that aren’t meant to kill specific types of garden pests. These pesticides will also kill any beneficial insects that consume the pests you are trying to get rid of. Useful insects are more sensitive to these pesticides than the pests, so by killing them, you could be growing your pest population. If you respond to the growing pest problem with more broad-spectrum pesticide, you only continue the harmful cycle.

TIP! In the hottest time of the day, most vegetables are less firm; even the act of harvesting the veggies may cause bruising. Twisting could cause plant damage, so ensure that produce is removed by cutting only.

The warmth of the day can make vegetables soft, making them more prone to damage as you pick them. Make sure to chop the vegetables off the vine, but be careful not to twist them. Twisting can actually damage the plant.

TIP! Keep your plants in a warm, moist environment, if possible. Plants need to be in an environment that is neither too warm nor too cool for them to grow.

Take care of your knees when you’re gardening. For most people, bending over while horticulture is too difficult. If you have trouble with this, kneel instead of bending while horticulture. For extra comfort, purchase a knee pad for use as a cushion between your knees and the ground.

TIP! It’s simple to lay a new perennial bed. Take your spade and work up a thin layer of soil.

One way to help your organic garden thrive is to leave an undeveloped area that is conducive to the wildlife around your area. This is a great natural way to allow the insects and animals found in nature to assist with the growth of your garden.

TIP! When working in the garden, try to work as efficiently as possible. Don’t waste your time by searching high and low for that packet of seeds or spade.

Is there a natural way to kill weeds? Layer sheets of newspaper on the surface of areas where you are trying to control weeds. Without exposure to the sun, weeds cannot thrive. Newspapers placed atop weeds will starve them from light and they will eventually die. Newspapers also decompose fairly quickly, and mix with your garden soil. Add a layer of mulch on top to make it look more attractive!

TIP! If you have problem slugs in your organic garden, get rid of them naturally with a beer trap. Place a container in the ground so that the lip is even with the soil surface.

Organic foods do not possess any pesticides on them. While this is good for your family’s health, you will want to be sure to check even more for bugs and other pests.

TIP! Mulch your garden to keep the soil nourished. A couple of inches of mulch will protect what lies beneath it.

Horticulture, especially organic horticulture, helps you feel more “at one” with the earth. Organic gardening is an excellent lesson in the plant life cycle and how to get the most from the planting process.

TIP! Use a few inches of organic materials to mulch your flowerbed or garden. The soil will be nourished and will be able to retain more moisture.

Rotate the plants that you grow each year by switching up where you plant them. Fungus and disease are more likely to affect plants if they stay in the same location for long periods of time, especially if they belong to the same family. Plants of the same type will be vulnerable the next season. Different plants have different immunities and vulnerabilities. Changing what you plant where will naturally stave off fungus and disease.

TIP! If you’re trying to decide how to water the plants in your organic garden, consider a soaker hose. The water oozes out of the hoses, and it goes directly to the roots of the plants without watering everything around them, including the leaves.

Mulch should be added to your flower bed and garden using at least 3 inches of material that is organic. This will retain moisture in the soil as well as provide nourishment. It also inhibits weed growth, resulting in a tidier presentation of your organic garden.

TIP! If organic gardening is something you desire to do, it’s critical that you are aware of the proper method to make beds. The first thing to do is use a spade and cut under the turf.

Buy a soaker hose if you plan to plant an organic garden. The water seeps slowly out of these hoses and can be directed straight to the roots so that the leaves stay dry. Soaker hoses do not waste as much water as sprinklers but are still easier than hand-watering the organic garden.

Rganic Methods

TIP! Know which plants to buy for your organic garden. This is especially important when buying annual or perennial plants.

When working in the garden, know exactly what you are using. Try natural or organic alternatives to the usual chemical fertilizers. One good example is compost. One advantage to using organic gardening methods as opposed to non-organic methods is that non-organic methods have a small chance of reducing soil quality or poisoning the water table.

TIP! You should think about digging small channels between the rows of plants in your organic garden. This will help water flow directly to your plants so that they do not require watering as frequently.

When deciding which plants you want to focus your organic gardening efforts on, you should be as specific as possible. Some flowers and vegetables require specific types of soil, a certain moisture level, and direct or indirect sun exposure. Each type of rose may need different types of environments, for example. So, be sure to choose the specific varieties that are most suited for your planting environment.

TIP! Bees, like bumble bees, are very good assets to your garden. However, there are a few types of bees that you do not want to have around.

You have to be patient to create a perfect organic garden. Following the suggestions outlined above should help you get your organic garden off the ground more effectively. Just remember to apply these tips as you have read them and your garden should do just fine.

Improve The Look Of Your Yard With This Useful Advice.

~ craigb

TIP! Cover fences and walls with climbing plants. They can be used to cover up unsightly fences or walls.

Horticulture lets you grow beautiful flowers and fresh vegetables just outside your door. There’s nothing better than eating fresh veggies in your salad. You will get some great ideas on how to get the most enjoyment out of a garden in the following paragraphs.

TIP! When fall is here, you need to plant autumn edibles. Try planting your fall veggies, especially leafy greens, inside of a pumpkin! You simply need to cut off the top, scoop out the guts, and spray your pumpkin with Wilt-Pruf.

Slug-proof your garden with smart perennial choices. Slugs and snails are voracious eaters that can destroy a plant literally overnight. Young plants with susceptible leaves are favorite meals for slugs, including those with smoother or thinner leaves. Slugs and snails will leave some perennials alone, particularly those with a bad taste or tough, hairy leaves. Some of examples of these are achillea, heuchera, campanula, helleborus, and euphorbia.

TIP! In a dark area, pre-soak your seeds overnight. Place a couple of seeds in a tiny container, and fill it with water nearly to the top.

Plant bulbs if you want spring and summer flowers. Bulbs are one of the easiest plants to grow and are hardy perennials that return each year. If you choose your plants carefully, you could have flowers in blossom from the first weeks of spring to the end of the summer.

TIP! As you cut your grass, do not trim it too low to the ground. If you let your grass keep some height after mowing, it will be able to absorb more sun and moisture resulting in a lusher, greener lawn.

When the fall season approaches, you must prepare to plant your favorite fall veggies and other edibles. Instead of using regular clay pots this year for planting lettuce and kale, try a pumpkin container instead! After cutting an opening and removing the meat and seeds from inside the pumpkin, use Wilt-Pruf, sprayed throughout the inside and cut edges, and prevent rot from occurring. After that, your pumpkin planter is ready to use!

Knee Pads

TIP! Balance your alkaline soil with the acid found in used coffee grounds. This affordable trick will give back the acid that your dirt requires.

If your landscape includes low-growing plants, you should invest in a set of knee pads specifically designed for gardening. Without pads, you may have pain in your knees from spending too much time kneeling on the hard ground. Buy yourself a pair of knee pads to use in the garden to cushion and protect your knees.

TIP! For weeds that aren’t in the middle of your plants, use boiling water to kill their roots. The safest herbicide that you can use in your garden is a simple pot of boiling water.

Being a novice gardener, you should ensure that you follow the directions carefully for tool and chemical use. It may seem simple enough, but not following it could lead to chemical burns and skin irritations. Keep yourself safe and always follow instructions.

TIP! You should make sure to divide your irises. To increase the number that you have, you need to take all your overgrown clumps and split them up.

Controlling pests can be quite challenging when trying to grow a healthy, hardy vegetable garden. It is important not to use harmful chemical agents, because you are growing produce that is intended to be eaten. Instead of resorting to these harmful chemicals, you can keep garden pests at bay simply by paying close attention. Taking the pests off of the plants by hand is one of the best fixes if you are able to catch the infestation in its early stages.

TIP! Using natural materials in the garden will keep pests away. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your garden will repel slugs.

To help them out, try poring leftover water from steamed vegetables on them. You may fertilize the soil with tea or coffee for plants that favor acidic environments, like rhododendrons and gardenias. Chamomile tea is a natural way to rid your plants of a persistent fungus.

Beneficial Bugs

TIP! Mixing a variety of plants at different heights is how you can make a very interesting English garden. You should avoid using plants of the same height so that your flower bed doesn’t look flat and uniform.

Use only pesticides designed to kill the specific type of pest in your garden, and avoid the broad-spectrum kind. Broad-spectrum pesticides will kill insects that are helpful to your garden as well as the harmful ones. Beneficial bugs usually have more sensitivity towards pesticides than bad ones. Therefore, if the number of beneficial bugs drops, the problem with pests can get bigger. This can cause you to use an additional amount of pesticides in order to attempt to fix this problem.

TIP! Maximize your time by keeping your tools close. Keep the tools in a big bucket, or store them in strong pockets in your pants.

Horticulture can be a relaxing hobby. Many hobbies can help you to relax and attain inner peace. Gardening on a sunday afternoon is a simple method of making this happen. While you do have to invest a little bit of money, the returns on that are huge. Great satisfaction will come from raising produce and flowers in your own environment.

Wear Sunscreen

TIP! When planting seeds in containers, remember that the planting depth should be around three times bigger than the seed size. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried.

When horticulture outdoors, you must always wear sunscreen and appropriate attire; this will help to protect you from sun damage. Wear sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses. When you keep your eyes and skin properly protected, you are less likely to get a sunburn. You also lower your risk in developing cancer of the skin.

TIP! Though organic farming can present challenges that traditional farming with the use of chemicals does not, harvesting the crops is reward itself for the hard work. Chemicals are extremely efficient, but the organic method is the best way to get healthy produce.

Heat softens vegetables, so you can damage them immensely by pulling them out of the ground or cutting them off vines when it is too hot outside. See to it that you cut their connection to the vine as opposed to twisting them, because twisting could hurt the plant.

TIP! The growth of organic garlic is simple. Garlic cloves should be planted in the spring or fall.

If you are planning to grow plants within the house, the temperature should be maintained between 65 and 75 degrees within the daylight hours. They need the temperature to be that warm so that they can grow. If you don’t want you house to be really warm during the cold season, you could use a heat lamp on organic plants instead.

TIP! You can simply make a newer garden for perennials with a few steps. Lift the top layer of turf with your spade, flip it, then cover the exposed soil with three or more inches of mulch.

Use several inches of organic materials for mulch in your flower beds. This is a simple method of discouraging weeds, retaining moisture, and adding excellent nutrients into the garden. This will also give a nice, professional appearance to your garden all year.

TIP! When working in the garden, know exactly what you are using. Make use of organic compounds or natural solutions instead of commercial fertilizers.

Organic gardening is harder than relying on chemicals, but the results are worth it. Though the use of chemicals has its own benefits, organic farming is a rewarding experience that ends with natural, healthy produce.

TIP! Weeds are a plague to any garden. You can use this to kill weeds in your garden and keep it organic.

Try cultivating organic gardening. Cloves should be planted whole during the fall or early spring months. Garlic grows best in soil that retains moisture but drains well. Plant the cloves one to two inches beneath the soil about four inches apart and with the pointed end up. You can cut the green shoots as they are growing and use them in your cooking. You know your bulbs are ready when they turn brown on their tops. You should dry them outside in a sunny spot for a couple of days to harden the skin. Finally, store the garlic in an area with low temperatures like a pantry, either by themselves or tied into bunches.

TIP! Make sure you place your trees so that they shade your home. Trees that throw shade on your home during the hot summer months can be an important ally in reducing energy costs.

Gardening is a relaxing hobby that will produce delicious vegetables and sweet fruit. This is a more natural and cheaper way of getting your food. Use the advice in this article to optimize your efforts in the garden and yield amazing results.

Tips And Advice For Making Your Garden Grow

~ craigb

TIP! Pick your plants with an eye to maximize the yield you can get. A disease-resistant hybrid plant can be a good option to consider over a more traditional variety due to its tendency to produce higher yields.

Successful organic horticulture requires the use of some particular methods and techniques. In order to use these methods, all you have to do is learn a little bit about them.

TIP! Start your plant in pots before you plant them in your garden. This boosts the chance that the plants can survive to adulthood.

Climbing plants and vines are great for covering fences and wall structures. Many climbers can cover the wall or fence in as little as one growing season. They may grow up through some existing shrubs and trees, and can even be worked to grow around an arbor. Some types of climbers support themselves naturally through twining stems or tendrils, but others will have to be attached to something. Honeysuckle and jasmine are very beautiful varieties of such climbers.

TIP! Do not plant perennials that are prone to snail infestation. Snails and slugs can do irreparable damage to your garden in a single night.

Your soil needs to be of good quality before you start a garden. You can obtain a soil analysis for a nominal fee. Using that report, you can amend your soil as needed for a thriving garden. Before you ruin any crops, make sure you do this. Soil can be analyzed at a lot of cooperative extension offices, so make sure you plan accordingly.

TIP! Remove your garden’s weeds! Weeds and gardens do not mix; they will destroy your garden. To help with the removal, you can use white vinegar.

Don’t mow your grass too short. If you leave your grass kind of high, your roots will be deeper and your lawn will be stronger and not dry out. If you have short grass, you will have short roots and you will dry out your grass.

TIP! If you’re growing veggies in the garden, they need to be in a spot that lets them get about six hours of sun daily. If you neglect this, it is likely that you will notice slow growth and reduced quality in your vegetables This is true of some flowers.

If growing vegetables, make sure they are in a location in your garden where they will be exposed daily to at least six hours of the sun. If you neglect this, it is likely that you will notice slow growth and reduced quality in your vegetables This is true for flowers as well.

TIP! If your garden requires a lot of low work, then save yourself some strain by investing in knee pads. Long hours tending your garden can leave your knees sore and achy.

If you are considering planting a garden take the time to plan it out. Doing this makes it easier to keep track of where you planted what when you first start to see sprouts. The plan will also help you keep track of your more diminutive plants and smaller groups that could otherwise become lost among a sea of larger plantings.

TIP! You could try to boil weeds if you are trying to remain organic. Boiling water in a pot is a safe “herbicide.

Fertilize your garden. Manure helps your plants grow. Make sure you use a product that is commercially composted so you don’t risk adding pathogens to your garden. The options for fertilizing are vast and include environmentally sound choices, so no matter which you choose, just be sure to use one.

TIP! If you cut your hand, you can use a glove to protect it from germs and chemicals until it heals. Cuts have a much higher likelihood of getting infected if they are in contact with dirt when you garden.

Purchase a wheelbarrow, and a kneeling stool to use in your garden. It’s rough on your knees to spend lots of time on the ground kneeling or squatting. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a portable, lightweight garden stool on hand. Also, gardening can involve a lot of heavy lifting and moving items, therefore a robust wheelbarrow can make that aspect much easier.

TIP! When your plants begin to sprout, they can survive in somewhat cooler temperatures. You should move your sprouted plants farther from the heat when they are past the sprouting stage.

The water that is leftover from the steamed vegetables is great to pour over them. If you have rhododendrons or gardenias, use coffee and tea grounds to acidify the soil. Spray your plants with a 9:1 mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide to eliminate fungus without harming your plants.

TIP! Pine can make a great mulch. There are many common acidic plants that prefer acidic soil.

Be smart about how you water your garden. A soaker hose will save you time because you won’t have to individually water each plant, like you do with a regular nozzle, or a can that you need to constantly refill. Keeping the water pressure low on your soaking hose will help avoid harm to tender plants. Keep the water turned on for about two hours; while your plants are being watered, you will have time for other activities.

TIP! Procrastination leads to problems in a variety of areas, including organic gardening. If you can’t get out in your garden every day, there are still a number of things you can do to keep things from falling into disarray during your absence.

You can spray scents such as after-shave and cologne around your garden to deter your dog. This covers up the smells that bring dogs to gardens in the first place, which means dogs are less likely to enter the garden.

TIP! Use mulch to enhance the health of your soil. Mulch acts as a protective covering for the soil.

The sun can cause irreparable skin damage; therefore, it is essential to dress accordingly when gardening. Pair sunglasses with wide-brimmed hats and a dab of sunblock. If you properly protect yourself from the sun, you will not get a sun burn and you will decrease your risk of getting skin cancer.

TIP! One of the benefits of organic produce over commercial produce is that it is not spayed with any toxic pesticides. Although this is better for your health, you do need to check organic produce for infestation of bugs before eating it.

Planted flowers will benefit from organic materials that are built up to as much as three inches. This will discourage weeds from growing, add nutrients, and retain the moisture in your garden. Also, the flower beds will look beautifully maintained at all times.

Pine Needles

TIP! You are aware of how helpful compost is in growing your organic garden, but do you have any idea what is actually in it? Compost is actually a mixture of grass clippings, wood-chips, leaves, produce scraps, twigs, and straw which all breaks down to “psuedo-soil”. You want to use this type of fertilizer as opposed to one that is commercial.

Pine needles make a great organic mulch. Some plants need acidic soil to grow properly, because of their own acid content. If you have acid loving plants, use pine needles as a mulch. Cover your beds with the needles, as they will decompose and disperse their acid throughout the soil.

TIP! An effective way of organic gardening is to grow produce that costs a lot to purchase at the grocery store. Of course, a particular plant’s value will be subjective.

Get more profits from your property. You can get a very high return from improving your home through landscaping. Investing in the right plants could raise the resale value of your property by at least 20%. Select plants and shrubs that won’t require a lot of ongoing maintenance and will adapt well to your climate.

TIP! Make sure any trees you plant near your home are located to provide optimal shade for your home. Your trees can provide natural cooling by shading your house.

If you are starting your seedlings out in small containers, you should use a layer of potting soil that is three times as deep as the size of a single seed. However, it is important to understand that some seeds require sunlight and should never be covered. Some common examples include ageratum and petunias. The directions for how to handle the seeds will usually be found on the seed’s package. You can also find this information online.

TIP! A terrific way to deter bugs from your organic garden is to plant garlic in several places. The pungent aroma will repel many of those pesky insects.

Organic gardening is a relaxing hobby that will give you a great sense of satisfaction. When you garden organically, you see the entire process from the beginning to the end. The whole process becomes more clear, and you appreciate all the earth offers you.

TIP! Adequate mulch in your garden does a lot to cut down on water use. The more mulch you use, the less you need to water the plants.

Mulch should be added to your flower bed and garden using at least 3 inches of material that is organic. Doing this will nourish the soil in your garden and improve its ability to retain moisture. It will also prevent weeds from growing, which will make your garden look neater and more attractive.

TIP! There are many types of bees, most of which are beneficial to your garden, such as the bumble bee who help keep plants pollinated. There are a few out there that can do more harm than good.

Just about anyone who wants to plant a garden can plant one, but only those who truly understand what it takes will be successful. Be sure to try out these organic gardening ideas.

Grow And Take Care Of Healthy Plants With These Tips

~ craigb

TIP! If you work with clay soil, you have probably found using a shovel very frustrating and exhausting. Use a thin coat of floor or car wax on your shovel, then buff it with a nice clean cloth to make dealing with clay soil easier.

To have the most success with your garden, you need to take care of it. This is where you need to think smart about organic gardening. By employing your knowledge you will be able to more efficiently and reliably produce healthy, tasty food. Read on to learn the basics of managing your organic garden.

TIP! Choose plants that will give you the most yield at harvest time. A lot of times a hybrid that will tolerate cold weather or disease will give you a higher output than heirlooms.

Learn the proper way to lay sod. Be sure to get your soil prepared before you start laying the new sod. Be sure to get rid of any weeds, and then proceed to break up the soil to get it ready to use. Lightly, but firmly compress the soil, making certain it is flat. The soil should always receive adequate moisture. The optimum layout of sod rows is to stagger them with offset joints. After the sod has been flattened to an even surface, you can use soil to fill any remaining gaps. Water the sod every day for a couple of weeks. Then it should be rooted well and ready for foot traffic.

TIP! Keep an eye open for stink bugs in your garden, especially during the fall months. Stink bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and all sorts of fruit.

Shoveling soil that is mostly clay can be difficult because of the hardness of the soil, and because it sticks to the shovel. One way to get around this problem is to coat the shovel with wax. Use a clean cloth to spread the wax evenly. The wax will prevent any rusting, and the shovel will cut through the soil with great ease.

TIP! When it’s autumn, it’s time to start planting all of your fall edibles. Rather than putting standard clay vessels into use when planting crops of lettuce and kale, think about using pumpkins instead.

Start your plants in containers, and then transplant the seedlings into the garden later on. This can give your seedlings the advantage they need to survive and reach adulthood. In addition, it offers you a smaller time frame between plantings. You will have healthy seedlings that are ready to be planted when you get rid of old plants.

Baking Soda

TIP! When you are gardening out in the sun, wear the proper clothing so that you do not get any type of sun damage. Put on some sunglasses, sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat.

You do not need store-bought chemical treatments for plant mildew. A great home remedy is to mix baking soda with water and a little bit of liquid soap. Spray this onto your plants about once per week or until it subsides. Baking soda will effectively remove the mildew without damaging your plants.

TIP! Top all your garden beds with several inches of organic mulch. A thick layer of mulch will prevent weeds, reduce watering needs and fertilize your garden.

When you’re out and about in the garden, particularly in the fall, keep an eye out for sink bugs. They like to feast on all kinds of fruits, as well as peppers, tomatoes, and beans. If kept unchecked they can certainly do a ton of a damage to your garden so you should do what you need to to reduce their population.

TIP! A rule of thumb for when you are planting seeds in containers is to make the hole depth around three times larger than the seed itself. But, is important to realize the some seeds ought not be covered, as they need complete exposure to sun.

If you want your garden to blossom with flowers throughout the spring and summer, plant some bulbs in it. Bulbs are one of the easiest plants to grow and are hardy perennials that return each year. Different bulbs will bloom during different time periods. Therefore, if you select your bulbs correctly, you could have blooms in your garden for all of spring and summer.

TIP! If you’d like to create a raised bed, use materials like brick, stone, or untreated wood. If you choose wood, it needs to be naturally rot resistant and untreated.

Make sure air can circulate around your plants, and keep leaves moisture-free. Excess moisture on a plant will invite unwanted parasites or diseases to the plant. An example of a common plant parasite is fungi. Proactively treat fungi through the use of fungicidal sprays and treatments.

TIP! Organic gardening may sometimes require more effort than resorting to chemicals, but the payoff in the end is well worth the work. While the chemical companies claim great benefits, organic gardening will always provide the most rewarding and healthy crops.

Separate irises. You can create additional irises by splitting up irises that are growing into each other’s space. When the foliage dies it’s time to lift the bulbous irises out of the ground. You will be able to split the bulb easily and replant it to get more flowers next year. Use a knife to divide the rhizomes. New pieces should be cut from the outside, then the old center you want to discard. Be sure to retain a sturdy offshoot on every piece that you intend to plant. The quicker you can replant your cuttings, the better chances they will reappear next season.

TIP! One thing that sets organic gardening apart from conventional gardening is that commercial pesticides are not used. Though this is certainly a great thing for the health of your loved ones, it is important to watch for additional pests and insects that may be present.

Place a few inches of organically based mulch around your vegetable plants. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch. It will also dramatically decrease weed growth. That helps you save a great deal of effort and time in weed eradication.

Involve your children in horticulture. An organic garden will help your child learn more about plants and insects, and it’s a wonderful bonding time while growing healthy produce.

TIP! Using a soaker hose to water the garden is probably your best choice. As the water slowly seeps out of the hose, it is directed right to the plant roots so the leaves do not get wet.

Strawberries are a good organic garden choice for families with strawberries, particularly everbearing strawberries. You will find that they enjoy participating in horticulture if they are allowed to pluck the fresh berries and eat them straight from the earth.

TIP! Think carefully about any product you buy to use in your garden. Make use of organic compounds or natural solutions instead of commercial fertilizers.

Gardeners who are intrigued by the ideas of organic and sustainable methods should think about designating a portion of their landscape to support native plants and animals. You will then find that the wildlife that can help you create a garden that can flourish become present; from birds to insects, they’ll be around your garden and help your produce grow better.

TIP! The organic mulch around trees and flowers should be approximately three inches deep. Using this much mulch prevents plants from drying out too quickly, which in turn lowers your water bill, while also preventing overuse of our municipal water supplies.

Organic gardening is a great way to improve your diet naturally. It is a good source of fresh vegetables and fruits and can improve your health markedly. It requires a good work ethic, but an organic garden is indeed worth the effort.

Grow Like A Pro With These Organic Gardening Tips

~ craigb

TIP! When laying sod, it is important that you do it correctly. Before laying sod, you have to make sure the soil is accurately prepared.

There are a lot of people who think about starting an organic garden, but never get around to doing it. Some may feel overwhelmed by all that needs to be done in order to create an organic garden. This article has some good ideas to help you reach your goal of creating a garden for your enjoyment, and without incurring too much difficulty.

TIP! Use perennials resistant to slugs and snails. A particularly vulnerable plant can be killed by snails and slugs overnight.

Turn the handles of tools you have on hand into rulers to make measurements in your garden. Larger handled tools like rakes, hoes, and shovels make great measuring sticks. Lay the handles on the floor, then run the measuring tape down next to them. Paying close attention to the measurements, use a black marker to establish each interval along the handle’s side in a clearly visible manner. When you decide to work in the garden again, you will now have a ruler at your disposal.

Flower Beds

TIP! As fall arrives, it is the time to prepare for planting fall edibles. Try something different by planing kale or lettuce inside a pumpkin, instead of using the planter pots you traditionally use.

Use biennials and annuals to beautify your flower beds. These fast growth plants make flower beds vibrant, and they let you alter the appearance seasonally and annually. These kinds of flowers are also excellent for filling in gaps between shrubs and perennials in sunny areas. A variety of flowers that will thrive in your region are available.

TIP! Divide your irises. Try increasing your stock by dividing your overgrown clumps of plants.

Don’t bother with expensive chemicals if your plants start to sport powdery mildew. Try mixing a little liquid soap with some baking soda in water. This solution can be sprayed onto your plants once per week until the problem is resolved. Your plants will not be harmed by the baking soda, but the mildew will definitely not like it!

TIP! Your vegetable plants need about two or three inches of mulch placed around them. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch.

Check the nutrients in the soil before you plant your garden. You can obtain a soil analysis for a nominal fee. Using that report, you can amend your soil as needed for a thriving garden. Cooperative Extension departments often offer this testing service. It is a worthwhile effort so a garden can be productive on the first year of planting.

TIP! Think about planting evergreen plants that will produce berries in the backyard. The evergreens will add some color to your garden or yard, especially during the winter, when other plants have died or lost color.

There are natural steps you can take to keep garden pests at bay. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your garden will repel slugs. You can also mulch around trees and shrubs with wood ash, which drives away insects. Natural materials and plants can be just as effective as chemical pesticides at keeping unwanted visitors out of your garden!

TIP! Try to pour a bit of leftover water from your steamed veggies on them. You should also try using a bit of coffee grounds or tea to increase the acidity of the soil for your gardenias or your rhododendrons.

You should purchase a wheelbarrow, as well as a kneeling stool to help you garden. Using a large portion of your time near or on the ground working on your garden puts a huge strain on your knees; therefore, having a portable, lightweight garden stool will greatly assist you in making horticulture easier on them. Gardeners usually need a wheelbarrow to move the heavy dirt and other objects so they are a good item to buy.

TIP! Protect yourself from sun overexposure while gardening by wearing the proper clothing. Wear sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and sunblock.

Plant for fall color. That idea is actually far from the truth. If you plan properly, you can make your fall garden the most colorful time of the year. There are many variations in leaf color with different varieties of Maple, Beech and Dogwood trees that can give you lively yellows and deep crimsons. Some very good shrubs to choose are barberry, hydrangea, and cotoneaster, which is a member of the rose family.

TIP! One way to help your organic garden thrive is to leave an undeveloped area that is conducive to the wildlife around your area. You will see many of the birds and insects that are present will assist in pollination and plant production, helping to create a much better garden.

Gardening helps with relaxation. Everyone wants to find a way to relax and enjoy themselves. Working in the garden is among the simplest. The returns are huge for a very minute up front investment cost. Knowing that you have grown these plants yourself can give you a great feeling of joy and inner peace.

Protect Yourself

TIP! If you are growing plants organically indoors, you have to consider the light that they are getting. If the garden will receive little sunlight, find plants that can grow in medium or low-light environments.

If you know that you’ll be in the garden for an extended period of time, protect yourself from the sun with proper attire. Wear sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses. When you protect yourself against the sun’s rays, you are more likely to avoid both skin cancer and sunburn.

TIP! Cover your flower beds with two or three inches of compost or organic mulch. This will prevent weeds from growing, retain humidity, and feed your plants with the nutrients they need.

In the hottest time of the day, most vegetables are less firm; even the act of harvesting the veggies may cause bruising. Also ensure that you use a tool to cut the vegetables off at the vine. If you just yank or twist the whole plant, it may become damaged.

TIP! Don’t let your organic gardening tasks stack up for very long. Not everyone has time to tend their gardens every day, but by doing little things whenever you have a chance, you can avoid having things pile up.

If you have recently suffered a cut, discontinue gardening until the cut has healed completely. Cuts that are infiltrated by soil or other substances have the potential to breed serious infections. There are now bandages available that will entirely seal off any cut they are applied over.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! Research botanical insecticides that can be purchased locally to aid in ridding your garden of pests. All insecticides are strong, including botanical ones.

Add used coffee grounds to your garden soil. Coffee grounds have nitrogen that plants will utilize. Nitrogen is a nutrient that will help your plants grow taller and bloom faster, so use those coffee grounds, extra compost, or diluted urea to make this happen.

TIP! Mulch should be added to your flower bed and garden using at least 3 inches of material that is organic. You will ensure your garden will be nourished by keeping moisture inside the soil, thus creating a neater appearance of your garden, and repelling weed growth.

Get the most out of what you have, and your property. Landscaping your yard will bring you a big return on your investment. Some plants can even raise your home value about 20%. Put plants in your front yard as well as your garden that need low moisture, and are ideal for the environmental conditions that you face.

TIP! You’re probably aware that compost is very beneficial to organic gardens, but are you aware of what goes into it? It’s a mix of grass clippings, leaves, produce scraps, straw, small twigs and wood chips that break down and turn into a “fake” soil. It is much better to use this in place of chemicals and fertilizers.

Use equal parts of green and dried plant material in your compost pile. Green plant material includes grass clippings, spent flowers, vegetable and fruit waste, weeds and leaves. Dried plant material, however, can include items such as cardboard, sawdust and shredded paper. Avoid using animal manure, charcoal or diseased plants in your compost.

TIP! Learn the right way to buy your plants. Find out if you are supposed to buy them when they are in bloom, when they are budded, or at some time in between.

It is more rewarding to have an organic garden even though it is often more work. Chemicals are extremely efficient, but the organic method is the best way to get healthy produce.

TIP! A good gardening tip is to be sure to grow high-value crops. It is true that the amount of value that a certain plant has is different to everyone.

Any form of horticulture helps you get in tune with the environment, but organic horticulture takes this concept to the next level. Organic gardening techniques allow you to be involved in the entire planting and growing process, while using only the safest and most sustainable resources.

TIP! Take a look at how and where your trees are planted, in order to provide shade. You can get more savings on energy bills because the shade you get from the trees will cool your home naturally.

Hopefully this article has taken all of your apprehension about organic horticulture completely out of the equation. If you make proper use of the advice you have learned, you will soon be able to reap a bountiful harvest from your organic garden.

Thirty Minutes A Day To A Successful Garden

~ craigb

TIP! If you work with clay soil, you have probably found using a shovel very frustrating and exhausting. Coat the shovel with floor or car wax, and buff it with a clean rag to make the job a lot easier.

Organic gardens have become very popular in recent years as people start to understand the consequences of corporate farming techniques. The tenets of holistic living require use of herbs and certain other plants, which need to be organic. Read through this article to learn what you need to do when it comes to organic horticulture.

TIP! Before you plant seeds, pre-soak them for a night somewhere dark. You then want to place a small amount of seeds in a container that’s smaller and then fill it up with water to the top.

Do not improperly lay your new sod. Get your soil ready before you lay the sod. Pull all the weeds and loosen the soil so the new roots can take easily. Flatten the soil back into place, gently but firmly. Water the soil until it is saturated. Be sure to stagger the rows of sod. The joints should be offset like bricks in a wall. Compact the sod down so you form a flat and even surface, then fill in any crevices within the sod by using some soil. Your sod should be watered everyday for at least two weeks, then it will root itself and walk on it.

TIP! Do you like mint, but not how they ruin your garden? Stunt their growth a little by planting your mint into a garden container or large pot instead. This container can be placed in the soil if you prefer the look of mint in your garden, and it will continue to contain the roots of your mint and prevent it from taking over.

Shoveling clay is very difficult and lots of work because the clay is hard and sticks to the shovel, making it tough to handle. Try applying a coat of wax onto your spade prior to working with clay soil, and then buff the spade head with a cloth. The clay easily slides off the surface while keeping the end from getting rusty.

TIP! Avoid sun damage by dressing appropriately whenever you will be gardening in the sun. Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Analyze the soil before you even get started with working in a garden. An inexpensive soil report can be used to adjust soil nutrients to optimum levels, which will ensure your garden thrives. Save yourself the trouble of a failed crop by contacting your local Cooperative Extension to preform the soil test.

TIP! Pick your vegetables when the temperature is moderate to avoid bruising them. Cut vegetables off at the vine, and don’t twist them off, as this could hurt the plant.

Yes, you really have to weed. Weeds can be extremely detrimental to your garden. To help you do this, you may want to consider using white vinegar. Use it instead of chemical solutions to kill weeds. Mix white vinegar and water into a spray bottle instead of pulling the weeds by hand.

TIP! A good tip to help your plants stay healthy and fight diseases is to use aspirin water. Dissolve one aspirin and a half for 2 gallons of water.

If you’re like many gardeners, autumn means that it’s time to get some delicious fall edibles growing in your garden. Why not plant lettuce and kale inside a hollowed-out pumpkin? Cut an opening in the top of your pumpkin, scoop out the inside, and spray the entire thing with Wilt-Proof. This will prevent rotting. Now you can use the pumpkin as a planter.

TIP! Protecting your knees while you are gardening is very important. Bending over for a long while is quite difficult for a lot of people.

Grow some wheat grass or catnip for your cat to eat instead. Another option is to place something smelly, like citrus peels or mothballs, on the soil surrounding the plants that have previously been eaten.

TIP! Do not plant your seeds in a rush. First, you should loosen the soil, and ensure that it is sufficiently moist.

As you cut your grass, do not trim it too low to the ground. By leaving your grass a little taller, you are allowing it to become stronger, as the roots grow stronger and deeper. Cutting your grass too short will cause it to dry out and turn brown in patches throughout your yard.

TIP! Plastic bags are great to cover gardening shoes when they get muddy. This way, you won’t break momentum by fussing with your shoes, and you’ll be quickly back in the garden to finish your work.

If you want to grow vegetables in you backyard, it is vital that you place them in an area where they could get roughly six hours of sun on a daily basis. Most members of the vegetable family need this minimum of light for proper growth. Some flowers need the same thing.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! When you want to harvest the produce in your organic garden, always have an old laundry basket to hand. A laundry basket will act as a strainer for your produce.

Sometimes the soil you want to use for your garden has a high alkaline content. Combine coffee grounds with the soil to reduce this. Coffee grounds are an affordable means of adding acid to the soil so that it is pH-balanced. After doing so, you will notice that your greenery and garden will be colorful and fresh.

TIP! If slugs are disrupting the balance of your garden, you can diminish their population by using a beer trap. Bury a jar in the garden with it’s mouth open and level to the ground.

Broad-spectrum pesticides should be avoided in your garden. These kinds of pesticides kill the helpful insects that destroy the pests. Beneficial bugs are more sensitive to these pesticides than the bugs that are detrimental to plants, so if the good bugs are eliminated, the bad pest population may grow. This can lead to needing even more pesticides to eliminate the problem insects.

TIP! Gardening, especially organic gardening, helps you feel more “at one” with the earth. Organic gardening allows you learn the entire plant cycle, from the beginning to the end.

Choose one stand-out plant to be a focal point. Your focal point will be the main center of attention for anyone who sees your garden. It is usually a type of plant that stands out from the plants surrounding it.

TIP! You should add mulch to your garden and flowerbed using at least three inches of organic material. In addition to adding aesthetic beauty, the mulch will nourish your soil and help it retain water more easily while preventing weeds from growing.

As you are working in your garden, you must take care to protect both knees. It’s not a good idea to spend much time standing while you are bent over at the waist. Kneeling allows you to reach your plants easily and is healthier for your back and legs. Use a pad to kneel upon and protect your knees from possible pain.

TIP! When the soil is healthier, the plants are too, and can resist more diseases and damage that’s caused by insects. Even if the insects still remain, your plants will not be affected as much as before.

Make sure you work in your garden every day. Don’t spend 30 minutes searching for a tool. Prepare all of your tools prior to working in the garden, and then put them away neatly when finished. You may also wish to invest in a tool belt to keep all of your tools within reach while gardening.

Pine Needles

TIP! To keep bugs out of your organic garden, plant garlic in various areas. The smell is unpleasant for many kinds of insects.

Pine needles make a great organic mulch. There are many types of plants with a high acidity, which means they thrive in acidic soil. When you have plants like this, nothing is easier than to gather pine needles for your beds. Using several inches of needles to cover your beds provides acid for the soil as they begin to decompose.

TIP! Increase the amount of mulch you use in your garden to conserve water. Using mulch will allow the soil to retain humidity more efficiently, and your garden will not have to be watered as frequently.

A useful technique for organic horticulture, is to gently disturb your seedlings by using your fingers or a piece of cardboard one or two times daily. While this appears strange, research shows it can help plants grow larger, versus not petting them at all.

TIP! Consider what particular vegetables are most often on your dining room table and include them when you plan your garden. By doing this, you will be able to use the gardening space to your best advantage, and you will also save money on food bills.

If you’d like to improve the health of your soil, try adding some mulch. The mulch will protect the soil underneath it. On hot days, mulch insulates the ground, keeping it cool and protecting your plants’ roots. It greatly reduces water loss, keeping the soil moist with fewer waterings. This will also help to keep weeds under control.

TIP! Bees are obviously very beneficial to your gardening, such as bumble bees that help with pollination. Learn to recognize the good bees from the ones you do not want to see in your garden, such as carpenter bees.

As you pick up more tips, acquire new techniques, and learn more in general about organic gardening, you will find organic gardening becoming easier for you. While these tips primarily cover only the basics, they give you a place to start your organic gardening venture.

Not Sure How To Go About Gardening? These Tips Can Help!

~ craigb

TIP! Properly lay your sod. Before the sod can be laid, you should prepare the soil.

Gardening is a fabulous way to grow veggies and fruits in your backyard. Nothing beats hand-picked tomatoes on your salad or producing the contents of the whole salad right from your garden. Learn how to garden well, and grow those salad vegetables, by reading this article.

TIP! Choose plants that will give you the most yield at harvest time. Many times, a cold-tolerant or disease-resistant hybrid can have a higher yield versus traditional ones.

A handy trick is to turn the handle on a tool that you use often into a makeshift ruler. Larger handled tools like rakes, hoes, and shovels make great measuring sticks. Lay the handles on the floor, then run the measuring tape down next to them. Use a bright permanent marker and label the distances. You will never find yourself looking for a ruler thanks to this simple tip.

TIP! Try planting seeds in pots, and then transferring the seedlings to your garden. This insures that the plants will grow and thrive into adulthood.

When planting perennials, seek out those that are resistant to slugs. Slugs and snails are voracious eaters that can destroy a plant literally overnight. Young plants with smooth and tender leaves are their favorite. Certain perennials are unappetizing to slugs and snails, especially those with tough, hairy leaves or an unappetizing taste. Some perennial families that snails and slugs won’t eat include achillea, campanula, and helleborus.

TIP! When winter comes, you can save a few plants by transferring them inside the house. Maybe you could pick out the most expensive plants or the most hardy ones.

It’s sometimes possible to save certain plants from winter cold by bringing them inside. Choose the plants that are most likely to survive. Use caution when digging around the roots of your plant. You need to keep the root structure intact for it to thrive after being potted.

TIP! It is possible to use natural materials as well as other plants to help keep pests away from your garden. Slugs can be kept at bay with a patch of marigolds or pungent vegetables.

Take extra care of any fragile shrubs that are known to drop their leaves in the autumn. Tender shrubs are very sensitive to cold weather, especially those that are planted in pots. With a sheet or blanket, you want to loosely cover the wigwam after you tie the tops of the canes together. In contrast to wrapping the plant with plastic, this method promotes air circulation, which stops the plant from rotting.

TIP! Read instructions on new gardening chemicals and tools before you use them. If you use your gardening chemicals wrong, you can abrade or even burn your skin.

To help them out, try poring leftover water from steamed vegetables on them. You can also acidify soil for rhododendrons, gardenias and more by using coffee or tea grounds. If fungus is ravaging your potted plants, sprinkle a bit of Chamomile tea on them, and see if it helps.

TIP! Broad-spectrum pesticides should be avoided in your garden. These pesticides can kill the useful insects that work as predators to pests.

If you are going for a British feel with your garden, then vary the heights of your plants. Having plants that grow to the same height will result in a common and flat looking bed.

TIP! Add aspirin to your plants to help them fight sickness. Crush and dissolve one and one-half 325mg tablets in two full gallons of plain water.

Let your children be involved in your organic gardening efforts. Growing a garden offers a unique learning experience, and you and your child can grow closer while growing healthy food for your family.

TIP! When growing organic plants indoors, it is important to consider the amount of light that is available to them. If you want indoor plants, choose specimens that can grow in relatively dark places.

It’s crucial for you to protect knees when doing horticulture work. Many people can not bend over for long periods of time while they are standing up. Due to this, most people choose to garden while on their knees, which also makes it easier to tend to plants. You can buy a knee pad, put it on the ground and kneel on it so that you wont have to deal with knee pain.

Grow Plants

TIP! Make the most of the time spent in your garden. Don’t spend 30 minutes searching for a tool.

Pay attention to how much light your indoor plants are getting. If your apartment or home does not receive a huge amount of sunlight, you might want to grow plants that adapt to medium and low light environments instead. If you want to grow plants that need a lot of light, consider using artificial lighting.

TIP! Adding a lot of mulch to your garden is a great tip to implement in order to keep your garden healthy. The right amount of mulch in a garden also works to protect the soil underneath.

You can stop mud from being tracked into your house by covering your dirty horticulture shoes with plastic bags. This way, you can get in and out quickly, and get back to work in the garden.

TIP! One of the biggest benefits from eating food that is organically grown is the absence of pesticides. Though this is certainly a great thing for the health of your loved ones, it is important to watch for additional pests and insects that may be present.

Procrastination leads to problems in a variety of areas, including organic gardening. If you can’t get out in your garden every day, there are still a number of things you can do to keep things from falling into disarray during your absence. If you’re outside with your pet, try to remove weeds when your pet is doing his business.

TIP! If you’re planning on adding some tomatoes to your garden, try planting a new set of tomatoes exactly three weeks after you plant the first batch. Staggering the planting times ensures that you are able to consistently enjoy ripe tomatoes.

It is possible to control weeds with natural methods. Take newspapers and layer them for controlling weeds. Weeds need sunlight to grow. Newspapers placed atop weeds will starve them from light and they will eventually die. Newspaper decompose quickly and integrate into the compost. Put mulch over top to increase the attractiveness of the pile.

TIP! You can create a garden for perennials easily. Cut under the turf with a spade, flip it over, and cover the whole area with several inches of wood chips.

Rotate where you plant each type of plant each year. For example, if you usually plant corn in one area of your garden and flowers in another, switch which plant is planted in each section. Fungus and disease are more likely to affect plants if they stay in the same location for long periods of time, especially if they belong to the same family. The soil might contain fungus or diseases specific to one type of plant. If you change things and plant your garden in a different area, you will have a way to keep fungus at bay.

TIP! Have biodiversity in your organic garden. The more varieties of plants that are around, the more wildlife will be around.

It only takes a few steps to create a new garden area for perennials. Cut beneath the turf using a spade, then flip it over. Finish by covering the entire area using several inches worth of wood chips. Wait a few weeks and then plant your perennials into the brand new bed.

TIP! Understand the variety of natural gardening solutions that can be used to tend an organic garden. Try using natural alternatives instead of the chemicals you normally use.

Use a soaker hose to water your organic garden. These hoses let water out slowly at a regular rate. You can direct the hose to the roots of your plants, keeping the leaves dry. Not only do you eliminate the tediousness of having to hand-water your plants, you will also reduce the amount of water that you use.

Oving Plants

TIP! One way to save on watering costs in your garden is to use a large amount of mulch. Watering will be decreased with an increase in mulch.

There are many plant kinds you may grow in an organic garden. Mulch is something that you will likely rely on quite heavily, particularly for acid-loving plants. Acid-loving plants require mulch that consists of pine needles during the fall months. When the needles begin decomposing, they will add acid into the ground.

TIP! A planting calendar is a great way to start your garden project. It will show you which plants you can plant and when.

As the above article stated, gardening is an excellent method of growing your own fresh, delicious fruits and veggies in your backyard. Preparing fresh, healthy meals using what you have grown can be a very satisfying experience. Utilize the advice from the above article in order to maximize your experience with gardening.