organic mulch

Organic Horticulture Tips For Gardeners Of Any Level

~ craigb

TIP! Cooling weather of early fall signals the opportune time to plant seasonal edibles. A pumpkin can be used as a planting container instead of clay pots.

Chances are you have probably heard about or seen organic foods in your local grocery store. It is typically easy to identify organic products. These items are packaged in a different manner, and they typically cost much more. Follow the advice given here, and learn exactly how to grow organic produce at home.

TIP! It’s easy to just jump in and start gardening without thought, but it’s important to plan your garden first. Planning gives you a map of your garden.

When winter arrives, transfer a few plants into the house for safe storage during the cold weather. Maybe you’d like to save the most expensive plants you have or the most resistant. Carefully dig up the plants, using caution not to disturb the roots, then transfer into a pot.

Stink Bugs

TIP! Choose a specific plant to become your garden’s focal point. In any great garden design, a good focal point captures the eye.

When gardening, beware of stink bugs and other insects, particularly in the autumn. Fruits, peppers and tomatoes are among the foods they love to eat. If they go unnoticed, they can cause large amounts of harm to your garden, so remember to take protective measures to reduce the population of stink bugs there.

TIP! Be smart about how you water your garden. Use a hose with a soaker attachment to save you time, so the garden can get watered while you are doing other tasks.

Make sure to pre-soak seeds, preferably in a dark location. Place some seeds into a small container, then fill it with water until it is almost to the top. When you do this, you hydrate your seeds and they can start growing. The seeds will be better able to survive and grow up.

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. You should also be sure to cut them off the vine and not twist them, as twisting can hurt the plant.

Balance your alkaline soil with the acid found in used coffee grounds. The coffee grounds are an inexpensive way to give some acid back to the dirt. You will notice that your vegetables and greens will have a stronger taste.

TIP! Aspirin water has disease-prevention properties that can protect plants. Crush and dissolve one and one-half 325mg tablets in two full gallons of plain water.

Protect your delicate shrubs from harsh, wintry elements. If the temperature drops below 50 degrees, you should consider protecting them, especially if they do best in warm environments. First tie together the tops; then take a sheet or blanket and loosely shroud the wigwam. Covering your foliage in plastic will let the air in – and may lead to decay.

TIP! To keep your houseplants happy during the day, your thermostat should be set anywhere between 65 and 75 degrees. Indoor plants grow best at these warm temperatures.

Ensure that your plants are kept dry, and aerated daily. Plant moisture is a big attraction to both parasites and plant diseases. Fungus infections are common in overly moist plants. Fungicidal spray treatments can contain fungi, but spraying prior to problems even developing in the first place is the best way to go about it.

TIP! Use about two to three inches of organic material as mulch in all of your flower beds. This will prevent weeds from growing, retain humidity, and feed your plants with the nutrients they need.

Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. Mulch will retain water so that you won’t have to water your plants as often. Mulch will help a lot in preventing weeds from growing. This can save you a lot of time and effort in pulling out the weeds.

TIP! Pine needles should not be overlooked as a great source for mulch. Some garden plants are high in acidity, and do better with acidic soil.

Give them a boost by watering them with the cooled water that is left after steaming vegetables. Tea and coffee grounds can be used to add acidity to your soil for plants like gardenias and rhododendrons. If you are having problems with fungus, you may find that sprinkling Chamomile tea on the plant is effective.

TIP! Put coffee ground into your soil. Coffee grounds are full of nitrogenous nutrients that growing plants need.

If you pick vegetables around high noon when it is very hot, you are likely to damage them. Vegetables and fruits should always be cut from the vine, not twisted; twisting subjects a plant to needless stress.

TIP! Enhance your property value and beauty with gardening and landscaping. Of all the home improvement options that you might consider, landscaping is the most cost effective.

Heather is a magnet for friendly insects. Bees are naturally attracted to heather for its nectar. In addition, beds of heather are usually left alone. Because of this, insects that are good for your garden often make them a home, such as beetles or spiders. Keep this in mind and always wear gloves when you prune your heather!

TIP! Want to get rid of weeds naturally? A layer of newspaper, several pages thick, placed over the ground will do the trick. Weeds need sun for growth, just like any other plant.

If you’re planning on horticulture inside, the first thing you should consider is an adequate light source. 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. You can also get special lamps if you want a different kind of plants.

TIP! Create a raised bed for your garden out of stone, bricks or untreated wood. Be sure to use wood that is naturally resistant to rotting and that has not been treated.

Top all your garden beds with several inches of organic mulch. Doing this keeps weeds down, keeps the moisture in your plants, and gives more nutrients to the plants. This will also make your flowers appear beautiful and finished all year long.

Green Plant Material

TIP! Use fruit peelings and scraps of fruit and vegetable waste to create your own compost. Fruit peels and other organic waste creates spectacular compost.

The compost pile should include equal parts of dried material and green plant material. Green plant material comprises leaves, weeds, spent flowers, grass clippings, and fruit and vegetable waste. The leaves you rake in the fall, straw, sawdust and the like are dry material. Materials to avoid during composting include diseased plants, meat, ashes and charcoal.

TIP! Learn proper techniques for watering organic plants. You need to know how to water them properly as well as how frequently to water them.

You may be able to find botanical insecticides locally, which are often very helpful for preventing pest infestations. Some natural insecticides are stronger and more effective than the chemically engineered synthetic pesticides that are commercially available. However, because botanical insecticides are biological, they often decay and disappear quickly.

TIP! Protect your plants during cold weather by covering them with a homemade tent. You can stick old bean poles into the four corners of your beds.

You can simply make a newer garden for perennials with a few steps. Use a spade to cut beneath the turf, and cover the entire area with wood chips after flipping it over. Let it sit for a few weeks, and then plant your new perennials.

TIP! You can conserve more water by mulching your garden. The more mulch you use, the less you need to water the plants.

If you’re trying to decide how to water the plants in your organic garden, consider a soaker hose. As the water slowly seeps out of the hose, it is directed right to the plant roots so the leaves do not get wet. These hoses don’t use as much water as a sprinkler does and are much more convenient than watering plants by hand.

TIP! Water your plants with some rainwater to be a ‘green’ gardener. Use barrels or containers for collecting rainwater can save you lots on your monthly water bill, as well as using it as a natural resource.

Be sure you know how you should buy plants that you want to add in your organic garden. This is true especially when you purchase perennials or annuals. It’s important to select plants that have budded but haven’t bloomed yet. This way, they’ll able to develop a strong root system within your own garden.

TIP! A number of houseplants need to be repotted, while others are not happy about their roots being tinkered with. It is simple to determine which plants need to be re-potted.

Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you’re eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you’ve learned here and get started on your garden today.

Create A Beautiful Garden With These Great Tips

~ craigb

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

Just about anyone can become an organic gardener. It’s a fun, relaxing hobby that has a lot of benefits. However, a beginner may find the whole experience intimidating. So, how can you best prepare yourself as a novice organic gardener? Read the information provided below, of course!

TIP! Plant some wheat grass or cat grass near where you car tends to nibble in your garden. You may also place something offensively smelly atop the soil, like citrus peel or mothballs.

Plant perennials that slugs and snails won’t be interested in eating. Snails and slugs can quickly wreak havoc on a garden. Young plants with smooth and tender leaves are their favorite. Perennials with hairy, tough leaves as well as those with unpleasant taste are not appetizing to snails and slugs. Some of the best varieties of these include achillea, campanula, euphorbia, and heuchera.

TIP! Set your mower blades higher, so you don’t cut the grass too short. If you allow your grass to grow a little longer, the roots will go down deeper into the dirt, helping the grass grow better and remain hydrated.

Plants that climb can hide fences and walls. Plants that climb are extraordinarily versatile, and can help hide an unsightly wall or fence, usually within one season. They can also grow through existing shrubs or trees, or be trained to cover an arbor. Some varieties will climb and attach using their tendrils or branches, but some will need to be trained or supported with ties. Some of these plants include, wisteria, jasmine, climbing roses, clematis, honeysuckle!

TIP! 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. Many of the vegetables need a lot of sun, so they can grow right and at a faster pace.

When you go to mow your lawn, make sure you don’t mow it too closely to the ground. If you allow your grass to grow a little longer, the roots will go down deeper into the dirt, helping the grass grow better and remain hydrated. Short grass tends to have shallow roots, which can cause dried out, brown patches to occur.

TIP! Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides in the garden. These kinds of pesticides kill the helpful insects that destroy the pests.

Prior to planting a garden, think through what you want to do. Doing so means you can remember where each particular plant is when you start seeing sprouts arise from the earth. You might end up losing small plants in a large area, because you did not water them.

TIP! Gardening can be very relaxing. There are numerous ways to seek personal comfort and peace.

Do you enjoy fresh mint, but don’t like how they engulf your garden in their growth? You can control their growth by placing them into a pot or container. If you prefer, you can even place the container in the ground, but the pot’s walls will prevent the mint from spreading and being a nuisance in your garden.

TIP! Choose one stand-out plant to be a focal point. A focal point can help direct a viewers gaze.

Surround your vegetable plants with organic mulch, a few inches worth. The mulch will help keep the dirt around the plants more moist. This method will also prevent weeds. You’ll save a ton of time if you don’t have to constantly pull out weeds.

TIP! One way to ensure efficiency while gardening is to keep your tools close by. You can keep them in a good sized bucket, or wear utility pants that have plenty of large pockets.

If you have a vegetable garden, it can be quite difficult to decide what to do about pest control. The vegetables are intended to be eaten, thus you should refrain from using harsh pesticides and chemicals. One way that you can help control garden pests is to remain vigilant. If you find any unwanted pests, try removing them by hand.

TIP! Be aware of spacing considerations when you are first planting your organic garden. You can easily underestimate how much space the plants need until they begin to grow.

Broad-spectrum pesticides should be avoided in your garden. If your pesticide has too wide a range of targets, it can kill off useful insects that fight off other pests. Good bugs are often more sensitive to pesticides than their bad counterparts, so if the population of good bugs goes down, the pest problem can grow. This can result in your using more pesticides to eradicate the problem.

TIP! Increase the value of your property! Landscaping provides some of the best home improvement returns. You can raise your home value up to 20 percent! Get low moisture plants for your garden and yard that are suited for your environment.

Take your seedlings and saplings to a cooler spot once they are established. You should move your sprouted plants farther from the heat when they are past the sprouting stage. Take off any plastic that is on the containers to keep away from warmth and moisture. Watching your plants as they grow will give you the insight on when to employ these tactics.

TIP! Think about using all-natural botanical insecticides in your organic garden; they are very handy when it comes to getting rid of harmful pests. These natural insecticides are just as effective as chemicals, sometimes even more so.

In your flower beds and garden, utilize a few inches of organic mulch. This practice is an easy way to discourage weeds, retain moisture, and add valuable nutrients to your garden. This will also give a nice, professional appearance to your garden all year.

TIP! Biodiversity is important in your garden. Increasing your plant variety will draw further variety in the wildlife around.

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. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried. Petunias and ageratum are two examples of seeds that require sunlight. With so many different types of seeds, it is important that you check seed packaging or utilize other resources, such as the Internet, to discover which seeds require exposure to direct sunlight.

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

One unusual tip in organic horticulture, is to “pet” your seedlings often. Use your hands or a piece of cardboard and lightly ruffle the seedling about one or two times a day. This will sound a bit strange. However, it has been proven to cause plants to grow larger.

Vegetable Garden

TIP! Make sure you place your trees so that they shade your home. Natural shade will cool your home by a few degrees, which decreases the amount of energy consumed by your A/C unit.

Use untreated stone, brick or wood to build raised beds. Choose wood that is naturally resistant to rot and is untreated. Excellent choices are cedar, locust and cypress. Take care to avoid wood that has been chemically treated when your garden will hold vegetables, since unknown substances in the wood can make their way into your future food. In the event your vegetable garden already has treated wood as part of its enclosure, consider replacing it, or painting it, or wrapping the treated wood in some protective covering. Keep in mind that if any of the untreated wood is below the ground, you should dig it up to make sure that you completely protect your vegetable garden from the chemicals in the treated wood.

TIP! W

In order to claim your crops are legitimately organic and be credible, it is important to your customers that you become organic garden certified. This should improve sales and attract customers who are environmentally conscious. A certification will easily communicate to them that they are getting the best products possible.

TIP! When planting your garden, dig small trenches between plant rows. This will assist the water in flowing straight to the plants so that you will not have to water them quite as often.

Now you have the groundwork of knowledge necessary to start enjoying organic horticulture. Having a properly grown garden can be fun and relaxing. Use these tips to see your garden flourish!

Organic Horticulture Advice To Grow The Garden Of Your Dreams

~ craigb

Organic horticulture may be a major pain, or a joyous hobby. Use the tips presented here to make the most out of your earth friendly organic garden.

TIP! Create useful rulers from your tool handles. Tools with long handles such as hoes and rakes can double as measuring sticks.

Use slug-proof varieties of perennials wherever possible. If slugs or snails find their favorite perennials in your garden, they’ll snack all night. When you wake up in the morning, there will be very little left of your plants. These pests prefer plants with thin smooth leaves. Plant some helleborus or euphorbias along with your other perennials. There are some perennials that do not appeal to slugs, such as those with leaves that are hairy and tough with a bad taste. Examples of these include euphorbia, hellebourus and achillea. Others you may want to consider are campanula and heuchera.

Iris Bulbs

TIP! Save some plants in the winter by bringing them indoors. This is especially useful if you have a particular plant that you love or was expensive.

Separate irises. You can increase your stock of irises by dividing up overgrown clumps. When the foliage has died off, it is time to harvest the iris bulbs. The iris bulbs should easily split apart in your hand. Once you replant them, they will have a good flower show the following year. Make use of a knife to split up rhizomes. Cut out new pieces from outside the bulb and throw away the old center. Each piece needs one strong offshoot. Replant each one immediately.

TIP! Draw up a garden plan before you plant the first seed. This is a good way to remember which plants have been planted in each area before they grow.

The best gardens start with seeds, as opposed to plants. The environmentally conscious way to start a new garden is to start with seeds. Very few nurseries recycle the plastics that they use as containers for their plants, so the majority of these containers are thrown away and dumped in landfills. Therefore, it is better for the environment to plant a garden with seeds or to find a nursery that packages its plants using organic materials.

TIP! If you have a lot of low-growing plants to take care of in your garden, purchase gardening knee pads. You will end up spending a good deal of time on your knees and this can cause a lot of pain by the end of the day.

Always fertilize your garden. Composted manure is effective in raising healthy plants, and commercial fertilizer products are safer and more convenient. Choosing a specific type of fertilizer is not particularly critical; as long as you’re using fertilizer, you’re improving your soil.

Organic Mulch

TIP! Place a few inches of organically based mulch around your vegetable plants. Mulch has a nice moisturizing effect on the soil it’s spread over.

All of your vegetable plants should have approximately two inches, just outside the stem, of organic mulch placed around them. The organic mulch will keep moisture in the soil for a little longer. Mulch will help a lot in preventing weeds from growing. Every gardener can appreciate pulling fewer weeds.

TIP! Learn the proper way to handle chemicals, and the right way to use garden tools. You might end up damaging your plants or getting a skin irritation.

Invest in a kneeling stool, and a wheelbarrow to work in the garden. Spending time on the ground is rough on the knees, a portable and light stool can help make gardening easier. Because gardening means transporting a lot of heavy things, a wheelbarrow will also come in handy.

Beneficial Insects

TIP! If you want the best tasting vegetables, learn about the optimum time to harvest them. Each type of produce has unique time frames for harvesting at the peak of flavor.

Make sure your pesticides are focused on only what you’re trying to kill. Besides killing the insects you don’t want, this type of pesticide will also kill beneficial insects. Beneficial insects are more susceptible to strong pesticides than the insects you are actually trying to get rid of. This will lead you to end up killing off the good bugs in your garden, leaving the field wide open for the harmful ones. This may then lead to using even more pesticides to eliminate this new problem.

TIP! Pine is a surprisingly good source of mulch. Some plants need acidic soil to grow properly, because of their own acid content.

Make a plant you love the focal point of your garden. When you design your garden, think of a great focal point that will grab attention and add interest. Usually this is a big plant that is somewhat different from the other plants in the garden.

TIP! Consider solving your weed problem without the use of toxic chemicals. Put down old newspapers in several layers for controlling weeds.

If you are growing plants inside of your home, you need to keep the thermostat set to 65 to 75 degrees during the day. They need the temperature to be that warm so that they can grow. If you do not want to keep your home that warm during the winter months, you can get a heat lamp for the organic plants instead.

TIP! While gardening organically requires more work than gardening with the help of chemicals, the rewards are worth it. Chemical giants claim miracles, but those miracle crops come at a price to whoever eats the produce.

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. You must also take away plastic films from your containers in order to keep the warmth and humidity out. Check on your seeds periodically to make sure you know when to remove the films.

TIP! You may be able to find botanical insecticides locally, which are often very helpful for preventing pest infestations. These natural insecticides can often be more effective than synthetically engineered pesticides.

Work efficiently in your garden. You do not have the time to spend an hour looking for each tool you need. Have all of your tools gathered and prepared for use before you work in the garden, and make sure to put them away neatly. If you use lots of tools, consider using a tool belt or even just some pants that have lots of pockets.

TIP! Plant your tomatoes in intervals of three weeks, starting from the original strain and they will grow in a more organized structure. Doing this will cause your harvest to come in at differing times, allowing you to gather up the majority of them and cut your losses.

When planting seeds in containers, remember that the depth should be at least three times bigger than the seed. There are exceptions to this rule though, as some seeds need direct sunlight to grow. These seeds include petunias and ageratum. If you do now know how to plant your seed, consult the information that came with the seed when you bought it or check online for helpful information.

TIP! Organic gardening has been made much easier! Stick to native plants, grasses, flowers and bushes when you plan out your landscape. Plants that are naturally suited to your environmental parameters are unlikely to require the degree of fertilization and chemical pest protection that would have to be expended on other plants.

Every year, you should plant different things and in different places. Repeatedly planting the same greenery in the same place can cause fungus and disease. These kind of enemies to plants can stay underground ready for the next year to cause harm to your plants. If you change things up on a regular basis by varying your planting locations, you take advantage of a natural methodology to avoid fungus and disease problems.

TIP! While you may have heard a few things here and there about composting, how much do you really know about it? Compost is a mixture of scraps, grass clippings and leaves that have been allowed to break down which results in new rich soil. Use this instead of commercial fertilizer.

Organic horticulture, while requiring a good effort for great results, is a great way to live a greener life. With hard work and patience, you will be happy with the end result–a fabulous organic garden. Using the tips that you just learned you can improve your skills in organic gardening.

How To Grow A Bountiful Organic Garden

~ craigb

You can take organic gardening as a hobby, or as a science. The following article is designed to turn you into a successful and happy organic gardener.

TIP! Choose the right soil for best results. The soil that is already in your garden might need amending, depending on the particular plants that you want to grow.

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. The wax will help keep dirt from sticking to the shovel, and will also keep the metal from rusting.

TIP! Your vegetable garden should get at least six hours of sun daily. Most vegetables require this amount of sun in order to grow properly and at a quicker pace.

Slug-proof your garden with smart perennial choices. Snails and slugs are garden nightmares, and only need a single evening to obliterate a plant. These garden pests prefer perennials with thin, flat, delicate leaves, particularly if the plant is not yet mature. You can discourage snails and slugs from eating your perennials by choosing plants with tougher or distasteful foliage. Excellent varieties include heuchera, achillea, euphorbia, campanula, and helleborus.

TIP! Deciduous shrubs and young trees need to be protected. Cold weather significantly affects these plants, especially if they are in pots.

For flowers throughout the spring and the summer, be sure to plant some bulbs. These are hearty choices, choices that will reward you for years despite the little effort that is involved in their care. The types of bulbs you use will determine the time of year your flowers will bloom, giving you the pleasure of blooms from spring to summer, if you plant them right.

TIP! You can prevent pests using other plants or natural materials. Slugs can be kept at bay with a patch of marigolds or pungent vegetables.

Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Excess moisture on a plant will invite unwanted parasites or diseases to the plant. Fungus infections are common in overly moist plants. Fungi can be controlled with fungicide sprays, but it is important to treat your area with the spray, before you see any problems.

TIP! If you’re going to grow peas, start them indoors before putting them in the ground outside. When you plant them indoors first, the seeds will germinate better.

Do you enjoy fresh mint, but don’t like how they engulf your garden in their growth? Keep the growth under control by growing them in a large horticulture pot instead. You have the option of planting the container with the plant to keep the roots from taking the garden over.

TIP! When you’re dealing with a veggie garden, pest control may be difficult. The vegetables are intended to be eaten, thus you should refrain from using harsh pesticides and chemicals.

Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. Mulch will keep soil moist for longer. It will also prevent weeds from sprouting. This can prevent you from having to constantly pull weeds.

TIP! Plan your garden, and plant with fall colors in mind. This does not have to be so.

To give them a helping hand, pour the water you obtain after steaming vegetables over your plants. If you grow rhododendrons, azaleas or gardenias, increase the acid in your your soil by working in coffee or tea grounds. Herbal chamomile tea is an effective, affordable treatment for fighting fungi.

TIP! Make sure to water your garden properly. Utilize a soaker hose.

For visual interest, make one plant a focal point of your garden. A focal point, in a strong garden design, will attract eyes and hold them there. More often than not, it is a plant that is distinctively different from its neighbors.

Indoor Plants

TIP! Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. You can wear an apron or pants that have a lot of pockets, or use a big bucket or can.

Indoor plants have been bred over time to thrive in temperatures that are characteristic of a home. Most indoor plants like to be in about 70 degree temperatures, plus or minus 5 degrees. The temperature needs to be this warm so they are able to grow. Another option is the use heat lamps that will protect your organic plants.

TIP! You should utilize around three inches of mulch that is organic in your flower beds. A thick layer of mulch will prevent weeds, reduce watering needs and fertilize your garden.

You should add a two to three inch layer of organic mulch to your flower bed. This is a simple method of discouraging weeds, retaining moisture, and adding excellent nutrients into the garden. Also, the flower beds will look beautifully maintained at all times.

TIP! Feeling in harmony with the earth is a benefit of gardening as a hobby, and this holds especially true when it comes to organic gardening. Organic gardening techniques allow you to be involved in the entire planting and growing process, while using only the safest and most sustainable resources.

Horticulture can actually increase the value of your property! Landscaping has one of the highest returns you can get from home improvement. Strategic landscaping can increase the resale value of your home up to 20%, if you choose the right plants. Find plant materials for your landscape design that will thrive in your particular climate.

Plant Material

TIP! One way to create compost easily and cheaply is to mix up fruit peels and other refuse from fruit. These items will decompose and create a rich compost your plants will benefit for at no cost.

Use equal parts dried and green plant material for your own compost. Garden wastes, such as grass clippings, are classified as green materials. Dried plant material, however, can include items such as cardboard, sawdust and shredded paper. Avoid using ashes, charcoal, diseased plants and meat-eating animal manure.

If you want to sell your crops, you should become a certified organic gardener. This will increase sales and shows your customers they’ve been buying from the best.

TIP! Rainwater should be saved. You can use rain barrels or buckets to collect rainwater for use in your garden during the summer months.

Although organic horticulture is often much harder than using chemicals, the reward is much greater. Chemicals are extremely efficient, but the organic method is the best way to get healthy produce.

TIP! Use a ton of mulch to save on water in your garden. Covering the ground with mulch cuts back on the need for watering your plants.

Excessive amounts of water makes it harder for plants to get the nutrients they need from the soil. Before you set out to water your plants, you might want to verify that the forecast does not call for rain. Skip watering your plants for a couple of days if a heavy rainstorm has descended; natural rainwater can be particularly good for your plants as well.

TIP! Mulching is a very efficient method. Mulching your garden keeps soil moist longer by keeping water from evaporating so quickly.

Be cautious of what you are using on your garden. Experiment with organic and natural fertilizers instead of the usual chemical, commercial ones. Compost is a great example. Unlike inorganic fertilizers, compost fertilizers do not add toxic chemicals to the soil which could get in your water supply.

TIP! Before you start growing a garden, you should build a fence around it. This will keep animals and people out.

Organic gardening is a more involved form of horticulture than is often realized. Doing it successfully entails a good amount of patience and dedication, but achieving a productive organic garden is a worthwhile endeavor indeed. By using the advice you learned here, you will be well on the path to becoming an organic horticulture pro.

Read This Piece For The Best Horticulture Tips

~ craigb

TIP! Try planting your plants in flower pots first, then transferring them to your garden once they have had a bit of time to grow. Once the plant is hardy enough, plant it in your garden.

Due to the fact that consuming organic foods is gaining popularity, choosing to live a holistic lifestyle is also becoming more prevalent. Many people who appreciate the benefits of this lifestyle enjoy growing their own foods using safe, organic gardening methods. Read up on some great organic tips below.

TIP! Beginning your garden with healthy soil is your first defense against pests! Healthy plants grown in robust and enriched soil have an advantage in fighting pest infestation. So if you want your garden to provide plants that are as healthy as possible, you need a good quality soil that contains few chemicals and that can accumulate salts over time.

Learn the proper way to lay sod. Before laying the sod, have your soil prepared. Pull all the weeds and loosen the soil so the new roots can take easily. Lightly, but firmly compact the soil, making sure it is flat. Afterward, you want to make sure the soil is moistened. The sod should be laid in staggered rows, with the joints offset from one another. After the sod is in place, go over the surface to ensure everything is level. Use loose soil to fill in any gaps between seams. After two weeks of daily watering, the sod should be rooted; at this time, it is now safe to walk on it.

TIP! Use both annuals and biennials to add a splash of color to your flower beds. Fast growing biennials and annuals can enliven a flower bed while letting you change up the look each season and year.

Your plants need to adapt and must be gradually introduced to changes in temperature or condition. On the first day, put them out in sunlight for about an hour or so. As the week progresses, gradually increase their exposure to the outdoors. By weeks end, you should have plants that are ready for a permanent home outside with no problem!

TIP! Take extra care of any fragile shrubs that are known to drop their leaves in the autumn. Delicate shrubs that are sitting in pots should be sheltered from the cold weather.

Plant vines like ivy to cover fences and dividing walls. 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. It is possible to get them to grow in conjunction with trees and bushes already on the premises, or train them to drape over arbors. A number of climbers need to be attached to a support, but others just take care of their own attachments via tendrils and stems that twine. Plants such as clematis, wisteria, climbing roses, or honeysuckle are always great choices.

TIP! Create your own garden from scratch with seeds, rather than plants. When planting a garden, the best way is to initially start with seeds.

Before actually putting plants into your garden, check the type and compostion of your soil. For a tiny fee, a soil analysis may be done, and based on the results, the soil can support a growing garden by you enriching it as necessary. It is worth having this information so that crops do not get ruined. Most Cooperative Extension offices provide this service.

TIP! Garden for fall colors. That doesn’t have to be, however.

For flowers throughout the spring and the summer, be sure to plant some bulbs. Most bulbs are hardy and require little to no care in order to develop into beautiful perennials that will reappear each and every year. Find out which flowers will bloom when and then plant a variety, so that you can have fresh blooms all the way through the spring and summer!

TIP! Some people use gardening as a source of relaxation. Peace and relaxation can be found through several different avenues.

Always have a plan for the garden prior to the start of planting it. Use this to remind you where certain things were planted, later when they start sprouting. You are also less likely to lose smaller members of the larger garden in the overall mix.

TIP! To deter meddlesome dogs from destroying your garden, you should use heavily scented substances around the perimeter. You can even use perfume! This will help mask the scents that attract your dog, and will make your garden a less interesting place for your pet to be.

You can keep pests away from your garden by using other plants or natural materials. A border of marigolds or onions around your veggies can prevent slugs. Wood ash, when used like mulch, can keep away pests after it is spread around a tree base and shrub seedlings. Using these natural methods will reduce the need for potentially harmful chemical pesticides.

TIP! When growing organic plants indoors, it is important to consider the amount of light that is available to them. If your house or apartment doesn’t get a lot of natural light, one option is to grow something that only requires medium or low light.

If you are planning on growing peas, begin the plantings inside instead of outside. The seeds will grow better in your home if planted there first. Seedlings will grow stronger, and withstand attacks from pests and diseases a lot better. Take the seedlings outdoors once they look strong enough.

Organic Mulch

TIP! Make sure you don’t let your chores pile up when it comes to your garden Sometimes it might prove difficult to get in a little gardening time every day. However, you shouldn’t fret, as there are a few things you can do that can minimize the time you spend gardening when you do manage to get to it.

Place a two inch layer of organic mulch at the base of your tall vegetable plants. The organic mulch will keep moisture in the soil for a little longer. In addition, it will keep the weeds from growing. This could save you lots of weed-pulling time.

TIP! When developing your compost pile, use equal measures of dried and green material. Examples of green plant material are spent flowers, fruit and vegetable waste, grass clippings, weeds, and leaves.

Carefully read and follow the instructions that come with your chemicals and tools, especially when you’re just starting to garden. If you don’t pay good attention, you could wind up with skin irritations or other issues. Keep yourself safe by carefully following all instructions.

TIP! When planting seeds into a container, the depth of your planting should be three times bigger than the seed. However, you should be aware that certain seeds should not be covered at all because they are required to be in the sunlight.

Aid them by dumping any leftover water from steaming vegetables over them. If you grow rhododendrons, azaleas or gardenias, increase the acid in your your soil by working in coffee or tea grounds. Chamomile tea is a natural way to rid your plants of a persistent fungus.

TIP! If slugs are a problem in your garden, use a beer trap to kill them naturally. Bury a canning jar so that the open mouth and the soil top are level.

Do not use broad-spectrum pesticides within your garden. These pesticides can also kill useful insects that eat your pests. 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. This will leave you using even more pesticides to fix the problem.

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. Check the weather for the next couple of days to see if you actually need to water your plants.

Garden for fall colors. That doesn’t have to be it though. The brightest season of the year when it comes to foliage is fall. Maple, beech, and dogwood trees are many colors in the fall, from yellow to a deeper crimson. Some vibrant shrubs include hydrangea, barberry, and cotoneaster.

TIP! It’s time to plant some organic garlic. Garlic cloves may be planted in soil with good drainage in either the spring or fall.

Avoid sun damage by dressing appropriately whenever you will be gardening in the sun. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. By protecting yourself from the sun’s rays, you lower your risk of getting sunburns or skin cancer.

TIP! If you are going to plant a shrub or a tree in your garden, dig an ugly hole for it to go in. If you see that the sides of the hole appear shiny, you’ve probably packed the dirt to tight, which can interfere with the roots.

If you want a sustainable garden, leave part of it undisturbed as a home for the wildlife in the area. As the natural wildlife begins to flourish, the various insects, birds, and other natural life around will all blend together and actually assist your garden as it begins to grow.

TIP! A great method to deter bugs in any organic garden is by planting garlic in several areas. Insect invaders will be put off by the smell.

If you plan to raise organic plants inside, you need to think about how much light they will get. 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 a plant which requires more light, you can invest in grow-lights.

With more knowledge comes a higher level of skill and success. Don’t forget that this advice is just the beginning.

Follow These Excellent Tips For A Beautiful Garden

~ craigb

TIP! Make sure that your sod is laid properly. Before laying the sod, the soil must be prepared.

Consider horticulture as a hobby with many benefits and rewards. Whether you grow veggies or flowers, there’s something about raising plants that is very rewarding. In this article, you will be shown different techniques to help you start a garden, and grow plants of your own.

TIP! If you see mildew that is powdery, stay away from expensive chemicals to treat it. Instead, combine baking soda with water and liquid soap.

A good way to ensure that your seeds sprout effectively is to start them in smaller pots and then transplant them once they reach the seedling stage. This will help the plants make it to full growth. You will then be able to lessen the time between planting your seeds. Once you remove the most recent mature plants from your garden, the seedlings are immediately ready to be planted.

TIP! Use climbers for covering fences and walls. You can hide an unsightly wall or fence, in as little as one growing season, with the right selection of climbing plant.

A handy trick is to turn the handle on a tool that you use often into a makeshift ruler. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes, and shovels can be converted into handy measuring sticks. On the floor, simply lay out the handles, then take a tape measure and run it next to them. Use a bright permanent marker and label the distances. This will allow you to have a ruler at your fingertips when you are working out in the garden.

TIP! As the weather turns colder, it is important to prepare your sensitive shrubs for the change. Fragile shrubs, that are planted in pots, should be covered to protect them during the cold season.

Keeping your garden soil rich and healthy is the best way to discourage garden pests. Healthy plants grown in robust and enriched soil have an advantage in fighting pest infestation. So give your garden a kick start by beginning with a healthy batch of natural and organic soil.

TIP! Know the ideal times to harvest each of the vegetables you plant. There is a specific time to pick every sort of vegetable in order to maximize its taste and cooking utility.

Use biennials and annuals to beautify your flower beds. Fast-growing annuals and biennials can brighten up a flower bed, and allow you to change the look from season to season and year to year. Use them to fill gaps between shrubs and perennials in the sun. Some of these that you might consider are petunias, marigolds and sunflowers. If those are not flowers you like, you can also try cosmos, holyhocks or rudbeckias.

Stink Bugs

TIP! Scent the grass around your garden with old perfume or discarded aftershave to prevent your dog from wandering into your garden. These scents overpower the garden’s scents, which causes your dog to lose interest.

If you’re planning on horticulture, carefully watch for stink bugs! You should be particularly careful during Autumn. Stink bugs like to reside in tomatoes, beans, and pepper plants, as well as many fruits. If you don’t treat them, they can do a lot of damage in your garden.

TIP! As you are working in your garden, you must take care to protect both knees. Many people experience back pain and stiffness from bending over and working in the garden for extended amounts of time.

As the weather turns colder, it is important to prepare your sensitive shrubs for the change. Cold weather significantly affects these plants, especially if they are in pots. Tie the tops tightly together, and cover the wigwam with a sheet or blanket draped loosely over it. This method is much better than wrapping the plant in plastic, as it allows air to circulate, which can prevent rotting.

TIP! Just as when outside, plants kept inside need varying degrees of sunlight, which can be harder to obtain from indoors. If you’re living in a home that doesn’t receive much sunlight, you should consider growing plants that thrive in environments with low to medium amounts of light.

You should divide irises. Splitting up overgrown groups of irises will allow you to easily increase the number of irises in your garden. Once the foliage has died off, lift out your bulbous irises. They will literally split in your hand, flowering the next year after replanting. Rhizomes may need to be divided by using a knife. Cut the new pieces from its outside and dispose of the older center. Each piece should retain a minimum of one sturdy offshoot capable of spurting new growth. Immediately replant all your selected cuttings.

TIP! In your flower beds and garden, utilize a few inches of organic mulch. Using this much mulch retards weed growth, locks in moisture, and ensures that your plants are well-nourished.

Don’t forget to use a good fertilizer in your garden. One type of fertilizer that really helps plants grow is manure, but be sure to utilize a type that is commercially composted to reduce the chances of pathogens. There are a number of options for fertilizer, but the truth is that what you use is unimportant; you just have to remember to use something.

TIP! You can kill weeds naturally. You can easily control weeds by using layered sheets of newspaper.

If you plan on growing peas, you should consider starting them indoors instead of beginning them outside. Pea seeds tend to germinate much better when planted indoors, before being moved to an outside garden. The seedlings tend to be healthier, which would help them resist diseases and pests more easily. Once they are strong enough, you can transplant them outside.

Organic Mulch

TIP! Water demands from plants will depend on the season and the climate in your area. Other factors that influence how much you need to water include time of day, soil factors and how hard your water is.

Spread a little bit of organic mulch, around two inches worth, in and about each vegetable plant. The organic mulch will keep moisture in the soil for a little longer. In addition, it will keep the weeds from growing. This will save you tons of time from pulling out tons of weeds.

TIP! Rotate your garden annually. If you keep planting the same thing in a particular area every year, it can cause a buildup of disease in the soil.

Be sure to buy a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool that you can use for your garden. It is important to protect your knees when you are kneeling in the garden, and a foam kneeling pad will help with that. Also, gardening can involve a lot of heavy lifting and moving items, therefore a robust wheelbarrow can make that aspect much easier.

TIP! Plant your own garlic with organic methods. Plant individual garlic cloves early in the spring or fall.

Choose one plant to be the focal point. In a well designed garden you should have a focal point so that your eyes will stay there. In most cases, an original plant makes a good focal point.

TIP! If you want your starts to thrive, take the time to look underneath the ground. Even if the plant looks lush on the upper leaves, the root system can have problems.

Gardening is a rewarding and pleasurable hobby. The benefits from a garden range from being able to eat great home grown food, to having a good looking flower garden that adds to the aesthetics of your home. By employing the ideas in the preceding paragraphs, you can elevate the rewards of your gardening to a whole new dimension.

Organic Gardening Tips That Are Fun And Easy

~ craigb

TIP! You can make your flower beds brighter with biennials and annuals. Your flower beds will look different from one season to another.

There are many people who’d like to have their own organic garden, but not many take the time to actually create one. This is because people often feel too discouraged or incompetent to try something that sounds as complicated and unusual as organic gardening. Read through this article and you can gain better insight on what it takes to start and grow your own organic garden; it’s not as hard as it may seem.

TIP! It is very important to keep the weeds from taking over in your garden. Those nasty weeds can turn your beautiful garden into a scruffy version of its former self.

Think about starting plants in pots, and then placing the seedlings in the garden later. Once the plant is hardy enough, plant it in your garden. In addition, you can shorten the intervals between your plantings. The seedlings are ready to go, once you remove the mature plants.

TIP! Before planting seeds, soak them overnight. Place them in a cupboard or other place where they won’t be exposed to light.

An excellent garden shouldn’t begin from plants. They should begin from seeds. When you grow a new garden, start the environmental way, from seeds. Since plastics that are in nurseries aren’t recycled very often and therefore usually wind up in landfills, you should begin with seeds or purchase from the nurseries that use natural materials in their plants’ packaging.

TIP! Using boiling water to kill weeds is both efficient and organic. A boiling pot of water is one the best and safest herbicides you can find.

Using natural materials in the garden will keep pests away. Onions and marigolds can help to deter slugs. Insects also avoid shrubs and trees that are mulched with wood ash. Doing these things can ensure that you do not need potentially harmful chemicals.

Organic Mulch

TIP! Do you enjoy fresh mint, but don’t like how they engulf your garden in their growth? Try to keep your mint in a container in your garden to stop their rampage. If you would like the mint leaves to still be in the ground, simply plant the container, and the leaves will stay within the boundaries of the pot.

Take the time to place organic mulch in the area around your vegetable plants. The organic mulch will keep moisture in the soil for a little longer. It also keeps weeds from growing. This can save you a lot of time and effort in pulling out the weeds.

TIP! If you decide to grow peas, think about planting them indoors when you first start them off, as opposed to planting them outdoors. The seeds will grow better in your home if planted there first.

Get a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool to work in your garden. In order to relieve stress on your knees when horticulture, always use a small garden stool to be more comfortable. There is also a lot of heavy lifting involved with gardening, so a good wheelbarrow is a great tool to have around.

TIP! Do not use broad-spectrum pesticides within your garden. If your pesticide has too wide a range of targets, it can kill off useful insects that fight off other pests.

Controlling pests in your vegetable garden can be extremely difficult to deal with. Since your vegetables are meant to be eaten, refrain from spraying them with harsh chemicals. The key to keeping garden pests at bay is to be relentless. In many cases, you can simply remove the pests from your plants by picking them off.

TIP! Choose a specific plant to become your garden’s focal point. There should be a solid focal point for every good garden design.

Pick a plant that will be a focal point. In any great garden design, a good focal point captures the eye. Mostly it is a distinctive plant that sets it apart from the neighboring plants and flowers.

Planting organic strawberries is a great way to encourage your children to get involved. Children enjoy picking fresh fruit, especially if they can eat it right away.

TIP! If you have plants inside, make sure the thermostat stays between 65 and 75 degrees. The temperature needs to remain steady and warm so the plants can grow.

Add aspirin to your plants to help them fight sickness. One and half tablets of aspirin in a couple gallons of water will be a wonderful help to the plants you have. The solution can then be used to spray the entire plant, and will offer protection naturally. Spraying should be one time every three weeks.

TIP! Try to work in your garden at least a short time each day. No matter what your schedule is like, you should be able to fit in small things that will help you avoid having an overwhelming amount of work all at once.

In order to maximize the efficiency of your horticulture, ensure your gardening tools are kept close by you. You can keep them in a good sized bucket, or wear utility pants that have plenty of large pockets. Have shears, a trowel, gloves and other commonly used garden tools portable and easy to access.

Pine Needles

TIP! If organic gardening is something you desire to do, it’s critical that you are aware of the proper method to make beds. To start this, slice underneath your turf with a spade.

Pine can make a great mulch. Some plants need acidic soil to grow properly, because of their own acid content. If your garden contains plants like this, there are few things simpler than spreading some pine needles across your beds. If you spread a few inches of pine needles around your garden beds, when they break down, the acid they contain will leach into the soil.

TIP! When getting ready to plant a tree or a shrub in your organic garden, try digging an ugly hole to plant them in. If you place a plant in a hole with glazed sides, the roots will not be able to penetrate the soil properly.

As a good general practice, you should make sure to plant your seeds three seed-widths deep into their containers. Be aware that some seeds shouldn’t be covered, as they need sunlight. Some of these seeds are petunias and ageratum. When in doubt about whether a seed requires direct sun exposure, you can find lots of information online or on the seed packaging itself.

TIP! There are a variety of plants that are possible to be grown in organic gardens. Many acid-loving plants love mulch.

When you run your personal organic garden, try ruffling seedlings using your hands or cardboard one or two times daily. This will make your plants grow faster and they will get bigger than they would have without this practice.

TIP! While you may have heard a few things here and there about composting, how much do you really know about it? Good compost is a combination of grass clippings, produce scraps, leaves, straw and wood chips or small twigs that has broken down into “pseudo-soil.” Compost adds nutrients to your soil without the dangers of commercial fertilizers.

If you want to sell your crops, you should become a certified organic gardener. This attracts customers who are willing to drive a little farther and pay a little more for products that are safe and healthy.

TIP! Garlic strategically located throughout your garden is a great way to keep the insect pests away without using chemicals. Garlic functions as a repellent for many insects.

Check the roots of your plants. Evaluate each tomato and check for green starts, as they generally have bad root systems that impede growth. These starts will stick to the seedlings for quite some time, which prevents the seedlings from growing until the starts are gone.

TIP! Don’t waste or discard that precious rainwater. Use barrels or buckets to catch water for your garden.

If you keep these various tips in mind, horticulture should not be so daunting. Start applying some of the tips presented above, and in the near future, you could have your very own productive organic garden.

Tips, Tricks, And Advice For A Thriving Garden

~ craigb

TIP! Do not plant perennials that are prone to snail infestation. Slugs and snails will quickly destroy your garden if you let them.

Many people want an organic garden, but never try it. Fear of failure, given the great care and consideration that must go into it, often scare people away. Once you’ve read through this article, you will feel more confident about creating the garden of your dreams.

TIP! Use annuals and biennials to brighten your flower garden. These fast growth plants make flower beds vibrant, and they let you alter the appearance seasonally and annually.

Think about planting your seeds in indoor pots and then transplanting them to your garden once they become seedlings. Your plants will have a better chance of getting big and healthy! This is also a good way to tighten up your planting schedule. You can plant the seedlings once you have removed the old plants.

TIP! Use climbing vines or plants to cover fences and walls. Many climbers are so robust that they can cover an unattractive wall or fence in a single growing season.

For flowers throughout the spring and the summer, be sure to plant some bulbs. Bulbs are usually very hearty and very easy to grow, and bulbs will grow year after year. You can select bulbs that bloom at many different times, so with a little work, you could have flowers popping up all the way from the start of spring to the end of summer.

Grow wheat or cat grass in the area around the plants that your cat is eating. Try putting mothballs or citrus on your soil to wards pets away.

TIP! Make a landscaping plan before you dig your first hole. Planning gives you a map of your garden.

Always have a plan for the garden prior to the start of planting it. It will be easy to remember where each plant is when sprouts start to shoot up the following spring. You are also less likely to lose smaller members of the larger garden in the overall mix.

TIP! If you have many low-growing plants in your garden, get yourself a pair of gardening knee pads. The amount of time that you spend gardening on your knees can make your knees hurt by the time you are done.

Try and maintain daily aerated and dried plants. Moisture on the surfaces of your plants is an invitation to pests and illness. Fungus is a common problem when plants are allowed to remain damp. Although fungi can be treated with sprays, it is possible to preempt the problem and very important to plant health that you do so.

TIP! Instead of leaving clumps of irises intact, divide them so that your flowers can grow in a more healthy manner. To increase the number that you have, you need to take all your overgrown clumps and split them up.

Take the time to spread around five centimeters of organic mulch near your vegetable plants. The mulch will add beneficial moisture to your soil. This also helps reduce the appearance of weeds. Every gardener can appreciate pulling fewer weeds.

TIP! A great way to ensure that your organic garden will do well is to keep a section of your land unspoiled. The natural wildlife will spring up and make for a perfect organic habitat.

You don’t have to plant just for spring and summer. Consider what are often beautiful colors in the fall. That idea is actually far from the truth. the most colorful foliage appears in the fall. Fall trees sport a variety of colorful leaves that range from subtle yellows to rich crimsons. Some very good shrubs to choose are barberry, hydrangea, and cotoneaster, which is a member of the rose family.

TIP! After sprouting occurs, you will not need to keep seeds as warm. You can begin to move them further from the heat source as they become seedlings.

While you garden, it’s important that you wear the right clothing to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Always apply sunscreen with an adequate SPF level. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Finally, throw on a wide-brimmed hat to protect your scalp. Protecting yourself from harmful UV rays means you are less likely to get sunburned or suffer skin cancer later in life.

TIP! Try to avoid letting your organic garden chores build up. You may not have a lot of time to exclusively devote to your gardening hobby, but you can make the most of the time you do have.

During the day, when the weather is hot, vegetables tend to be softer, which causes them to be damaged even if you gently pick them. You can also protect both your vegetables and the plant they grow on by cutting them off instead of twisting them off.

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 will make your plants grow faster and they will get bigger than they would have without this practice.

If you are looking at creating an endurable organic garden, you should think about keeping some of your property vacant so that wildlife may flourish there. A natural area will allow beneficial birds and insects, many of which pollinate plants, to live on your property and help your garden grow stronger.

TIP! Construct raised flower beds of brick, stone, or wood. For best results, you should only use wood that has not been treated with chemicals or protective coating.

Cover your flower beds with two or three inches of compost or organic mulch. Covering the beds with mulch serves multiple purposes; it helps the flowers by retaining moisture and adding nutrients, and it discourages the growth of unwanted plants. It also adds a uniform and cohesive look to the garden.

TIP! Over-watering your plants can be harmful, because roots that are drowning in water cannot effectively pull nutrients out of the soil. Before heading out to water your plants, check the weather to see if rain is included in the immediate forecast.

Get added value from your property. You can get a very high return from improving your home through landscaping. Some plants can even raise your home value about 20%. For landscaping your yard, pick out plant species that fit your climate and require little watering.

TIP! Any gardening can connect you with Mother Nature, but particularly if you employ organic gardening techniques. You will be a witness of the growing process of many different plants and understand how a whole ecosystem functions.

Stay on top of your organic gardening to-do list, and don’t let the work pile up. 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 put the dog outside, weed a few spots in the garden while your dog goes to the bathroom.

TIP! An easy to grow plant to grow in your organic garden is garlic. Cloves should be planted whole during the fall or early spring months.

When planting seeds in containers, remember that the planting depth should be around three times bigger than the seed size. There are some seeds, however, that you should not cover at all, since they need sunlight to germinate. Two common examples of this type of seed are ageratum and petunias. If you are unsure about your seed’s requirements for sunlight, the resources are often provided along with the seeds, or you can find out online.

TIP! Use a soaker hose to water your organic garden. These hoses let water out slowly at a regular rate.

To be able to say you have legitimate organic and credible crops, you will need to be certified as having an organic garden. This will increase your sales, and it will prove to your customers that they have quality products.

Organic Gardening

TIP! Compost is incredibly useful in organic gardening, but what is it made of? Compost is actually a mixture of grass clippings, wood-chips, leaves, produce scraps, twigs, and straw which all breaks down to “psuedo-soil”. Use compost instead of fertilizer that you buy at the store.

Once you know more about organic gardening, getting started should not be so intimidating. Use any combination of the above tips to improve your organic gardening efforts and have a table laden with scrumptious, wholesome produce you harvested from your garden.

Need Advice On Organic Horticulture? Look No Further Than This Article!

~ craigb

TIP! The correct soil can make a big difference in how your garden grows. The kind of plants you want in your garden should let you know what kind of soil you need to get.

Most people have heard tales about the proficiency of organic foods and most have probably seen them around, yet not many have actually taken the time to enjoy them. You are probably aware of which foods are organic. These have different packages and cost a bit more. Continue on for some great organic horticulture tips, so you can learn how to grow one at home.

TIP! Check the nutrients in the soil before you plant your garden. Consider getting a soil analysis and working on enrichment techniques for giving your garden a vibrant and healthy environment.

Analyze the soil before you even get started with working in a garden. There are soil testing services that can analyze a garden’s soil content for a small charge. With those results, it’s then possible to refine and supplement the soil to make it as fertile as possible. 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! A

Try to ensure your plants are dry and have enough air, daily! If you have excess moisture, this can attract bugs or diseases. One parasite you have to watch out for in particular is fungi. You can control fungi with fungicides, but you must remember to use it before you notice any problems in order for it to work.

TIP! If you are planning on growing peas, start them indoors before putting them outdoors in your garden. Install your plants inside and wait for the seeds to germinate.

Fertilizer is important when you garden. Manure is very effective in helping plants grow, although it is important to use a commercially composted product to minimize the risk of pathogens. The options for fertilizing are vast and include environmentally sound choices, so no matter which you choose, just be sure to use one.

Organic Mulch

TIP! Do not use broad-spectrum pesticides within 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.

Place a two inch layer of organic mulch at the base of your tall vegetable plants. The organic mulch will keep moisture in the soil for a little longer. This is also efficient in preventing weeds from growing. This will save you having to constantly pull weeds.

TIP! Have one plant be the most interesting eye-grabber in your garden. There should be a solid focal point for every good garden design.

Give them a nutritious drink by using the water that you boiled your veggies in. Used teabags or grounds from coffee are a great way to add acid to the soil. Chamomile tea can be effective if you have problems with fungus in your garden. Simply sprinkle it on the affected plant.

TIP! Allow your children to actively participate in planting your organic garden. Gardening is a great way for children to learn, and it gives you two a chance to spend some quality time together and produce healthy food.

When gardening, don’t use any broad-spectrum pesticides. These pesticides will also kill any beneficial insects that consume the pests you are trying to get rid of. 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. If this happens, you just fuel an expanding cycle of needing even more pesticides.

TIP! Try to put an aspirin in the water to get rid of plant diseases. Dissolve three aspirin in four gallons of water.

Avoid damage from the sun by dressing correctly when you garden. Wear hats and sunglasses, and make use of sunscreen. Wearing sun protection is important to help ward off the unnecessary pain of sunburn, and it will help lessen your skin cancer risk, too.

TIP! It is important to keep the temperature set between 65 and 75 degrees, if you wish to raise plants in the home. They need the temperature to be that warm so that they can grow.

During the day, when the weather is hot, vegetables tend to be softer, which causes them to be damaged even if you gently pick them. When you remove the produce from the plant, use shears or a knife to cut them from the vine without twisting, as this can damage the plant.

TIP! Include both green and dry plant refuse in your compost. Examples of good green material to use for compost include grass clippings, flowers, leaves, and weeds.

If you want to draw advantageous insects to your garden, plant some heather. Bees love heather, and when the heather blooms in early spring, it provides a good nectar source for them. Spiders, ground beetles and other insects helpful to your garden tend to live in a heather bed, because heather beds are generally undisturbed. Because of this, you might want to invest in a good pair of gardening gloves for the times when you need to prune it.

Involve your children in gardening. Gardens are terrific teaching tools for kids, and provide great opportunities for interaction, growth, and instruction on healthy living.

TIP! Over-watering your plants can be harmful, because roots that are drowning in water cannot effectively pull nutrients out of the soil. Before watering your organic garden, check weather forecasts to determine if it is likely to rain later that day.

Strawberries are a great plant to grow in any organic garden, especially if you happen to have kids or any strawberry lover in your home. Children love to snap up these sweet juicy fruits for themselves and will be much more willing to eat other foods you’ve planted as well.

TIP! To become a great organic gardener, you need to look under the surface! Look out for green starts that are lush that might have bad root systems when you start purchasing tomato seedlings to help your organic garden prosper. These starts will stick to the seedlings for quite some time, which prevents the seedlings from growing until the starts are gone.

You’ll save time and energy if you keep tools nearby while working in your garden. Carry your tools in a bucket, or keep them in the pockets of a pair of rugged pants. Have shears, a trowel, gloves and other commonly used garden tools portable and easy to access.

TIP! Many different sorts of plants will grown in an organic garden. Mulch is something that you will likely rely on quite heavily, particularly for acid-loving plants.

Use several inches of organic materials for mulch in your flower beds. By doing this, you can lock in moisture, discourage weed growth, and nourish your plants. As an added bonus, a nice mulch can help make your garden look more finished.

TIP! Try to save any rainwater. Water from rain can be trapped in many contraptions, from simple buckets to large rain barrels.

Pine is a mulch that is great. A number of plants commonly grown in garden settings do best in an acidic soil. Plants like these thrive when you use pine needles as mulch. Cover the surface of the ground with a two-inch layer of the pine needles; as the needles break down, they will release acid into the soil and nourish your plants.

TIP! You can fertilize your organic garden with homemade compost. You can start off with something small, like a worm composting bin.

Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you’re eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you’ve learned here and get started on your garden today.

Organic Gardening Can Be Fun With These Tips

~ craigb

TIP! The handles on your gardening tools can be used as a convenient measuring instrument. Tools that can be used for more than one task are quite handy to own.

A garden can provide far more than just decorative appeal. It isn’t just a hobby or pastime for green-thumbed enthusiasts. Gardens give the people working on them a feeling of serenity and a close bond with nature. The effects can be especially profound if horticulture is something you excel at.

TIP! Prior to planting anything in your garden, check your soil. You can do a soil sample analysis for an affordable fee and then know what you need to properly treat your soil with so you can grow the best plants.

When you’re out and about in the garden, particularly in the fall, keep an eye out for sink bugs. Stinkbugs are most prevalent on tomatoes, beans and peppers. Stink bugs may get out of hand and do significant damage in your garden. It is important to take steps to eliminate them from that area.

TIP! Plants need CO2 grow well. In general, higher amounts of CO2 are related to better plant growth.

If you want your garden to sport flowers in the spring as well as summer, plant bulbs. Bulbs are hearty and will continue to grow every 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! In a place that’s dark, pre-soak the seeds. Take 3-4 seeds, put them in a small jar or container, and cover them with water.

Your vegetable garden should get at least six hours of sun daily. Pretty much any vegetable you plant in your garden requires sunshine for this duration. It allows them to grow in the proper manner and also much faster. This holds true for some types of flowers.

TIP! Plant a little catnip or wheatgrass in the area surrounding the plants that your cat is devouring. Alternatively, you can try putting mothballs, citrus peel or anything else with an odor that cats find distasteful in the soil surrounding the plants.

Try to keep your plants aerated and dry, every day. Moisture not only attracts parasites, but also makes it easier for your plants to contract diseases. Fungi is the most common parasite for plants. To control fungi, use a fungicide spray on the area before you notice any problems.

Mint Leaves

TIP! Use fertilizer for maximum planting success. Composted manure is effective in raising healthy plants, and commercial fertilizer products are safer and more convenient.

Do you love fresh mint leaves but hate how they quickly grow to take over your garden? Control their expansion by confining them to a large pot. The container will keep the roots from spreading throughout you garden, and prevent the mint leaves from sprouting in other areas.

TIP! Using pest-resistant plants or natural materials in your garden is a good way to keep pests away. For example, slugs can be deterred by the presence of marigolds or onions.

Familiarize yourself with the optimum harvesting time of your vegetables. Most vegetables have a relatively small harvesting window when they will taste best. For instance, zucchini and baby peas have the best taste when you pick them early. Yet, in reverse, tomatoes must wait for prime-ripeness before they are subject to being picked. So, make sure you do some research, and find out when the best time to harvest your vegetables is.

TIP! Be aware of the optimum time frame for harvesting vegetables. Each type of vegetables has its own ideal time for picking for the best flavor.

If you have a vegetable garden, it can be quite difficult to decide what to do about pest control. It is wise to limit the use of harsh chemicals, because the vegetables will be eaten. There is only one way to effectively control pests in your garden, and that is to stay vigilant in your efforts. When you are vigilant, you can simply remove the pests from your plants manually as soon as you notice them. Early detection is the best solution to ridding your garden of pests.

TIP! Pest control can be very difficult when dealing with a vegetable garden. You want to avoid spraying harsh chemicals since the vegetables are meant for consumption.

Prevent damage from the sun by making sure you dress correctly whenever you go outside to garden. Wear sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and sunblock. Protecting yourself from the sun will lower your chances of getting skin cancer, as well as prevent premature aging from sun damage.

TIP! Pick one plant to serve as your garden’s focal point. When you design your garden, think of a great focal point that will grab attention and add interest.

Vegetables are softer when they are warmer, increasing the risk that you will damage them. Do not twist the vegetable to remove it from the vine; instead, cut the stem to avoid damaging the plant.

TIP! Put coffee grounds in your soil. Coffee grounds are filled with nutritional elements plants need, such as nitrogen.

Are you a parent? If you are, try planting some strawberries like everbearing strawberries in your garden. Kids really enjoy plucking snacks directly from the ground, and may have greater enthusiasm for the work if they see the results of their labor right away.

TIP! When planting seeds in containers, plant the seed roughly three times deeper than the seed’s size. It is important to note though, that not all seeds are covered to this depth, as some need direct sunlight to grow properly.

Add aspirin to your plants to help them fight sickness. An aspirin and a half, combined with a couple of gallons of water, will do amazing things for your plants. The solution can then be used to spray the entire plant, and will offer protection naturally. Plants should be sprayed once every two to three weeks.

TIP! A beer trap is an effective way of of dealing with any slugs that invade your organic garden. Take a glass jar and bury it in your garden, making sure that the lip of the jar is even with the soil.

Your seeds, once they begin sprouting, don’t need the same amount of warmth as they did before. It’s important to move the plants away from any heat source as they grow larger. Make sure you remember to remove any plastic films that were on the plant containers to repel humidity and warmth. You should know when the right time is if you are keeping an eye on the seeds.

Flower Beds

TIP! One of the benefits of organic produce over commercial produce is that it is not spayed with any toxic pesticides. This is great for the health of your family, but you will still have to regularly check your plants for bugs and pests.

In your flower beds and garden, utilize a few inches of organic mulch. This will help to inhibit weed growth, helps to lock in moisture, and adds needed nutrients to your organic garden. In addition, your flower beds will have a beautiful, finished appearance year round.

TIP! The watering of organic garden plants should be done with care. Visit a home and garden center to purchase a soaker hose.

Pine needles make a great organic mulch. A number of plants commonly grown in garden settings do best in an acidic soil. If that’s the case, the easiest thing to do is use pine needles for beds. Cover up your beds with a few inches of needles. As they start to decompose, they’ll spread out acid onto the ground and soil.

TIP! Laying mulch is a wonderful way to keep your garden vibrant. It also has the added benefit of keeping the soil moister and reducing the likelihood of weeds.

It can be hard to grow an organic garden without chemicals, but the end result is worth the effort. Growing organic is healthier and just overall better for you. Make sure you try your best to grow organic as opposed to adding chemicals to your garden.

TIP! Healthy gardens cannot exist without water. Your plants need it to survive.

Garlic can be simple to grow organically. It’s best to plant garlic cloves in either spring or fall. Make sure the soil is drained well. Plant individual cloves pointed end up approximately two inches deep and four inches apart. Green garlic can be cur directly from the plant and used in a pinch instead of scallions or chives. Harvest the garlic bulbs when the tops of the plants turn brown. Allow the sun to dry out the bulbs for a few days until the skin gets hard. Store them in a cool, dry location. You can store them as loose bulbs, or fasten them together into bunches.

TIP! Use a mix of ammonia with water to keep the snails away. The ammonia won’t hurt the fragile plants, and it will later convert to useful nitrogen.

Use the tips you just read to revitalize your garden with your new found green thumb. When your plants bloom and come alive you will feel tremendous joy and satisfaction. Horticulture is a way of relieving stress and making the world a prettier place so go out and start growing things and bringing life back to the world.