plant materials

Useful Advice For Organic Horticulture

~ craigb

TIP! Digging in hard clay soil is made even more difficult because it sticks to the shovel. To ease the digging, apply some car wax or floor wax to the head of the shovel and buff.

Organic horticulture is a movement that is rapidly gathering satisfied followers. With the advice provided here, you’ll soon be learning how to create your very own organic garden. Use these tricks and tips to get the best results.

TIP! You don’t need expensive chemicals to treat powdery mildew on plants. Plain water with a bit of liquid soap and baking soda will do the trick.

When selecting among several varieties of a plant, choose the ones that will produce the largest yield. 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.

TIP! If your soil has high alkaline amounts, mix some coffee grounds into it. Using coffee grounds is a less expensive way to make your soil more acidic than trying to replace your topsoil.

Don’t bother with expensive chemicals if your plants start to sport powdery mildew. Mix a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda into water. Spray this on your plants once a week until the mildew disappears. Do not worry about your plants; the baking soda cannot harm them.

TIP! Keep your fragile shrubs protected from the winter weather. If you’ve got tender shrubs which are potted, you need to protect them from cold weather.

Make sure your soil is healthy enough before you start planting anything. A soil analysis report can be acquired for a nominal fee. You can then use the results of that report to determine if the soil needs to be modified before you begin planting. Save yourself the trouble of a failed crop by contacting your local Cooperative Extension to preform the soil test.

TIP! Protect yourself from sun overexposure while gardening by wearing the proper clothing. Make sure you wear a wide brimmed hat along with sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen.

A certain amount of CO2 is necessary for plants to maximize their growth potential. In general, higher amounts of CO2 are related to better plant growth. Growing plants in a greenhouse is the best way to contain CO2 for use by your plants. Higher CO2 levels can provide optimal conditions for growing plants.

TIP! Consider planting strawberries, especially ones that are everbearing, for your garden if you have small children. Kids are quite eager to pick fruit from a garden, and will help with the planting if they get a nice snack out of it at the end.

Stink bugs can damage your garden, especially if you garden in the fall. Stinkbugs are most prevalent on tomatoes, beans and peppers. If left uncontrolled, they can cause substantial damage in your garden, so make plans for how to protect your plants from these pests.

TIP! If you’re growing indoor organic plants, you should ensure that you think about how much light is available for them. Almost every type of plant you grow requires ample sunlight, so think about how much natural light you home receives or if you perhaps need to supplement with UV lamps.

Protect your delicate shrubs from harsh, wintry elements. Shrubs in pots especially need special care in the colder weather. Tie together the tops. Once the canes are snugly together, put a sheet over the wigwam. Using fabric, rather than plastic, allows air circulation and prevents rotting from moisture build up.

TIP! It’s simple to quickly prepare your soil for the planting of a perennial garden. Use your spade in a slicing motion to cut a flap of turf.

Ensuring your plants are both dry and aerated is a great way to keep them healthy. Moisture on the surfaces of your plants is an invitation to pests and illness. A common parasite to plants is fungi. You can rid your garden of fungi with fungicidal sprays. However, it is best to treat your garden before there are problems.

TIP! After seeds have sprouted, they require less warmth than they did prior to sprouting. After growth begins, you can remove plants from any excessive heat sources.

If you are going to grow peas, start them inside rather then planting them outdoors. Install your plants inside and wait for the seeds to germinate. The seedlings will also be heartier, which means they can resist pests and diseases better. After the seedlings have grown strong indoors, it will be time for you to transplant them to outdoor beds.

TIP! Spend your time working efficiently in your organic garden. You do not have the time to spend an hour looking for each tool you need.

If you have a vegetable garden, it can be quite difficult to decide what to do about pest control. One major benefit of growing your own produce is knowing that they haven’t been treated with pesticides and other harsh chemicals. One way that you can help control garden pests is to remain vigilant. If you discover the pests when they first infest your plants, the best way to remove them is to pick them off manually.

TIP! Increase the value of your property! Landscaping increases your house’s curb appeal and give you a good return for the money invested. Certain plants could increase the value by 20%.

You should protect the knees if you are kneeling in the garden. Bending over from a standing position is something many people cannot do. Concentrate on kneeling. This will still make it easy to reach plants as well as minimize back stress. 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.

TIP! In order to construct your raised beds, make use of untreated brick, stone, wood and other materials. Be sure to use wood that is naturally resistant to rotting and that has not been treated.

When you are cultivating an organic garden inside, you should think about the lighting situation. If your residential space has limited sunlight, it will be best that you grow plants that are ideal for this type of environment. If you cannot achieve success merely through plant selection, consider using artificial light sources.

TIP! Know what you can and cannot use in your organic garden. Try using organic substitutes for the typical chemical fertilizers.

As your seeds sprout, they require less warmth than before. It’s important to move the plants away from any heat source as they grow larger. Take any plastic film off of your containers because they hold in heat and humidity. Monitor the seeds carefully so you know the best time to do it.

TIP! Open your imagination as to what type of plants you would like to plant into your organic garden. Mulch is something that you will likely rely on quite heavily, particularly for acid-loving plants.

Old laundry baskets are handy tools at harvest time. This will be like a strainer for all your produce. Just rinse the produce right in the basket; the water will drain through the holes.

Green Plant

TIP! Plant trees on your property in such a way as to maximize the amount of shade they provide your house. Your home will benefit from natural shade and so will your utility bill.

Your compost pile should contain green plant materials and dry plant materials. Green plant material can include items such as leftover produce waste, grass clippings and leaves. Dried plant matter, on the other hand, includes shredded paper, used wood chips and straw. Avoid using ashes, charcoal, diseased plants and meat-eating animal manure.

TIP! Add fruit peels and leftover pieces of fruits to your compost pile. The leftover bits from your kitchen make a great compost material that is virtually free and give your plants important nutrients.

You can find a lot of information on how to keep any unwanted pests away by researching local botanical insecticides. Sometimes natural insecticides are more efficient than the synthetic pesticides you can buy. The distinguishing factor of botanical varieties is that they will decay much more quickly and will be eliminated from your environment faster.

TIP! Plant garlic all around your garden to deter most determined pests. The smell is unpleasant for many kinds of insects.

When setting up an organic garden, plant tomatoes three weeks apart. This allows your harvest to grow in stages. Additionally, if one crop is damaged in some way, you will still have more to look forward to.

TIP! Make a tent over your organic garden during the winter by using some materials around your home. Take a few bean poles and place them at the corners of your plant beds.

You just have to be patient if you want to get your organic garden into tip top shape. Apply the tips and techniques from this article to your efforts, and witness for yourself just how awesome your horticulture can be. Just remember to apply these tips as you have read them and your garden should do just fine.

Want Flowers In Your Garden All Year Long? Try These Tips.

~ craigb

TIP! Digging in hard clay soil is made even more difficult because it sticks to the shovel. 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.

In the world of organic gardening, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced organic gardeners alike. There are many e-guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This set of tips contains some of the best advice for helping a good organic gardener become a great organic gardener.

TIP! Create useful rulers from your tool handles. You can use shovels or rakes as measuring sticks.

To prevent shocking your plants, you must gradually introduce new temperatures and other conditions to them. The first day you transfer your plants, you should only allow them to sit in direct sunlight for a few hours. Over one week, gradually build up the amount of hours you leave the plants outside. Once the transition is complete, your plants will probably be able to tolerate the outdoor conditions.

TIP! Healthy soil will also assist in your battle against pests. If your plants are healthy, they can more easily resist insects and disease.

Think about planting your seeds in indoor pots and then transplanting them to your garden once they become seedlings. They are more likely to survive the transition to adulthood with this method. This also enables you to close gaps between planting cycles. Once you’ve removed the previous group of plants, your seedlings can go into the ground.

TIP! Use climbers for covering fences and walls. Climbing plants are extremely versatile, helping to hide an ugly fence or wall, often within one growing season.

If beautiful flowers throughout the warmer months are important to you, make sure you put bulbs into the ground. Most bulbs are extremely hearty and grow easily. They also come back year after year. Choose from the variety of bulbs that bloom at various times of the growing season for a garden of color all spring and summer long.

Knee Pads

TIP! A garden needs the right type of soil to grow properly. Pay a small fee to have your soil analyzed, and you’ll be glad that you did when you understand what nutrients your soil is lacking.

If your garden requires a lot of low work, then save yourself some strain by investing in knee pads. Without pads, you may have pain in your knees from spending too much time kneeling on the hard ground. Using a pair of quality knee pads designed for gardening can provide your knees with cushioning and support, preventing any discomfort.

TIP! Grow wheat or cat grass in the area around the plants that your cat is eating. You could also repel your pet by planting rosemary or placing citrus fruit peels around your garden.

The best gardens start with seeds, as opposed to plants. When starting a new garden, the most environmentally friendly way is to start from seed. Plastic used in nurseries normally end up in landfills. For an garden that helps the environment, plant seeds directly in the garden’s soil or purchase plants grown in organic packaging.

TIP! When mowing your lawn do not cut it as short as possible. If you leave some of the grass when you mow, the roots grow further into the ground, which makes the grass less prone to drying and other hazards.

Look for evergreen variants that produce berries. These evergreens will color your lawn, even when other flowers are not blooming. Other winter plants include the American Holly, Winterberry, The American Cranberrybush and the Common Snowberry.

TIP! A set of knee pads is a great investment if your garden has a lot of low-growing plants. Weeding, watering and picking through your vegetation can cause a lot of damage to your knees if left unprotected.

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 sunglasses and hats with wide brims, and apply sunscreen. When using the right protection in the sun, you will lower your chance of getting a sunburn and decrease your risk of getting skin cancer.

TIP! If you find yourself in love with mint leaves, but not with how they dominate a garden, read on. Keep your mint growth under control by planting them in pots and/or garden containers.

One way to create a great organic garden is to allow for a portion of your yard to be undeveloped for wildlife. You will find that many of the supporting cast of insects and birds that aid in plant production and pollination will be present on your land and actually help your developed gardens to produce better.

TIP! An excellent garden shouldn’t begin from plants. They should begin from seeds.

You must consider how much light is available when starting your plants indoors. Almost every type of plant you grow requires ample sunlight, so think about how much natural light you home receives or if you perhaps need to supplement with UV lamps. If you want to grow plants that need a lot of light, consider using artificial lighting.

TIP! Look for targeted pesticides instead of using popular but damaging broad-spectrum products. Besides killing the insects you don’t want, this type of pesticide will also kill beneficial insects.

Before planting any perennials, you have to make the ground ready. 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. Wait two weeks, then dig in and plant the new perennials.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! Put coffee ground into your soil. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, an essential nutrient for plant growth.

Use coffee grounds on your soil. The grounds contain essential nitrogen, which will benefit your plants in many ways. Plants need nitrogen in order to thrive, so give it a natural source with coffee grounds, then watch everything come to life much more quickly.

TIP! Don’t let all the little chores in your organic garden build up. While you may not be able to spend a lot of time every day in your garden, even little items done daily will stop the mountain of work from growing.

Get the most value from your property. Landscaping your yard will bring you a big return on your investment. A few select plants can raise your property value dramatically. You should purchase plants that are well-suited to your landscape and environmental conditions.

Plant Materials

TIP! When you are growing seedlings in your organic garden, lightly brush over them using your hand up to twice a day. This will sound a bit strange.

Your compost pile should contain green plant materials and dry plant materials. Green plant material can include items such as leftover produce waste, grass clippings and leaves. For the dry end of the spectrum, think of things like paper and cardboard, sawdust, hay, etc. Materials to avoid during composting include diseased plants, meat, ashes and charcoal.

TIP! Buy a soaker hose if you plan to plant an organic garden. 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.

Try using untreated stone, brick, or wood to create a raised bed. Choose a wood that is resistant to rot and does not contain any chemicals. Optimal wood choices that fit these criteria are locust, cypress, and cedar. In a vegetable garden, never use treated wood, as the chemicals can leach out into the soil and food crops. If you have placed treated wood in your garden, line it with a coat of plastic.

TIP! You should plant trees in a manner that allows them to serve as shade for your home. You can get more savings on energy bills because the shade you get from the trees will cool your home naturally.

Among the most important features of organic produce is the fact that it has not been exposed to harmful pesticides. Although this is better for your health, you do need to check organic produce for infestation of bugs before eating it.

TIP! If you don’t want to put lots of money into buying fertilizer, try making compost. You can do this by creating a worm composting bin.

Annually rotate your garden. Keeping plants that belong to the same family in the same place can eventually spark fungus growth and disease. The diseases and fungi are harbored in the soil and are ready to make a comeback each year. By using the crop rotation method, you will be able to ward off disease and fungus naturally.

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

After you have read the suggestions here, you will have a better idea of what you need in order to be an organic gardener. There are many resources available; you just have to learn how to find and use them. If you keep this information in mind, you should be able to grow a great organic garden in no time.

How To Be Successful With Organic Horticulture

~ craigb

TIP! Clay soil can be a real pain to work with as it often sticks to the end of the shovel. Try applying a coat of wax onto your spade prior to working with clay soil, and then buff the spade head with a cloth.

You may feel that the subject of horticulture is a bit daunting, but the truth is that you will have no problem learning all of the information and skills necessary to succeed. The tips you will find below will pave your way towards horticulture success.

TIP! Start your plants in containers, and then transplant the seedlings into the garden later on. They are more likely to survive the transition to adulthood with this method.

Transplanting plants and bringing them indoors can protect them from harsh winters. Maybe you’d like to save the most expensive plants you have or the most resistant. Dig carefully around the roots and transfer the plants to a pot.

TIP! If you have a wall or fence that you do not like, plant climbers to mask its appearance. Plants that climb are extraordinarily versatile, and can help hide an unsightly wall or fence, usually within one season.

When it’s autumn, it’s time to start planting all of your fall 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. Once you’ve done that, you can plant!

Knee Pads

TIP! Your garden can really benefit from evergreens featuring berries. These evergreens will color your lawn, even when other flowers are not blooming.

If your plants do not grown very tall, try buying some knee pads used for gardening. Gardening is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable; you don’t want to finish every horticulture session with aching, throbbing knees. Knee pads offer your knees the extra cushioning they need to stay comfortable during extended periods in the garden.

TIP! Be sure to buy a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool that you can use for your garden. You can make gardening much more comfortable on your knees by using a portable garden stool.

Try dousing weeds in your garden with boiling water to get rid of them. A pot of boiling hot water can be one of the most safe weed destroyers. Literally pour the water on the weeds, avoiding any wanted plants near them, and watch the weeds die over time. Boiling water damages weed and plant roots, so be sure to avoid the plants you don’t want to eliminate.

TIP! Choose one plant and make it the focal point of your garden. To create an attractive garden design, arrange a focal point to draw attention.

Always fertilize your garden. Manure is probably the best fertilizer. Choose a commercial product to reduce the risks of pathogen exposure. There are a wide variety of fertilizing options available, although which type you use is not that important; just make sure to use something.

TIP! Pick your vegetables when the temperature is moderate to avoid bruising them. For vegetables growing on vines, cut them carefully rather than twisting them off to avoid damage to the plant.

Start peas inside in a container, rather than planting the seeds outdoors. If you were to plant them inside first, the seeds should germinate better. It will create heartier seedlings, which means they will more easily resist the pests and diseases they will encounter in an outdoor environment. Transplant them outside when they are fully established and able to thrive.

TIP! Involve your children in gardening. Gardening helps your children learn about biological processes and serves as a social activity that helps the family grow closer while eating healthier.

During the hottest hours of each day, your vegetables become too soft, and even gentle harvesting will cause damage and bruising. You should also be sure to cut them off the vine and not twist them, as twisting can hurt the plant.

TIP! Make sure that you take time to properly plant any seeds that you buy. Start by getting the soil good and moist.

To make a creative English garden, include many different kinds of plants and vary their height in the same garden bed. Having plants that grow to the same height will result in a common and flat looking bed.

TIP! Use plastic bags to cover muddy gardening shoes. This way, you can maintain your momentum and head right back to your garden so that you can finish what you were doing.

Try to work as efficiently as possible when horticulture. Don’t waste your time looking for missing tools. In addition to keeping your gardening tools in one location, you should also clean your tools after each use. You can use a tool belt for this purpose, or choose pants that contain several large pockets.

TIP! Pine can make a great mulch. Some plants do better in soil with high acidity as they are highly acidic themselves.

Do not underestimate pine as great mulch. Some garden plants have a high acidity, and prefer acidic soil. If your garden contains plants like this, there are few things simpler than spreading some pine needles across your beds. Lay a few inches of needles over the beds to allow them to decompose and add some acid to your soil.

TIP! Don’t let all the little chores in your organic garden build up. 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.

Spacing is one important factor in gardening. It can be easy to underestimate how much space your plants will need once they begin growing. This will give you enough room to work around your garden without smashing any plants. Plan your garden accordingly, and make sure the right distance is between the seeds.

Laundry Basket

TIP! If you are interested in using organic gardening techniques to plant perennials, you will be pleased to know that it is very easy. Use a spade to cut beneath the turf, and cover the entire area with wood chips after flipping it over.

Use an aged laundry basket when you want to collect your produce. The laundry basket is a perfect strainer for any produce run off. Rinse off your produce while it’s in the laundry basket, and any excess water will be strained out through the basket’s holes.

TIP! When you plant your garden, do so by creating biodiversity. Increasing your plant variety will draw further variety in the wildlife around.

Your compost pile should contain green plant materials and dry plant materials. Green plant material comprises leaves, weeds, spent flowers, grass clippings, and fruit and vegetable waste. Dried plant materials are things like shredded newspaper, cardboard, sawdust, straw, and any cut up wood materials. Do not include charcoal, ashes, meat, carnivorous animal manure or diseased plants.

TIP! You can plant your organic garden in a shady area. These gardens are not high maintenance at all.

Take a look below the surface to get a start. Even if the plant looks lush on the upper leaves, the root system can have problems. The lush starts remain on the baby plants for several weeks, crippling their growth until the starts are gone.

TIP! When mulching around trees and flowers, the depth of the organic material should be at least 3 inches. This is an earth-friendly mulching method that will conserve water and make your water bill much lower.

Plant your organic garden in the shade. Shade gardens do not require a lot of maintenance, which is very appealing to most people. You will not have to water them as often, which will save you a lot of time. This could also enable slower growth, and there will be a lot less weeds to eradicate.

TIP! Always know how to purchase plants that you would like to add into your organic garden. When it comes to perennials and annuals, this is particularly important.

Easier than you expected, right? Like any other trade, the horticulture field is vast and there is a huge amount of information about it available. The key is to simply find a good starting point and get going. So, hopefully, with the tips you learned you now have that ability.

Make Your Garden Even Greener With These Tips

~ craigb

TIP! Properly put down your sod. The soil requires preparation before sod can be laid.

You have many options available to enable you to grow a vivacious and colorful organic garden of your very own. In order to use these methods, all you have to do is learn a little bit about them.

TIP! Make sure to be weary of stink bugs whenever you garden, particularly during the fall months. Stinkbugs are most prevalent on tomatoes, beans and peppers.

So you don’t shock the plants, you should gradually get them use to a change in the temperature and conditions. The first day you transfer your plants, you should only allow them to sit in direct sunlight for a few hours. As you continue the first week of the project, gradually extend the duration of sun exposure. By weeks end, you should have plants that are ready for a permanent home outside with no problem!

TIP! Bulbs planted in the spring can flower all the way into summer. Most bulbs are hardy and require little to no care in order to develop into beautiful perennials that will reappear each and every year.

Stinkbugs can be a nuisance in the garden. These bugs are known to be proliferate in the cooler fall months. They love to inhabit peppers, beans, tomatoes and all kinds of fruit varieties. If you don’t treat them, they can do a lot of damage in your garden.

TIP! When you decide to add vegetables into your garden space, be aware that they must be placed where they will receive direct sunlight for a minimum of six hours daily. Many of the vegetables need a lot of sun, so they can grow right and at a faster pace.

Be diligent in your efforts to banishing weeds! A vibrant garden will be overrun with weeds if they are left alone. To help you do this, you may want to consider using white vinegar. That’s right, you have safe way to get rid of weeds right there in your kitchen cabinet. A spray solution is much easier to apply than to rid your garden of weeds by hand.

TIP! Try and maintain daily aerated and dried plants. Moisture on the surface of a plant can attract parasites, and cause disease.

Bulbs planted in the spring can flower all the way into summer. Bulbs are hearty and will continue to grow every year. Specific types of bulbs usually bloom at specific times of the season, so if you make appropriate selections, you can be rewarded with blooms from the early part of spring to the later part of summer.

TIP! Know the ideal times to harvest each of the vegetables you plant. For the optimum flavor, be sure to follow the guidelines for planting and picking.

Let your new seeds soak in a dark spot overnight. Place some seeds into a small container, then fill it with water until it is almost to the top. This way, your seeds are well-hydrated and can start growing with a head start. This gives the seeds a better chance of flourishing.

TIP! Try pouring water leftover from steamed vegetables onto your potted plants. It contains rich nutrients that come from the vegetables.

It is possible to use natural materials as well as other plants to help keep pests away from your garden. Slugs stay away from marigolds and onions when they are planted in a garden. Insect pests will stay away from seedlings and trees if you use wood ash around the base as a mulch. These methods prevent use of harsh chemicals.

TIP! Gardening can be very relaxing. Many hobbies can help you to relax and attain inner peace.

You should think about planting evergreens that yield berries in your garden. They offer terrific color during the dreariest times of the year when nothing else you have planted has any hue remaining. Some examples include Holly, Snowberry trees, Winterberry and similar plants.

TIP! Choose a specific plant to become your garden’s focal point. You need a focal point that can catch your eye in garden design.

When you boil vegetables, use the leftover water on your potted plants. To add acidity to the soil of your rhododendrons and gardenias, use coffee or tea grounds. Chamomile tea can be used as an effective fungicide for potted plants.

TIP! If you have recently suffered a cut, discontinue gardening until the cut has healed completely. If you have an open cut while gardening, contact with dirt or debris can infect the wound.

Some people use gardening as a source of relaxation. There are a wide variety of things you can do to release stress and relax. Gardening is easily one of the most relaxing and gratifying ways to spend your extra time. Horticulture only requires a small investment and you will get so much more out of it. The best return is the joy and tranquility you can get from growing your very own greenery.

TIP! Prepare the ground for a perennial garden quickly and easily. Simply slice into the ground with a spade, flip the top layer of soil, and then cover it with several inches of wood chips.

If you want a sustainable garden, leave a part of it undisturbed for wildlife to enjoy. This will also benefit your cultivated gardens as it will attract more bugs and birds to pollinate your other plants.

Pine Needles

TIP! Get the most out of what you have, and your property. Landscaping has one of the highest returns you can get from home improvement.

For some plants, pine needles makes an ideal mulch. There are some plants that thrive in acidic soil. If this is the case, use pine needles to mulch your 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! If slugs are disrupting the balance of your garden, you can diminish their population by using a beer trap. Take a glass jar and bury it in your garden, making sure that the lip of the jar is even with the soil.

Try not to let the chores associated to your organic garden build up. There are certain little things to help you keep up with your garden, even if you don’t have the necessary time each day to do everything. Try pulling a few weeds from the garden while your dogs are out doing their business.

TIP! You should use wood that is untreated, brick or stone when building the raised bed. If you choose to use wood, see to it that it’s untreated and that it can resist rotting.

When the time comes to harvest your produce, collect it using an old laundry basket. The basket will make a great strainer when you wash your vegetables. You can rinse your produce off while it is in the basket, and the excess water will strain through the holes of your laundry basket.

Plant Materials

TIP! Any gardening at all can soothe the soul, but organic gardening provides additional benefits. When you garden organically, you see the entire process from the beginning to the end.

Your compost pile should contain green plant materials and dry plant materials. Your green material can be made up of produce waste, used floral arrangements, lawn cuttings, leaves, and other yard waste. Examples of dried plant material are sawdust, shredded paper, straw, cut-up woody material, and cardboard. Never use ashes, meat, charcoal, diseased plants or carnivorous animal manure in your compost pile.

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

One way to help maintain healthy soil is to incorporate mulch into your landscape. Mulch can give your soil some additional protection and nourishment. It keeps the soil cool on very hot days, thus protecting the roots in the ground. This will ensure your soil stays moist by reducing the time in which it evaporates. It also doubles as weed control.

TIP! When mulching your flowerbed or garden, most people recommend adding about three inches of mulch. Doing this will nourish the soil in your garden and improve its ability to retain moisture.

Use a soaker hose to water your organic garden. With a soaker hose, you actually help your plants grow to their potential because the water slowly seeps out the hose which helps guide it to the roots, allowing the leaves to remain dry. These are more efficient than sprinklers, which use more water, and can save you the trouble of hand watering.

Anyone may plant gardens, but only those who are knowledgeable can get more out of their planted crops. Be sure to try out these organic horticulture ideas.

Organic Gardening Advice That Will Make You More Successful

~ craigb

TIP! Take the proper approach to laying sod. You want to prepare the soil before you lay down the sod.

Most likely, you have seen organic foods in your local grocery store or read about them in a newspaper. Organic items are easy to spot on the shelves. They have special packaging and cost a fortune. Look at the following advice to learn how to start an organic garden.

TIP! Plant vines like ivy to cover fences and dividing walls. These versatile plants can grow over fences to enhance the fence’s appearance.

Do not spend your money on chemicals to fight mildew. Rather, you should mix a bit of baking soda with a small quantity of liquid soap in water. Once a week, spray this on plants to eliminate the mildew. This solution is perfectly safe for your plants and gently treats mildew in a short amount of time.

TIP! Check your soil before you begin planting your garden. Pay a small fee to have your soil analyzed, and you’ll be glad that you did when you understand what nutrients your soil is lacking.

When fall arrives, it’s time to plant your autumn vegetables. Rather than putting standard clay vessels into use when planting crops of lettuce and kale, think about using pumpkins instead. 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. You are prepared to plant after this is done.

TIP! Try to relax with gardening. There are a variety of ways to achieve a state of inner peace.

When mowing the lawn, don’t mow the grass all the way down to the root. If you leave your grass kind of high, your roots will be deeper and your lawn will be stronger and not dry out. When you cut the grass too short, the roots are often not deep enough, which causes your lawn to have dry patches of brown, discolored grass.

Coffee Grounds

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. Doing this will allow creatures that help plants to produce and pollinate to continue their actions, which will have a positive effect on the garden you develop.

If your soil has high alkaline amounts, mix some coffee grounds into it. Coffee grounds are an inexpensive way to increase the acid level in your soil. This solution will make the vegetables you grow healthier and more flavorful.

TIP! 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.

Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Excess moisture creates an appealing environment for disease and parasites. Fungi are parasites that are common in the plant world. You can rid your garden of fungi with fungicidal sprays. However, it is best to treat your garden before there are problems.

TIP! If you’re growing plants indoors, keep your thermostat around 65 or 75 degrees daily. Plants need to be in an environment that is neither too warm nor too cool for them to grow.

A quality garden must be grown from seeds. When planting a garden, the best way is to initially start with seeds. The plastics used in nurseries are rarely recycled and ends up in landfills, so it is best to start with the seeds or buy from nurseries who use organic materials in packaging their plants.

TIP! When your plants begin to sprout, they can survive in somewhat cooler temperatures. As your plants grow, move them away from the source of heat.

Read instructions on new gardening chemicals and tools before you use them. 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! Tend your organic garden on a regular schedule. 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.

Cooled water left over from steaming vegetables can be fed to them as a little snack. To add acidity to the soil of your rhododendrons and gardenias, use coffee or tea grounds. If you are having problems with fungus, you may find that sprinkling Chamomile tea on the plant is effective.

TIP! In your compost, use green and dried plants in equal parts. Garden wastes, such as grass clippings, are classified as green materials.

To attract insects that will benefit your garden, plant heather. Heather is very attractive to bees, and when bees first emerge in the spring, it is an early source of nectar. Because it is usually left alone, heather beds can become a home for spiders, beetles and other insects. Because of this, you might want to invest in a good pair of gardening gloves for the times when you need to prune it.

TIP! Do you want to know how to kill weeds in a natural way? You should layer some newspaper to get weeds under control. Weeds can only grow when there is adequate sunlight.

Perennial gardens should be prepared easily and quickly in the ground. Simply use a spade or small shovel to get under the grass or turf and flip it over. Then, using wood chips, cover the area to a depth of three or four inches. Let this sit for a couple weeks, next dig into it to plant your new plants.

TIP! One unusual tip in organic gardening, 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.

When mulching your flower beds, aim for anywhere between two or three inches of mulch. This will prevent weeds from growing, retain humidity, and feed your plants with the nutrients they need. This will also give a nice, professional appearance to your garden all year.

Plant Materials

TIP! Stagger you vegetable planting so you will have a new harvest every month or so. Doing this will keep your whole harvest from popping up at the same time.

Your compost pile should contain green plant materials and dry plant materials. 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. Certain substances will undermine your composting efforts and cancel out any benefits; these include meat, charcoal, ash or plants that have diseases or fungal growths.

TIP! When watering your garden, a soaker hose may be your best bet. This special type of hose allows water to slowly ooze out; the water then directly targets the roots and spares the leaves.

When planting seeds, you should bury them three times as deep as their actual size. There are exceptions, however. Some types of seeds require more direct sunlight than others, and as such they should not be fully covered. Among the seeds meeting this definition are ageratum and petunias. If you are unsure as to whether or not your seeds should be covered or not, try to read the package or find the answer online.

TIP! Create biodiversity in your garden. A larger variety of plants in your garden will attract more wildlife.

Creating a new bed for your perennials is easy. Simply use a spade to cut under the ground where you want to place your garden, flip it over and cover with wood chips. Wait a couple of weeks, then you can easily dig into it with a trowel and then plant your favorite perennials.

TIP! When you garden, be aware of what you can use. Try to use natural and organic alternatives rather than common chemical fertilizers.

If you are wanting to start your own organic garden, it is crucial that you know how to properly make beds. Begin by slicing beneath the turf using a spade. Flip it over and cover it with a three inch layer of wood chips. Let it set a few weeks and then cut in it, then you plant.

TIP! If you’re preparing to add a new shrub or tree to your organic garden, it’s best that the hole you plant them in looks a bit off-balance. If your hole has several “glazed” sides created by the shovel, it could keep roots from penetrating the soil nearby.

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.

Horticulture Tips You Should Make Note Of

~ craigb

TIP! Use perennials resistant to slugs and snails. It is alarming to see how quickly slugs, and their cousin snails, can annihilate a plant.

Horticulture is a very relaxing hobby with the added bonus that it isn’t that expensive. Horticulture is a great way to spend time with your family and friends. Your kids will be inspired and fascinated by watching the garden grow. Children are more likely to try new vegetables if they have grown them in their own garden. This article provides you with a variety of tactics and tips on making the most out of your gardening experience.

TIP! Before you plant seeds, pre-soak them for a night somewhere dark. Drop some seeds into a small glass or other container, and fill it with water.

Slowly acclimatize your plants to the outside environment to keep from shocking them. Put them in the sun outside for a couple of hours during the first day. Gradually increase the the time they spend outside over a one week period. By the week’s end, your plants should then be ready for the big move!

TIP! You can prevent pests from invading your garden with certain plants and natural materials. Slugs can be kept at bay with a patch of marigolds or pungent vegetables.

Use perennials resistant to slugs and snails. Creatures like snails or slugs can destroy a plant in a single night. Certain perennials that don’t have tough leaves are especially tasty to snails and slugs. There are perennials that slugs do not want to eat, the ones that they hate have hairy leaves, or are unappealing to their taste. Examples of these slug-proof plant varieties include achillea, euphorbia, and helleborus, to name a few.

Healthy Soil

TIP! Try pouring water leftover from steamed vegetables onto your potted plants. It contains rich nutrients that come from the vegetables.

Starting a garden which is pest-free is easy, if you have healthy soil. If you have healthy looking plants, they are stronger and more resistant to diseases and bugs. For healthy plants, start with healthy soil that is properly amended and free of chemicals in order to avoid salt accumulation.

TIP! You can spray scents such as after-shave and cologne around your garden to deter your dog. Using this will cover up the odors that your dog likes and will cut down on the intrigue of your landscaping for your furry friend.

It’s sometimes possible to save certain plants from winter cold by bringing them inside. Think about saving your resistant plants or the expensive ones. Dig carefully around their roots and place them into a pot.

TIP! Pick your vegetables when the temperature is moderate to avoid bruising 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.

It is important to choose the right type of soil if you want to achieve the best results. Depending on what kind of plants you want in your garden, the soil might or might not be adapted. You can simply use one type of soil to make an artificial area.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! You should protect the knees if you are kneeling in the garden. For most people, bending over while gardening is too difficult.

If your soil is highly alkaline, try mixing used coffee grounds into the soil. Used coffee grounds will add acidity, helping to optimize the soil’s pH. The greens and vegetables need the proper balance and will grow bigger and stronger with the right mix.

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. 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.

If you want to effectively weed out young plants, you can try “boiling” away the weeds. Boiling water in a pot is a safe “herbicide.” Although this method is organic, it does pose a danger to your plants. Boiling water will actually hurt the roots, and it will prevent the weeds from growing.

TIP! Having a garden of perennials can be an easy and quick process. Simple slice into the soil with a spade, flip the turf, and mulch the area with 3 to 4 inches of wood chips.

Ensure that your plants are kept dry, and aerated daily. If your plants are moist, this can attract disease and parasites. A commonplace plant parasite is fungi. To control fungi, use a fungicide spray on the area before you notice any problems.

TIP! One unusual tip in organic gardening, 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.

You should divide irises. You can increase the number of irises you have by splitting clumps that are overgrown. When the foliage dies, take the bulbous irises and lift them. The bulbs should split up normally in the hand, and should flower when replanted for the next year. Rhizomes should be divided using a knife. Throw away the center after carefully cutting new sprouts from the exterior. Every piece is suppose to have at least one durable offshoot. Replant right away.

TIP! Water demands from plants will depend on the season and the climate in your area. Depending upon whether it is morning, noon or night, the chemical composition of your local water supply and soil type may determine your water usage needs.

An eye-catching plant makes an attractive focal point for your garden or flowerbed. To create an attractive garden design, arrange a focal point to draw attention. The best focal points are those plants that really stand out from those that are adjacent.

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. Always check the weather forecast for chances of rain before going outside to water your plants.

Try using aspirin water for fighting plant diseases. Dissolve one and one-half aspirins into two gallons of cold water, and use it to fortify your plants. All you need to do is spray the plants with the solution in order to battle common ailments. Try spraying your plants with this around every three weeks.

Pine Needles

TIP! It only takes a few steps to create a new garden area for perennials. Use a spade to slice beneath the turf and flip it.

Pine needles should not be overlooked as a great source for mulch. Some plants need acidic soil to grow properly, because of their own acid content. When you have any plants like this, it’s very simple to just collect pine needles to use in your bed. Cover the plots with pine needles. As the pine needles decay, they’ll raise the soil’s acidity.

TIP! One of the first things you need to learn about organic gardening is how to properly prepare flower beds. The first step is to dig under the soil with a spade.

Within your composting heap, ensure that there is an equal split of dried and green plant materials. Green plant material can include items such as leftover produce waste, grass clippings and leaves. Paper and straw are dry plant materials. Don’t throw charcoal, meat or manure into your compost.

TIP! Think about what you need to use while getting ready to garden. Make use of organic compounds or natural solutions instead of commercial fertilizers.

When you plant the seeds in containers, be sure the planting’s depth is three times bigger than the seed. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried. Some common examples include ageratum and petunias. 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 can be made easy with just a few simple techniques. When deciding what to plant, opt for flowers, grasses and shrubs that are native to your area.

While it’s harder to grow organically than chemically, the rewards are much better. While chemical pesticides and fertilizers may claim to do great things for your garden, organic methods will give you the best crops possible.

TIP! Open your imagination as to what type of plants you would like to plant into your organic garden. Acid-loving plants really love mulch.

These hints will be quite helpful to you, whether you enjoy gardening alone or with others. Take what you have learned here, and help your family enjoy horticulture, get together with your friends or just have fun by yourself.

How To Grow A Beautiful Organic Garden

~ craigb

TIP! If mildew is forming on your plants, you should not purchase an expensive chemical. All it takes is a liquid soap, water, and baking soda mixture.

A lot of people think tending a garden is totally beyond them, but that’s true only for people who don’t do their research. You can become an expert gardener quickly if you have access to good information. This article provides valuable guidance that can help you on your road to becoming a master gardener.

Clay Soil

TIP! Keep your fragile shrubs protected from the winter weather. If you have them in pots, you need to guard them from cold weather that will damage or kill them.

Clay soil can be a real pain to work with as it often sticks to the end of the shovel. Try applying a coat of wax onto your spade prior to working with clay soil, and then buff the spade head with a cloth. This causes the clay to slide rather than stick, and prevents rust as a side effect.

TIP! Protect your plants from moisture on a daily basis. If your plants are moist, this can attract disease and parasites.

Consider planting slug-proof perennials. 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. They gravitate towards perennials with smooth thin leaves, particularly on younger plants. Perennials with hairy, tough leaves as well as those with unpleasant taste are not appetizing to snails and slugs. Some perennial families that snails and slugs won’t eat include achillea, campanula, and helleborus.

TIP! To give them a helping hand, pour the water you obtain after steaming vegetables over your plants. You may fertilize the soil with tea or coffee for plants that favor acidic environments, like rhododendrons and gardenias.

Cover the fences and walls with climbers. Many climbers can cover the wall or fence in as little as one growing season. They can grow through shrubs and trees, or even cover an arbor. Some varieties of these plants will have to be tethered to some sort of support, but other varieties will be able to attach to the medium they are climbing. A few good choices are climbing roses, wisteria, jasmine, honeysuckle and clematis.

TIP! Plan your garden to provide some fall color. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be.

Always take the time to get the weeds out of your garden. Those nasty weeds can turn your beautiful garden into a scruffy version of its former self. A simple tool that is useful in removing weeds is white vinegar. White vinegar is a weed killer! Try spraying some white vinegar in water when you are pulling weeds from your garden.

TIP! To attract the right kind of insects, plant heather. Heather is quite alluring to bees; when spring comes along, it provides the bees with a source of nectar early.

Your plants should always be kept in an aerated, dry area. Moisture not only attracts parasites, but also makes it easier for your plants to contract diseases. One common organism that thrives on moisture is the fungi family. You can rid your garden of fungi with fungicidal sprays. However, it is best to treat your garden before there are problems.

TIP! If you’re planning on gardening inside, the first thing you should consider is an adequate light source. 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.

A good fertilizer is important to add nutrients to your soil. 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! One way to ensure efficiency while gardening is to keep your tools close by. You should use a large pail and wear sturdy pants that have several pockets.

If you are gardening for the first time ever, read and follow all directions and instructions that come with your chemicals and tools. Failing to heed this simple advice can mean skin irritation that you are going to remember, and not pleasantly at that. Ensure that your body is protected by always following instructions.

TIP! The optimal amount of organic mulch to use in your flower beds is 2-3 inches. This is a simple method of discouraging weeds, retaining moisture, and adding excellent nutrients into the garden.

Use a plant for a focal point. A focal point in the garden will capture your attention. A perfect example of a focal point is using a plant that doesn’t bear any resemblance to those that surround it.

TIP! Use a beer trap to get rid of unwanted pests, like slugs. Dig a hole the size of a glass jar, and bury the jar with the top at ground level.

Think about planting everbearing strawberries in your garden, especially if you have small children. For kids, there are few things as fun as picking fruit fresh from the garden. Your children will be much more interesting in helping out if they know they’ll get to enjoy some tasty strawberries.

TIP! Use mulch to enhance the health of your soil. The mulch will protect the soil underneath it.

When working in the garden, try to work as efficiently as possible. Have your tools laid out in an orderly way so you do not have to search for them. Have all of your tools gathered and prepared for use before you work in the garden, and make sure to put them away neatly. Even something like a carpenter’s tool belt or some cargo jeans work well to keep tools organized.

Organic Garden

TIP! Each year, you should rotate the plants in your garden. When you continuously plant some plants from the same family in the same area every year, disease and fungus is encouraged in these areas.

Space is important to remember when planting an organic garden. You can underestimate how much space you need when they are growing. Air circulation and room to grow is important for any plant. Plan your organic garden while keeping this in mind, and space your seeds accordingly, when planting.

TIP! Make your organic garden easier to maintain. Stick to native plants, grasses, flowers and bushes when you plan out your landscape.

Use a laundry basket to help you collect produce from your garden. An old laundry basket makes an excellent strainer for cleaning your produce. Rinse off your produce while it’s in the laundry basket, and any excess water will be strained out through the basket’s holes.

Plant Materials

TIP! Be cognizant of when and how to give the plants in your organic garden enough water. Purchasing a soaker hose would be a worthwhile expenditure.

When creating a compost pile, use dried plant materials and green plants in equal parts. Green means plant cuttings including grass, produce and weeds. Paper and straw are dry plant materials. Avoid meat, ashes, charcoal, plants with diseases and manure from carnivores.

TIP! When you maintain your organic garden during winter, use materials from home to make a tent. Old bean poles stuck at the end of your beds provide the support.

Adjust your watering to the season and climate. The amount of water you use each time should be dependent on the water quality, the soil type and what time of day you are doing it. Overzealous watering in an already humid climate can lead to leaf fungus. Instead, aim to water the root system only.

TIP! When deciding what to plant in your vegetable garden, consider what kinds you tend to use most often in the kitchen. This can reduce your food bill every month and help you use your gardening space.

One of the biggest benefits from eating food that is organically grown is the absence of pesticides. While organic foods are healthy for your family, you will still need to check closely for bugs or worms.

TIP! There are many advantages to having bees in your garden, for example, bumble bees help with pollination. Unfortunately there are other types of bees are harmful.

Do some research on the botanical insecticides that are available in your area, many of which are extremely helpful in preventing pests from invading your garden. Sometimes the natural insecticides can be even more powerful than the engineered synthetic pesticides on the market. Keep in mind, however, that these insecticides have very short half lives. Since they are made out of all natural ingredients, they may decay and disappear soon after you use them.

TIP! Know just how much water each of your plants needs. Over watering can lead to root rot or the growth of fungal mold, which may kill your plants.

You now have the tools to assist you in making your garden grow beautifully. When you have the right knowledge, gardening is easy. With these tips, and enough practice, you too can craft a beautiful and enjoyable garden.