when planting

Organic Gardening Tips You Can Try Today!

~ craigb

TIP! Turn your tool handles into convenient rulers. Tools that can be used for more than one task are quite handy to own.

While organic gardening is a wonderful way to relax, it can also be a source of stress. The following suggestions will guide you on how to be a very successful organic gardener.

TIP! Try using annuals and biennials to add color to your flower beds, and brighten them up. Using a variety of flowers allows your flower garden to have a different look each season.

Put down sod correctly. Get your soil ready before you lay the sod. Pull any weeds and break up any clods of soil. Make sure your soil is flat and compacted. Thoroughly moisten the soil. Avoid laying your sod in straight rows with all of the seams lining up. Instead, stagger the rows for a more pleasing visual effect. Pat down the sod and fill any gaps with soil. You will have to water the sod every day for 2 weeks, and then it should be firmly rooted to the ground, and able to be walked on.

TIP! Your plants will reach maximum growth if they have a sufficient supply of carbon dioxide. Plants are more likely to thrive in environments where high levels of CO2 are present.

You can use the wooden handles of your tools as measurement sticks. You can convert any large handle tool, such as a hoe, shovel, or rake into a measuring tool. Place the handles on the floor to measure the distance between them. Have a marker handy, and mark the distance with it. This modified ruler will serve you well as you begin working in your garden.

TIP! If you are going to be doing some gardening, watch out for stink bugs, especially in the fall! These bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and many kinds of fruits. 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.

When winter comes, you can save a few plants by transferring them inside the house. Maybe you could pick out the most expensive plants or the most hardy ones. Carefully dig around the rootball and replant in an appropriate pot.

TIP! Yes, you really have to weed. Unwanted weeds fight for the same nutrients that more desirable plants do, and they also are unsightly.

When you are tending your garden in the fall, be on the alert for stink bugs. These bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and many kinds of fruits. Proper measures should be taken in order to ensure minimal damage to your crops.

TIP! If you want a strange, yet successful, green answer to getting rid of weeds, boil them to death. Boiling water in a pot is a safe “herbicide.

Remove your garden’s weeds! Weeds can truly ruin a good garden. White vinegar can be a good solution. White vinegar kills weeds. Keep a solution of vinegar diluted with water on hand to spray on weeds.

TIP! Fresh mint is a wonderful addition to a herb garden, but it can quickly take over your entire yard. That’s why it’s better to place mint in containers rather than letting it have free rein in your garden.

When you are mowing your lawn do not cut it too closely to the dirt. Higher grass sends roots further down, increasing lawn strength and viability. Short grass tends to have shallow roots, which can cause dried out, brown patches to occur.

Knee Pads

TIP! Water containing some aspirin helps your plants fight illness. One and half tablets of aspirin in a couple gallons of water will be a wonderful help to the plants you have.

If your garden contains lots of short plants, purchase some gardening knee pads. If you spend a large portion of your horticulture session on your knees, it could create pain over time. Having a pair of excellent knee pads for horticulture can help cushion the knees to provide additional comfort.

TIP! Use about two to three inches of organic material as mulch in all of your flower beds. 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.

Gardening can be a relaxing hobby. Peace and relaxation can be found through several different avenues. One of the greatest such methods is the art of horticulture. The returns are huge for a very minute up front investment cost. The best return is the joy and tranquility you can get from growing your very own greenery.

TIP! Make sure you work in your garden every day. Don’t waste your time looking for missing tools.

Vegetables tend to soften during the hottest part of the day, which means they are easily damaged, even when handled with care. Vegetables and fruits should always be cut from the vine, not twisted; twisting subjects a plant to needless stress.

Include your children in your efforts to organic gardening. The benefits for your children will be a closer bond with nature and an understanding of where food comes from.

TIP! While organic gardening takes a little extra work, it is healthier and more gratifying than regular gardening. While chemical-based gardening products make bold claims, it is hard to dispute that organic gardening consistently produces superior results.

Make the most of the time spent in your garden. Don’t waste your time by searching high and low for that packet of seeds or spade. Before you make a trip to your garden, you should gather all tools and items in advance. Afterwards, be sure to return them to their original storage place. Even something like a carpenter’s tool belt or some cargo jeans work well to keep tools organized.

TIP! Organic foods do not possess any pesticides on them. However, although this is a much healthier alternative, it is important to check surfaces of organic fruits and vegetables thoroughly to be sure that no unwanted pests are living in or on them.

Plastic bags are great to cover horticulture shoes when they get muddy. Having these available lets you keep your flow in movement, and helps you return to your gardening fast so you can finish up your day.

TIP! Rotate your garden at least once a year. When you continuously plant some plants from the same family in the same area every year, disease and fungus is encouraged in these areas.

When planting your organic garden, spacing is an important thing to keep in mind. It can be easy to underestimate how much space your plants will need once they begin growing. Your plants will need the space not only because of their physical size, but also because the space will provide air circulation for the garden. Think ahead and give each plant room for expansion, by properly spacing the seeds.

TIP! Have you ever given any thought to using organic gardening methods to grow garlic? You should plant garlic cloves in either early spring or late fall. Your soils should be well-drained.

You need to avoid chores in your organic garden stacking up. Even doing just a few small things each day can keep chores from piling up and eventually becoming unmanageable. This will save you a lot of time in the long run. You can pull a few weeds when you take your dog outside.

TIP! You have likely heard about the positive benefits of a compost bin for your organic garden, but you may not have a clue what to put in a bin like this. Compost is a mixture of wood chips, straw, leaves, scraps of produce, and grass clippings that have been allowed to sit until they are broken down into mock soil.

Killing weeds the natural way? You need to have many layers of newspapers in order to provide proper weed control. It is a fact that weeds cannot thrive without light from the sun. With layers of newspaper on them, the weeds are not going to have light, and therefore will not grow. It’s easy for newspapers to break down over an extended period of time, making them great for compost. Add a layer of mulch on top to make it look more attractive!

TIP! When you rake leaves, keep them to serve as compost for your soil. Leaves quickly turn into organic compost rich in nutrients your plants need.

Try using botanical pesticide products that can keep your insect problem under control. In some cases, natural solutions are much more efficient than the chemicals you can buy. Keep in mind, however, that the biological composition of botanical insecticides can cause them to quickly decay and disappear.

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

When planting tomatoes in your organic garden, a great tip is to plant another set of tomatoes after three weeks of planting the original ones. You will not have to harvest the tomatoes at the same time. This will also prevent you from losing an entire harvest if some type of problem arises that kills off a batch.

TIP! For fertilizer in your organic garden, you can develop your own compost pile. You can start off with something small, like a worm composting bin.

Organic horticulture is far more complex than it seems. You need to work hard at it and be patient, and if you can do that then you will see a dazzling organic garden. By using the advice you learned here, you will be well on the path to becoming an organic gardening pro.

Quick Tips To Help You Get More From Your Garden

~ craigb

TIP! Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. Tools with long handles, such as a shovel or rake, are absolutely perfect for this job, and make your workload a little bit smaller.

You are committed to the idea of planting a garden that works well with the environment. Congratulations on making the right decision. Keep reading for tips any beginner will find useful.

Baking Soda

TIP! Set your mower blades higher, so you don’t cut the grass too short. 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.

If mildew is forming on your plants, you should not purchase an expensive chemical. Mix plain baking soda with a small bit of liquid soap and water. Spray this mix on your plants every week and the mildew should go away. Baking soda is not harmful to your plants and will take care of the issue as well as any other treatment.

TIP! For areas with high alkaline, mix coffee grounds into the soil. The coffee grounds are a very inexpensive way to add acid back into the dirt.

During winter, you should take your favorite plants inside. Find out which plants will be able to thrive despite the transplanting and different indoor conditions. Carefully dig near the roots and transfer those plants into a flower pot.

TIP! Make sure that your deciduous shrubs are protected. Delicate shrubs that are sitting in pots should be sheltered from the cold weather.

If you’re like many gardeners, autumn means that it’s time to get some delicious fall edibles growing in your garden. Try something different by planing kale or lettuce inside a pumpkin, instead of using the planter pots you traditionally use. 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!

TIP! Do you enjoy fresh mint leaves though hate how they grow so fast and take over your entire garden? That’s why it’s better to place mint in containers rather than letting it have free rein in your garden. You can plant the container into the soil if you want to, but the container will restrict the roots, and make sure that the plant doesn’t run rampant in your garden.

Soak seeds overnight, preferably in a cool, dark place. 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. Seeds that are cultivated this way are more likely to survive and mature properly.

TIP! All of your vegetable plants should have approximately two inches, just outside the stem, of organic mulch placed around them. The mulch help keeps the soil that is around the plants much more moist for much longer.

Irises should be divided. Divide any overgrown clumps to increase your stock. After foliage is no longer alive, remove the flowers with bulbs. These bulbs will divide into several parts naturally when you pick them up. You can then replant them, and watch them flower the following year. Rhizomes, however, need to be divided by using a gardening knife. Cut out new pieces from outside the bulb and throw away the old center. Each piece needs one strong offshoot. Do this cutting beside your garden bed, so that you can place your new groupings into the ground immediately.

TIP! You should purchase a wheelbarrow, as well as a kneeling stool to help you garden. In order to relieve stress on your knees when gardening, always use a small garden stool to be more comfortable.

Be consistent with garden fertilization. Manure can help grow plants, but to eliminate risk of pathogens, try using a type of commercially composted product. There are numerous types of fertilizers available. What type you select is less of a concern; any kind of fertilizer is better than none.

TIP! Give them a nutritious drink by using the water that you boiled your veggies in. It is also possible to utilize coffee ground or tea to make the soil more acidic for gardenias, rhododendrons and other plants that prefer acidic soil.

There are several all-natural ways to keep pests out of your garden, including certain plants. Slugs are repelled by bordering your vegetable garden with either onions or marigolds. Keep insects away from shrub and tree seedlings with mulch containing wood ash. With these natural methods, there is no need to purchase expensive, harsh pesticides.

TIP! Plant items with fall color. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be.

You should purchase a wheelbarrow, as well as a kneeling stool to help you garden. Get a portable stool if you want to garden comfortably without damaging your knees. Also having a garden usually requires moving heavy dirt and objects, so investing in a wheelbarrow is a very sound investment.

TIP! Have one plant be the most interesting eye-grabber in your garden. A good garden design will have a focal point which captivates attention.

Beautiful insects are attracted to heather when you plant it. Bees like heather, and they get their nectar from it early in the spring. Heather doesn’t usually require a lot of tending, so spiders, ground beetles and other good bugs like to call it home. With this in mind, be sure to prune your heather while wearing horticulture gloves.

TIP! During the hottest hours of each day, your vegetables become too soft, and even gentle harvesting will cause damage and bruising. Also ensure that you use a tool to cut the vegetables off at the vine.

It’s crucial for you to protect knees when doing gardening work. Bending over while horticulture can be painful and unhealthy for your back. You should kneel while tending to your plants for the sake of reducing stress to your spine. For extra comfort, purchase a knee pad for use as a cushion between your knees and the ground.

TIP! It is simple to prepare your garden for perennial flowers. With a garden spade, slice under the dirt then flip it over.

Have plastic bags on hand to put over dirty gardening shoes. When you do this, your flow stays going, and you can just get right back out to your garden and finish quick.

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 planting your organic garden, spacing is an important thing to keep in mind. It’s common to not think about how much space a plant will need once it’s full grown, and you don’t want to crowd your garden. Space is necessary for the plants, but air circulation is also important. It is, therefore, important for you to plan accordingly and allow for enough room between your seed rows.

TIP! Creating a trap with beer can help reduce the number of slugs in your garden. Dig a hole just deep enough for a glass jar to be placed in it while the jar still has its rim in line with the surface of the ground.

When planting seeds in containers, remember that the depth should be at least three times bigger than the seed. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried. Petunias and ageratum are two examples of seeds that require sunlight. 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! Water demands from plants will depend on the season and the climate in your area. There are many variables of how much water your plants need including soil, light, and outdoor temperatures.

While horticulture organically requires more work than horticulture with the help of chemicals, the rewards are worth it. Chemicals can be beneficial, but a chemical free organic garden will always produce the best results.

TIP! While all kinds of gardening can help you feel more connected to the planet, gardening organically is especially good for this. Approaching gardening in this way will enlighten you in the entire process from beginning to end.

Throughout the year and in different climates, it may be necessary to vary your watering schedule. 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. Gardeners in warm, moist climates should avoid watering leafy plants as this makes them more vulnerable to fungal growths. Instead, water the root system well.

TIP! Plant your organic garden in the shade. Shade gardens do not require a lot of maintenance, which is very appealing to most people.

Overall, a layer of mulch is beneficial for the soil. The soil will be efficiently protected. On hot days, mulch will offer protection to a plant’s root system by cooling the soil. The layer of mulch will also minimize evaporation, reducing your need to water as frequently as you would a garden without mulch. Mulch is also excellent for keeping weeds at bay.

TIP! There are many options when growing an organic garden. Acid-loving plants really like mulch.

With these tips still fresh in your mind, you should be feeling more confident about your knowledge of organic horticulture methods. By reading and applying the information you have learned, you can go from a novice gardener to an expert-level organic gardener in no time at all. Remember to apply these tips as you plan and take care of your garden.