Tips And Advice For Making Your Garden Grow

~ craigb

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pine Needles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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