Horticulture is an activity that has been enjoyed for thousands of years. You can do this for enjoyment or to feed your family. The advice in this article will help you to realize what a joy horticulture can be in your life.
Turn your tool handles into convenient rulers. Large handled tools like rakes, hoes or shovels may be used like measuring sticks. Put the handles down and measure them with a measuring tape. Use a bright permanent marker and label the distances. Now when you go garden the next time, you’ll have a giant ruler at your command.
Use bulbs to ensure continuous flowers throughout the spring and summer. Since bulbs are easy to grow and resistant to poor weather conditions, they will grow without fail 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.
Soak your seeds in a dark spot during the overnight hours. Place a couple of seeds in a tiny container, and fill it with water nearly to the top. This will keep your seeds hydrated and give you a little head start with your growing. This will also give your seeds a much better chance to survive and mature.
If you discover that your soil is very alkaline, take used coffee grounds and mix them thoroughly with your soil. This is a great and cheap way to increase the acid levels in your dirt. After doing so, you will notice that your greenery and garden will be colorful and fresh.
Deciduous shrubs should be protected from the elements. Fragile shrubs, that are planted in pots, should be covered to protect them during the cold season. You want to then tie the tops of the canes together, and cover them with a sheet or blanket. This is better than using plastic to wrap the plant, as more air can circulate.
Irises should be divided. Take clumps that have become overgrown and divvy them up into separate plants. Try to life the bulbous irises when foliage begins to die. If you split the bulbs that you pull up, and replant them, they will bloom the following year. Rhizomes may need to be divided by using a knife. Cut new pieces from the outside and discard the old center. Every piece needs to have a minimum of one good offshoot. Replant your new rhizome pieces as soon as you have finished the cuttings.
A green garden needs to begin with seeds, not plants. The most “green” way to create a new garden is starting from seeds. Seeds eliminate the waste of plastic containers from nurseries which rarely get recycled. There are some nurseries, however, that send their plants out in organic potting materials.
Start peas inside in a container, rather than planting the seeds outdoors. By initially planting them indoors, the seeds tend to germinate better. The seedlings tend to be healthier, which would help them resist diseases and pests more easily. You can transplant the seedlings outside after they are sturdy enough.
Read instructions on new horticulture chemicals and tools before you use them. Some of the chemicals in these products can cause skin irritation, or worse, if you fail to take this simple precaution. Keep your body safe and follow directions.
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. More often than not, it is a plant that is distinctively different from its neighbors.
Vegetables tend to soften during the hottest part of the day, which means they are easily damaged, even when handled with care. Twisting could cause plant damage, so ensure that produce is removed by cutting only.
If you’re working to build a sustainable organic garden, try leaving a portion of your garden untouched so that the wildlife will be able to thrive. One side effect of this is that where animals thrive, so do birds and insects that help nurture and pollinate plants, which will increase the quality of your garden.
You will garden more efficiently if you keep your tools close by. You can wear an apron or pants that have a lot of pockets, or use a big bucket or can. You should always have your gloves, pruning shears and a trowel close to you.
Pine can make surprisingly great mulch. Some plants are highly acidic, and like soil that is acidic too. If you have some of these plants, then pine needles are an easy way to add acid to their bed. 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.
Procrastination leads to problems in a variety of areas, including organic gardening. 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. Take the time to do a little weeding or something else that needs to be done each time you have to be outside keeping an eye on your dog, which for some can be several times a day.
As mentioned before, gardening has been appreciated by millions of people throughout the centuries. At first, it was a necessary means of survival. Today, it can be done for fun or to save money on fresh groceries. Read on to find tips and tricks to help you turn gardening from a chore to a joy. Learn to appreciate the simple rewards gardening offers!