Tips And Techniques You Should Learn For Organic Gardening

~ craigb

TIP! Think about planting your seeds in indoor pots and then transplanting them to your garden once they become seedlings. Doing this will increase the survival rate of all your outdoor plants.

Horticulture is an activity that has been enjoyed for thousands of years. Some people do it as a hobby, while others do it to feed their family. This article provides horticulture tips which can help you improve your own garden.

TIP! Turn the handles of tools you have on hand into rulers to make measurements in your garden. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes, and shovels can be converted into handy measuring sticks.

You will need to properly lay sod. The soil requires preparation before sod can be laid. Take out any weeds, then mix up the soil into a tilth that is fine. The next step is compacting your soil and carefully leveling it. Make sure the soil is moist all the way through. Lay the sod down in alternated rows, keeping the joints set off from one another. Make sure the sod is firmly placed to ensure a surface that is sufficiently flat and even. Also, make sure to use soil to fill the areas where there are gaps in the sod. Keep the sod moist and avoid walking on it until it is well-rooted, usually two to three weeks.

TIP! Plant perennials that are slug-proof. Snails and slugs can do irreparable damage to your garden in a single night.

Choose plants that will give you the most yield at harvest time. A plant that is resistant to disease, or one that is tolerant of extreme weather, will deliver a higher yield.

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

Don’t bother with expensive chemicals if your plants start to sport powdery mildew. A great home remedy is to mix baking soda with water and a little bit of liquid soap. Then, spray this mixture onto all of your infected plants once each week till the mildew is gone. This solution is perfectly safe for your plants and gently treats mildew in a short amount of time.

TIP! If your soil has a problem with high alkaline levels, mixing in some coffee grounds that have been used is a great solution. Using coffee grounds is a less expensive way to make your soil more acidic than trying to replace your topsoil.

When gardening, be watchful of stink bugs, particularly in the fall. They enjoy tomatoes, peppers, beans, and many different varieties of fruits. If you do not keep them under control, the damage can be excessive, so keep an eye out for them.

TIP! You should divide irises. Try increasing your stock by dividing your overgrown clumps of plants.

When it’s autumn, you know what that means. It’s time to plant fall vegetables! A pumpkin makes a great container, and costs less than a clay pot. To use the pumpkin as a planter, it is important to prevent it from rotting. To do this, you simply spray the entire inside and any edges with a gardening spray called Wilt-Pruf. This is done after you’ve opened the pumpkin at the top and removed the insides. Once this is done, you are ready to plant!

Knee Pads

TIP! If you’re a new gardener, it is vital that you follow the instructions when it comes to your chemicals and tools. If you miss this easy step, you run the risk of harming yourself due to the chemicals that can irritate your skin.

If you have a lot of low-growing plants to take care of in your garden, purchase gardening knee pads. Spending lots of time on your knees while gardening can injure them and create lasting pain. Using a pair of quality knee pads designed for gardening can provide your knees with cushioning and support, preventing any discomfort.

TIP! Consider planting evergreens that produce berries in your yard. This will aid in giving your garden great color, even during the winter when other plants have lost their colors.

The best gardens will evolve from original seeds rather than transplanted items. As a green-friendly gardener, you always want to use seeds to start your new plot. 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.

TIP! Before you start working in your garden, purchase a wheelbarrow and a good kneeling stool. Working in the garden means you’ll be down on the ground a lot.

See to it that you fertilize your garden. Manure is very effective in helping plants grow, although it is important to use a commercially composted product to minimize the risk of pathogens. There are many fertilization methods out there; the type is not quite as important as actually using something.

TIP! Water your garden carefully. To save time, use a soaker type hose so each plant doesn’t need individual watering from the nozzle of a hose or a little watering can.

Pest control is very difficult if you are dealing with your veggie garden. Avoid spraying harsh chemicals on fruits and vegetables destined for your table. The key to keeping garden pests at bay is to be relentless. When you catch a potential infestation early, the solution may be as simple as picking the pests off of your plants with your fingers.

TIP! Heat softens vegetables, so you can damage them immensely by pulling them out of the ground or cutting them off vines when it is too hot outside. Twisting could cause plant damage, so ensure that produce is removed by cutting only.

Are you a parent? If you are, try planting some strawberries like everbearing strawberries in your garden. Kids delight in the idea of growing things and seeing how things change over time. Explain every step to your child and he or she will hang on to your every word.

TIP! 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.

A mixture of aspirin and water can help your ailing plants. Dissolve 1 aspirin per gallon of water for a plant disease fighting solution. The solution can then be used to spray the entire plant, and will offer protection naturally. Apply at three week intervals.

TIP! Make sure any open cuts are completely protected from dirt and chemicals before you go to work in your garden. If dirt and grime get into a cut while gardening, it may become infected.

Take the time needed to plant your seeds. Begin by adding moisture to the soil. Next, you should spread the seeds evenly so they can grow with room. Seeds need to be buried as deep as three times the seed size. There are some varieties of seed that are not planted underground since they require light to grow.

TIP! Create a space perfect for any perennial garden with this easy method. Simply slice into the ground with a spade, flip the top layer of soil, and then cover it with several inches of wood chips.

Once your seeds have germinated they will not need to be kept as warm as before. As your plants grow, move them away from the source of heat. Also, remove plastic coverings from the tops of your growing containers to keep them from becoming too warm or humid. Check on your seeds often so you catch them when they are ready.

TIP! Plastic bags can be kept on hand and reused to slip over your dirty gardening shoes. This allows you to keep going, getting back to your garden quickly.

As previously discussed, gardening has been enjoyed by civilizations for centuries. Many years ago, it was actually a way of sustaining the family. Today, it can be done for fun or to save money on fresh groceries. The ideas, wisdom and knowledge shared with you in this article are sure to enhance your appreciation for horticulture, regardless of your personal motivations for gardening in the first place. Enjoy your garden!