Use These Tips To Grow A Better Organic Garden!

~ craigb

TIP! Choose higher yield plant varieties. A plant that is resistant to disease, or one that is tolerant of extreme weather, will deliver a higher yield.

If you’re planning on eating healthier and saving a lot of money on groceries, growing an organic garden will accomplish that and much more. It can be a little daunting, however. From the type of mulch to use to the right equipment, there are many questions you need answered. As well, there are a lot of choices when it comes to seeds. The following tips will help you make the most of your organic garden.

TIP! Transform the handles of your tools into convenient measuring devices. You can convert any large handle tool, such as a hoe, shovel, or rake into a measuring tool.

Your plants will respond better to gradual changes of environment. On the first day, place them in the sun outside for only an hour or so. As the week progresses, gradually increase their exposure to the outdoors. Once the transition is complete, your plants will probably be able to tolerate the outdoor conditions.

Handy Ruler

TIP! All soil is not the same. You need to check the soil to make sure it’s the best for what you’re planting.

Use the handles of your tools as a handy ruler when doing your outdoor chores. Large handled tools like rakes, hoes or shovels may be used like measuring sticks. Place the handles on the floor to measure the distance between them. Label the distances using a permanent marker. Now, the next time you’re down in the garden, you’ll have a handy ruler without needing to look anywhere else.

TIP! Shelter your deciduous shrubs. Shrubs that are planted in containers are especially susceptible to frost and must be carefully protected.

Try using annuals and biennials to add color to your flower beds, and brighten them up. You can use biennial and annual flowers to brighten the bed, and let you change how it looks. In addition, they work well as gap fillers between other areas, as long as those areas receive plenty of sunlight. Notable collections include sunflower, marigold, hollyhock, rudbeckia, cosmos, and petunia.

TIP! Fresh mint is a wonderful addition to a herb garden, but it can quickly take over your entire yard. You should plant the mint in a rather large garden container or pot instead so you can monitor growth.

When mowing your lawn, avoid mowing the grass too short. When the grass is a little longer, the roots will be stronger and the lawn becomes more resistant. If you keep your lawn too short, the roots will not go deep enough to survive in case of a heat wave.

TIP! The best way to start a garden is from first principles: seeds. Your can contribute to environmental soundness by beginning your garden with fresh seeds.

Vegetables should be placed in a spot in your garden that will get about six hours of sun every day. Many vegetables need about this much sun to grow quickly. This is true of some flowers.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! Choose plants that will provide color in autumn. It doesn’t have to be this way, however.

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 low-cost way to increase the acidity of the soil. This will allow your vegetables and greenery to really thrive.

TIP! To draw good insects to 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.

Do some research to find out the best time for harvesting your vegetables. Every type of vegetable has a different moment of ripeness. For instance, zucchini and baby peas will taste a lot better if you pick them when they are young. Plant winter vegetables at the right time for a sweeter flavor. Find out what the best harvest time is for your vegetables.

TIP! If you’re really serious about environmentally-friendly gardening practices, refrain from developing some of your land and use it as an animal habitat. 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.

Be smart when you water your garden. You can save time by using soaker hoses when watering plants. By doing this, you won’t need to water your plants individually. Use low water pressure for your hose so that you do not cause harm to the tender members of your garden. Just use it on your foliage for a few hours.

TIP! When growing plants inside of the house, you should ensure the thermostat is set at around 65-75 degrees in the daytime. Young plants need a temperature within that specific range to grow.

When you are organic horticulture, ask your children to lend a hand. Gardens are terrific teaching tools for kids, and provide great opportunities for interaction, growth, and instruction on healthy living.

TIP! Have your gardening tools near you to minimize the time spent searching for them. For example, you could use an over-sized tote bag or an apron with multiple pockets.

As you are working in your garden, you must take care to protect both knees. Most people can’t bend over while standing up for a long period of time. Concentrate on kneeling. This will still make it easy to reach plants as well as minimize back stress. Use a pad to kneel upon and protect your knees from possible pain.

TIP! Use a beer trap to get rid of unwanted pests, like slugs. Bury a canning jar so that the open mouth and the soil top are level.

Preparing a plot for planting a perennial garden can be done quickly and without difficulty. Use a spade to dig up some soil, flip the soil over, and finally, sprinkle around 3-4 inches of wood chips on the soil. Wait for a few weeks and plant new perennials in this area.

TIP! If you’d like to create a raised bed, use materials like brick, stone, or untreated wood. Be sure to use wood that is naturally resistant to rotting and that has not been treated.

As your seeds sprout, they require less warmth than before. After growth begins, you can remove plants from any excessive heat sources. If you used plastic wrap to insulate your seedlings, you should now remove it. Watch your seeds closely to find the right time to do this.

TIP! Adopting organic gardening methods may take more effort than traditional approaches, but the payoff is considerably worth it. Although the chemicals may claim greater results, using organic methods to tame your garden will do less harm to your body, and the environment.

It never hurts to keep a few bags around the house to protect your floors from dirty horticulture shoes. This way, you won’t break momentum by fussing with your shoes, and you’ll be quickly back in the garden to finish your work.

Pine Needles

TIP! Add mulch into your garden, you want to use at the very least organic material of three inches. This helps give nutrients to the soil in your garden and holds in moisture.

Do not overlook the benefits of pine mulch for your garden. Some garden plants have a high acidity, and prefer acidic soil. Pine needles to line the bed of your garden are easy to find for these kinds of plants. Cover soil beds with a few inches of pine needles, and they will disperse acidity to the soil below as they decompose.

TIP! Plant garlic all around your garden to deter most determined pests. Most insects are repelled by its odor.

Try to avoid letting your organic garden chores build up. Even if you can’t tend to your garden daily, you can do little things to help so that there is not a huge amount of work to be done when you are ready to get back to it. Try pulling a few weeds from the garden while your dogs are out doing their business.

TIP! Dwarf fruit trees are an option for space-constrained gardens. Almost any garden, including urban ones, can accommodate dwarf trees.

Grow garlic. Take single garlic gloves and plant them in moist but drained soil at the start of spring or fall. Lay each bulb into the ground ends up at a distance of about 4 inches away from the next bulb and 1-2 inches down into the soil. Cut the green garlic sprouts as they grow, you can use them like you would use scallions or chives. When the top turns brown, it is time to harvest the bulbs. After harvesting, leave the bulbs out in the sun until the skin hardens. This helps them dry out. Store them in a cool, dry location. You can store them as loose bulbs, or fasten them together into bunches.

TIP! Fertilize your garden with a chicken tractor. Chicken tractors are moveable chicken coops with sheltered areas and open floors.

You should now realize how important an organic garden is for your health. You need to know what vegetables are essential for your overall health and how to grow them properly. The tips you’ve found above are sure to help you get off to a good start on growing chemical-free healthy food.