Many people, while favorably considering the practice, never actually commit themselves to organic gardening. It can seem like a daunting task to learn all that it takes to have a successful garden the natural way. Read through this article and you can gain better insight on what it takes to start and grow your own organic garden; it’s not as hard as it may seem.
Shoveling soil that is mostly clay can be difficult because of the hardness of the soil, and because it sticks to the shovel. To ease the digging, apply some car wax or floor wax to the head of the shovel and buff. This will both make the clay fall off of the surface, and prevent the surface from rusting.
Make garden tools do double duty as handy makeshift rulers. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, shovels or hoes can work as great measuring sticks. All you have to do is lay them on the floor then use a measuring tape to measure their length. Then, with a permanent marker, you want to label distances. Now when you go garden the next time, you’ll have a giant ruler at your command.
Plant slug-proof perennials. Slugs and snails will quickly destroy your garden if you let them. These pests gravitate to young perennials with smooth, tender, thin leaves. Some perennials, however, leave a bad taste in slugs’ mouths or are difficult to chew through because their leaves aren’t tender. Selecting an unappetizing perennial, such as campanula or heuchera, will help stop them from being eaten.
When the fall season arrives, it is time to plant your fall edibles. Instead of using regular clay pots this year for planting lettuce and kale, try a pumpkin container instead! First, cut out the pumpkin’s top layer and remove the seeds. Then, spray some Wilt-Pruf on the insides to prevent the rot that would follow otherwise. You can start planting now.
Knee Pads
To save your knees from the wear and tear of horticulture, invest in some knee pads if your garden includes a lot of low-growth plants. Horticulture can really put a lot of pressure on your knees that will leave you cramped and uncomfortable. Knee pads offer your knees the extra cushioning they need to stay comfortable during extended periods in the garden.
Try dividing the irises. If you divide the overgrown clumps of flowers, you’ll find that your stock grows proportionally. When you see the foliage is definitely dead, lift up the bulbous irises. 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. You should divide rhizomes using a knife. Cut the center out of each rhizome but save the pieces. Divide your pieces carefully; they should each have one good quality offshoot apiece. Replant right away.
In order to rid your garden of pests, take advantage of plant materials and other organic matter. Slugs can be kept at bay with a patch of marigolds or pungent vegetables. Wood ash, when used like mulch, can keep away pests after it is spread around a tree base and shrub seedlings. You will be able to stay away from harsh chemical based pesticides by incorporating these techniques into your gardening.
Being a novice gardener, you should ensure that you follow the directions carefully for tool and chemical use. If you miss this easy step, you run the risk of harming yourself due to the chemicals that can irritate your skin. Protect yourself and follow all instructions.
Use cologne or other items with a distinct scent to keep your canine out of the landscaping. This kind of scent is going to mask the scents your dog is attracted to. If your dog has no interesting smell to follow, the garden will not be a tempting place.
The flesh of vegetables gets soft in the heat of the day, making them especially vulnerable to inadvertent damage with even the gentlest picking. Do not twist the vegetable to remove it from the vine; instead, cut the stem to avoid damaging the plant.
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. You will find that many of the supporting cast of insects and birds that aid in plant production and pollination will be present on your land and actually help your developed gardens to produce better.
When you plant a seed, take your time. Begin by adding moisture to the soil. Lay out your seeds, and make sure that they will have enough room to grow. Bury the seed with a planting depth of about three times its size. It isn`t necessary to bury all seeds; some of them need light for growth to occur.
Get every last drop of value from your land. Landscaping has one of the highest returns you can get from home improvement. There are some varieties of plants that increase property values by over 20%. Select plants that will adapt well to your regional area and require minimum maintenance.
Creating a trap with beer can help reduce the number of slugs in your garden. To create a beer trap, dig a hole in your garden that is the depth of a glass jar, leaving the mouth of the jar level with the soil. Now, fill the jar with beer to approximately an inch below the lip. Slugs are attracted to beer. They will crawl into the jar and be trapped.
Grow your plants in different areas of the garden every year. Planting the same type of plant in the same area of your garden each year can cause disease or encourage fungus growth. These plant enemies can become stored in the ground, ready to attack your plants the following year. By mixing things up and planting in various spots, you will be able to keep disease and fungus at bay.
As long as you bear these tips in mind, you should feel more confident in your ability to cultivate a lush garden. It is relatively easy to have an organic garden, that you can show off with pride. Soon you can have fresh, environmentally-friendly fruits and vegetables on your table.