Organic horticulture doesn’t have to be grueling work. Indeed, it can be quite enjoyable. But, newcomers may find the process to be somewhat overwhelming at first. Are you interested in cultivating green gardens and earning that green thumb? Well, a great place to start is with the following helpful article!
Transform the handles of your tools into convenient measuring devices. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes, and shovels can be converted into handy measuring sticks. After laying the handles on the floor, run the measuring tape along beside them. Mark your distances with a permanent marker. You will never find yourself looking for a ruler thanks to this simple tip.
Try to plan a variety of perennials that are slug-proof. If slugs or snails find their favorite perennials in your garden, they’ll snack all night. When you wake up in the morning, there will be very little left of your plants. Young plants with smooth and tender leaves are their favorite. Certain perennials are unappetizing to slugs and snails, especially those with tough, hairy leaves or an unappetizing taste. Good choices in this category are plants such as achillea, campanula, and euphorbia. Heuchera and helleborus also work well.
If you start to notice some powdery mildew growing on your plants, there is no need to waste money on expensive chemicals. Mix a solution of baking soda, water, and a tiny bit of dishwashing liquid. You just need to spray your plants with this solution once every five days until the mildew is no longer visible. This solution is perfectly safe for your plants and gently treats mildew in a short amount of time.
Cover the fences and walls with climbers. Climbing plants can cover a wall after one growing season only. They can also grow through existing shrubs or trees, or be trained to cover an arbor. Some climbers will attach themselves to a support using twining stems or tendrils, while other varieties need to be held up by tying them in place. Reliable varieties include wisteria, honeysuckle, climbing roses, clematis, and jasmine.
If you want a strange, yet successful, green answer to getting rid of weeds, boil them to death. Considering that boiling water is rather safe, you don’t have to worry about toxins in your soil or at your dinner table. Douse boiling water on the weeds and avoid nearby plants carefully. What this does it essentially kill the weeds by damaging their roots. The result is that those weeds are unlikely to regrow.
Try to keep your plants aerated and dry, every day. If your plants are moist, this can attract disease and parasites. One common organism that thrives on moisture is the fungi family. It is possible to control fungi with sprays, but the key is to treat your garden before any problems arise.
Fertilizer in the garden is a must. Manure can be very helpful in growing plants, but it is essential to use a commercial product that has been composted, in order to minimize pathogen risk. It is important that you use some sort of fertilizer, although it doesn’t really matter which variety you choose.
Horticulture Chemicals
Read instructions on new horticulture chemicals and tools before you use them. If you use your horticulture chemicals wrong, you can abrade or even burn your skin. So make sure you take precautions, follow the simple directions and be safe.
Learn the ideal times for harvesting your vegetables. For the optimum flavor, be sure to follow the guidelines for planting and picking. For example, some plants, such as zucchini and baby peas, have the most flavor when harvested while young. Tomatoes, in contrast, taste better the longer they are allowed to ripen on the vine. Thus, you ought to familiarize yourself with the best times to pick the produce from your garden.
You can stop mud from being tracked into your house by covering your dirty gardening shoes with plastic bags. This way, you can maintain your momentum and head right back to your garden so that you can finish what you were doing.
Compost Pile
Use equal parts of green and dried plant material in your compost pile. Add grass clippings, waste from fruits and vegetables, leaves, and weeds for the green materials in your compost pile. Paper and straw are dry plant materials. Materials to avoid during composting include diseased plants, meat, ashes and charcoal.
Construct raised flower beds of brick, stone, or wood. If you choose to use wood, see to it that it’s untreated and that it can resist rotting. Some good woods are locust, cedar and cypress. Don’t use treated wood in a garden for vegetables because the chemicals contained in them can leak into the ground. Treated wood can be lined with plastic to create a barrier.
Add mulch to keep your soil healthy. Mulch will protect the soil it covers. Mulch will ensure your soil is kept cool on hot days and protect your roots. Since it decreases the rate at which moisture evaporates, the soil also stays more moist. It can also help alleviate any weed issues.
You can easily make a new garden for your perennials in just a few steps. Cut under the dirt with a spade and turn it over. Next, cover the area with three to four inches of organic wood chips. In a few weeks, cut into the bed to plant your perennials.
This article should give you a good idea why organic horticulture is a great activity. Properly growing your garden can involve serious relaxation and even some fun. With the proper application of these suggestions, you will be achieving amazing results in your own organic garden in no time at all!