Not only is horticulture very relaxing, but it is also an activity which doesn’t require much money to do. Performing necessary garden chores can be an excellent way of spending time together as a family. Gardening is a great way to teach kids how nature works in a fun, engaging way. Horticulture can also teach great life-lessons while helping you to appreciate and enjoy nature and the great outdoors. Relax while spending time with your loved ones and cultivating your garden.
Learn how to properly lay sod. Start by preparing your soil with care. Weed the soil well, and till the entire lawn area. Using a light but firm touch, compact the soil until it is flat. Make sure you work with a moist soil. Lay the sod down in alternated rows, keeping the joints set off from one another. Tamp down the sod so it has a flat and even surface, then using some extra soil, fill the gaps between. You will have to water the sod every day for 2 weeks, and then it should be firmly rooted to the ground, and able to be walked on.
Use biennials and annuals to beautify your flower beds. These biennials and annuals are fast-growing, and they allow you to brighten up your flower bed with a change for each season. In addition, you might need something to fill empty spaces in your flower garden. Fill gaps with annuals or biennials. Just make sure the flowers will get enough sun to thrive. There are many flowers you can plant in these gaps. Try marigolds, petunias or sunflowers for a brighter garden.
Baking Soda
If powdery mildew appears on your plants, don’t purchase expensive chemical solutions. Mix a solution of baking soda, water, and a tiny bit of dishwashing liquid. Spray this on your plants once a week until the mildew disappears. Baking soda won’t harm your plants, and takes care of the mildew efficiently and gently.
When you are mowing your lawn do not cut it too closely to the dirt. If you allow your grass to grow a little longer, the roots will go down deeper into the dirt, helping the grass grow better and remain hydrated. If you keep your lawn too short, the roots will not go deep enough to survive in case of a heat wave.
Protect your plants from moisture on a daily basis. Moisture on your plants is a sure way to attract parasites and disease. Fungi is the most common parasite for plants. Fungicide sprays can deal with fungal infestations, but they are most effective if you apply them before a fungus problem becomes noticeable.
A green garden needs to begin with seeds, not plants. The environmentally conscious way to start a new garden is to start with seeds. Plastic used in nurseries normally end up in landfills. For an garden that helps the environment, plant seeds directly in the garden’s soil or purchase plants grown in organic packaging.
Think about using evergreens in your yard that produce berries during the year. They will provide a splash of color in the drab and dreary winter months when a lot of other plants have lost their colors. Some plants provide color during the winter like the Winterberry, and American Holly, the American Cranberrybush and the Common Snowberry.
Purchase an inexpensive horticulture kneeling pad, as well as a wheelbarrow or wagon. Working on the ground for long periods of time can be painful on the knees, so a small garden stool can really allow you to work in comfort. Also, gardening can involve a lot of heavy lifting and moving items, therefore a robust wheelbarrow can make that aspect much easier.
Know when is the best time to harvest your vegetables. Every vegetable has a proper time to be picked in order to capture the perfect flavor. For instance, peas and zucchinis are tastiest when picked young. Tomatoes, however, are best picked from the vine later when they are very ripe. So, make sure you do some research, and find out when the best time to harvest your vegetables is.
Gardening is a wonderful hobby that can be enjoyed either alone, or with others. The advice in this article can be used to teach your children or grandchildren how to develop their own green thumbs, to share the pleasures of gardening with friends, or to simply enhance the time you spend alone tending to your plants.