More and more people are becoming interested in organic gardening as a safe alternative to store bought produce, which can contain all kinds of dangerous chemicals and may even present unforeseen threats with untested methods of genetic engineering. Organic gardening is also cheaper; you don’t have to spend as much money on tools and equipment. This article will provide some great tips for organic horticulture.
Baking Soda
You don’t need expensive chemicals to treat powdery mildew on plants. All you need to do is mix baking soda with a tiny bit of liquid soap in with some water. This solution can be sprayed onto your plants once per week until the problem is resolved. Baking soda won’t harm your plants, and takes care of the mildew efficiently and gently.
Keep an eye open for stink bugs in your garden, especially during the fall months. Stink bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and all sorts of fruit. Decrease their presence as much as possible to avoid them wreaking havoc in your garden.
Take extra care of any fragile shrubs that are known to drop their leaves in the autumn. Fragile shrubs, that are planted in pots, should be covered to protect them during the cold season. Tie the tops tightly together, and cover the wigwam with a sheet or blanket draped loosely over it. You will protect your shrubs from the cold without having to cover them in plastic, which can cause rot.
Controlling pests can be quite challenging when trying to grow a healthy, hardy vegetable garden. Since you are growing the vegetables for your own consumption, you want to stay away from pesticides. Research the methods available for eliminating garden pests organically. Taking the pests off of the plants by hand is one of the best fixes if you are able to catch the infestation in its early stages.
Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides for your garden. These pesticides can kill the useful insects that work as predators to pests. The bugs you need are often more fragile than the ones you don’t: a pesticide could actually kill the beneficial insects while leaving the pests unaffected. In the end, you may resort to using even more pesticides in order to erase the problem.
Plant things that will give you color for the fall. That doesn’t have to be the case. When it comes to brightly colored foliage, fall is an amazing time of year. You can find beautiful maple and beech trees in many different fall colors. Also, when considering shrubs, try using cotoneaster, hydrangea, or barberry.
Use horticulture as a way to relax and recuperate. Everyone wants to find a way to relax and enjoy themselves. Horticulture is one of the easiest ways to attain this. It is not prohibitively expensive, and has numerous benefits. Perhaps the most rewarding aspect is the sense of peace and calm that comes from nurturing your plants.
Be smart about how you water your garden. Consider a soaker hose as a way to water multiple plants while saving time. Make sure that your water pressure is set to low, so that no harm will come to any tender plants. Let your soaker hose run for a few hours while you do other things.
Take the time needed to plant your seeds. First, you should loosen the soil, and ensure that it is sufficiently moist. Next, you should spread the seeds evenly so they can grow with room. Bury them at a depth that is three times that of the height of the seeds. There are some seeds that require light to grow, so they must not be buried.
Spacing is one important factor in gardening. You will most likely underestimate how much space plants will need as they grow. You will need to provide this space to provide ample room and because you need air circulating to your garden. Plan your organic garden while keeping this in mind, and space your seeds accordingly, when planting.
Get added value from your property. Landscaping increases your house’s curb appeal and give you a good return for the money invested. A few select plants can raise your property value dramatically. Try to find plants that are relatively low-moisture plants, suited well to your particular environment. This will add a lot of value to your property.
Laundry Basket
When you want to harvest the produce in your organic garden, always have an old laundry basket to hand. Most laundry baskets are designed with a multitude of holes. This makes them a perfect strainer for washing your vegetables. Rinse your crops while in the laundry basket to strain the excess water.
If you are starting your seedlings out in small containers, you should use a layer of potting soil that is three times as deep as the size of a single seed. There are exceptions to this rule, however. Some seeds should remain uncovered because they thrive in direct sunlight. Two common examples of this type of seed are ageratum and petunias. When in doubt about whether a seed requires direct sun exposure, you can find lots of information online or on the seed packaging itself.
Treated Wood
Create a raised bed for your garden out of stone, bricks or untreated wood. When selecting wood, make certain you pick untreated products that have a natural resistance to rot. Good choices are cypress, cedar and locust. Avoid using treated wood in an organic vegetable garden. The chemicals in the wood can leak into the soil, and eventually into the plants. If you must use treated wood, consider using a liner to keep chemicals out of the soil.
By taking advantage of the advice you’ve read in this article, you’ll be able to have a garden free of pesticides and full of healthy produce. As your garden starts to become more attuned with nature, you will also see it attracting more wildlife.