Growing your own organic garden can really give you a nutritional boost to your diet, but knowing what it takes can be difficult. When it comes to seeds, there are many to pick from. The following tips will ensure that you have what you require in order to grow your very own organic garden.
Shoveling clay soil is tiresome since clay is hard, and it can also stick to your shovel for twice the difficulty. Coat the shovel with floor or car wax, and buff it with a clean rag to make the job a lot easier. The clay won’t stick to it, and the end will not rust as an added bonus.
Use the handles of your tools as a handy ruler when doing your outdoor chores. Larger handled tools like rakes, hoes, and shovels make great measuring sticks. Lay the handles of said tools on the ground where it is flat and there is no interference, such as gravel, and stretch a measuring tape along one side. Then, transfer the measurements to the handle using a permanent marker. The next time you find yourself in your garden, you will have one large ruler right at your fingertips.
Transplanting plants and bringing them indoors can protect them from harsh winters. Maybe you’d like to save the most expensive plants you have or the most resistant. Cautiously avoid the roots while digging, and put your plant into a perfectly sized pot.
Before actually putting plants into your garden, check the type and compostion of your soil. For a tiny fee, a soil analysis may be done, and based on the results, the soil can support a growing garden by you enriching it as necessary. The cost of the analysis will be easily offset by the benefits of a healthy and vibrant crop.
Make sure that your deciduous shrubs are protected. If you have tender shrubs in pots, they need to be protected in the cold weather. You want to then tie the tops of the canes together, and cover them with a sheet or blanket. People sometimes use plastic to wrap their plants, but plastic can cause the plants to rot because it impedes air circulation.
If you are looking for an all-natural, organic way to weed your garden, consider “boiling off” the weeds. Boiling water can be considered as an herbicide, and it is a safe one. Just pour out the water on the weeds being careful to avoid any nearby plants. Weeds will usually stop growing if boiling water damages their roots.
Don’t forget to use a good fertilizer in your garden. Manure helps your plants grow. Make sure you use a product that is commercially composted so you don’t risk adding pathogens to your garden. There are numerous types of fertilizers available. What type you select is less of a concern; any kind of fertilizer is better than none.
If you are gardening for the first time ever, read and follow all directions and instructions that come with your chemicals and tools. Garden chemicals can cause skin irritation and eye injury. Be careful when it comes to your body, and always follow directions.
You should get a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool for garden work. Using a large portion of your time near or on the ground working on your garden puts a huge strain on your knees; therefore, having a portable, lightweight garden stool will greatly assist you in making horticulture easier on them. Also having a garden usually requires moving heavy dirt and objects, so investing in a wheelbarrow is a very sound investment.
Try to pour a bit of leftover water from your steamed veggies on them. You may fertilize the soil with tea or coffee for plants that favor acidic environments, like rhododendrons and gardenias. Spray your plants with a 9:1 mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide to eliminate fungus without harming your plants.
A mixture of aspirin and water can protect your plants from common diseases. To add the aspirin to the plant, dissolve about one tablet and a half into approximately two gallons of fresh water. Spray your plants with the water if they have a disease. Your plants should be sprayed one time each three weeks.
After seeds have sprouted, they require less warmth than they did prior to sprouting. Move your plants further away from your heat source as they grow. Make sure you remember to remove any plastic films that were on the plant containers to repel humidity and warmth. Keep an eye on your seeds so you will know when this should be done.
Try using untreated stone, brick, or wood to create a raised bed. Any wood you use needs to be untreated and resistant to rot. Cypress, locust and cedar usually work best. Treated wood has chemicals that can be harmful to a vegetable garden. If you are already using treated lumber, you can use plastic liners, or a different barrier, in order to protect your garden.
Starting an organic garden helps make your diet better, and understanding the different options for your garden can help you be even more successful. Use the tips from above to take a step in the right direction when it comes to organic horticulture, and start your family on a healthier path to better living.