Understanding all there is to know concerning horticulture can be extremely mind-blowing. However, like other things in life, it can be thoroughly researched, learned, and taught to others. Now you know what you need to do, you can hopefully be more knowledgeable about horticulture, so you can get more from it.
Flat Surface
Sod should be laid correctly. Get your soil ready before you lay your sod. Thoroughly weed the soil, and work it into a fine, smooth tilth. Compact the soil lightly and firmly, and be sure to create a flat surface. Dampen the soil completely. Lay the sod in rows, and make sure the joints do not overlap. Make sure that the sod forms an even, flat surface, and if you have any gaps show between the sod, fill them with a little bit of soil. Water the sod each day for two weeks so it will become well-rooted and ready for foot traffic.
The correct soil can make a big difference in how your garden grows. The soil may have to be adapted, depending on what types of plants you’re planning for the garden. You may also be able to design an artificial area that contains one type of dirt.
Bulbs planted in the spring can flower all the way into summer. Most people have no trouble successfully growing bulbs, and their flowers will return each and every year. Remember that different bulbs will bloom at all different times of the year, so if you are careful to choose the right bulbs, you will see blooms in the early spring, and have flowers all the way to late summer.
Balance your alkaline soil with the acid found in used coffee grounds. This affordable trick will give back the acid that your dirt requires. The greens and vegetables need the proper balance and will grow bigger and stronger with the right mix.
If you are considering planting a garden take the time to plan it out. Use your seed packages to make fun markers that will remind you where each type of plant is growing. With a plan, you will also be less likely to lose track of small groups or individual plants within a large and ambitious garden.
The best gardens from an environmental standpoint originate from seeds, instead of plants. Starting from seed is far less harsh on the environment than using plants you buy at the nursery. The planters used to hold nursery plants are generally not made from eco-friendly materials, and thus get thrown into landfills. Starting from seeds, or buying from one of the few nurseries that use biodegradable planters, prevents this.
There are natural materials, and you can also use other plants to help keep pests away from your garden. For example, if you plant onions or marigolds along the edges of your vegetable garden, you can ward off slugs. Insect pests will stay away from seedlings and trees if you use wood ash around the base as a mulch. Doing these things can ensure that you do not need potentially harmful chemicals.
Pest Control
Pest control is tough when you have a veggie garden. Since you are growing the vegetables for your own consumption, you want to stay away from pesticides. Persistence and care is a much better solution for pest control, but many avoid it because it actually requires some work on their behalf. If you catch them when there are only a few around, you can actually pick them off the plants by hand.
Plant things that will give you color for the fall. This does not have to be so. The foliage of autumn makes for perhaps the most colorful season of the year. There are a number of trees that provide exuberant displays of color, such as Dogwood, Beech and Maple. Cotoneaster, barberry and hydrangea can provide vibrant color if you are considering shrubs for your garden.
It’s important to let your cuts heal prior to doing any gardening without gloves. A cut can become infected if dirt is allowed to enter the cut while gardening. Instead, opt for a bandage that entirely covers your wound.
Laundry Basket
Use a laundry basket to help you collect produce from your garden. You can also use a laundry basket as a strainer. You can rinse your produce off while it is in the basket, and the excess water will strain through the holes of your laundry basket.
Do you want to kill weeds in a natural way? Use several layers of newspapers for weed control. Weeds need sun for growth, just like any other plant. The layers of newspaper over the weeds will block out the light and kill them. In time, the newspaper will decompose into the soil. You can then add a mulch layer right on top so that it looks more attractive.
Hopefully, you can now see that becoming a great gardener is not as difficult as you first feared. Like all subjects, horticulture is a vast world which has a lot of information available to sift through. Sometimes, if you figure out where to begin, it’s easy to “jump right in”. With luck, you got such a spark from something in this article.