In the world of organic horticulture, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced organic gardeners alike. There are many e-guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This set of tips contains some of the best advice for helping a good organic gardener become a great organic gardener.
Put sod down the right way. Get your soil ready before you lay your sod. Weeds should be removed, and you should break up the soil into a tilth. Next, you want to make the soil compacted by applying light but firm pressure. Make sure the soil creates a flat surface. Dampen the soil completely. Stagger your sod so that each joint offsets from joints in adjacent rows. Sod should be firm and have an even, flat surface without gaps. Water the sod for two weeks and then you can safely walk on it as it will have had time to properly root.
Trying to shovel through clay soil can be extremely difficult and tiresome. To make your digging project easier, apply a coat of automobile wax to your shovel first and then buff it lightly. The wax prevents the clay from sticking to the shovel, and stops rust from forming.
Baking Soda
If your plants have a powdery mildew, don’t use expensive chemicals on them. Mix some baking soda and a very small amount of liquid soap into water. Spray this mixture on your plants weekly until the mildew is gone. Your plants will not be harmed by the baking soda, but the mildew will definitely not like it!
During winter, you should take your favorite plants inside. Think about saving your resistant plants or the expensive ones. Carefully dig around the rootball and replant in an appropriate pot.
Soil needs to be rich in certain nutrients to grow healthy plants. Depending on what kind of plants you want in your garden, the soil might or might not be adapted. You can also create an artificial area with only one kind of soil.
Check your soil before you begin planting your garden. You can do a soil sample analysis for an affordable fee and then know what you need to properly treat your soil with so you can grow the best plants. A lot of cooperative extension offices can provide this service to you and it is worth knowing what you need to do in order to avoid ruining your plants.
Soak the seeds and store in a dark area overnight. Use a small container filled with water to nearly the top and place several seeds in it. This will keep your seeds hydrated and give you a little head start with your growing. The seeds will most likely survive and mature this way.
Balance your alkaline soil with the acid found in used coffee grounds. Basically, the grounds resupply the soil with acid. This is one of the most inexpensive ways to achieve this result. When you can eliminate excess alkaline from the soil, it makes what you are growing much healthier. This means your veggies will taste better, and your flowers will be more vibrant than ever.
Draw up a garden plan before you plant the first seed. Use this to remind you where certain things were planted, later when they start sprouting. This can also help prevent you from losing smaller plants or smaller groups of plants within a larger garden area.
Horticulture Knee Pads
If you have a lot of low-growing plants to take care of in your garden, purchase horticulture knee pads. The amount of time that you spend gardening on your knees can make your knees hurt by the time you are done. Pick up a good pair of horticulture knee pads to help cushion your knees.
All of your vegetable plants should have approximately two inches, just outside the stem, of organic mulch placed around them. Mulch helps the soil surrounding the plants remain moister for a longer time. An added benefit is that it also inhibits weed growth. This will save you a ton of time and work.
Being a novice gardener, you should ensure that you follow the directions carefully for tool and chemical use. It may seem simple enough, but not following it could lead to chemical burns and skin irritations. So make sure you take precautions, follow the simple directions and be safe.
Be sure to plant some strawberries for your children and grandchildren. Ever-bearing ones are especially nice. Children are thrilled to harvest fruit from their own garden, and doing so often makes them more enthusiastic about helping out with the more hum-drum aspects of tending a garden.
If you have a cut on your hand, take the time to make sure it is either healed or completely covered before you put your hands in the soil. If you have an open cut while horticulture, contact with dirt or debris can infect the wound. There are bandages out there now that can seal cuts completely.
Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. For example, you could use an over-sized tote bag or an apron with multiple pockets. Keep your gloves, a trowel, small pruning shears and other tools handy and make quick work of your garden maintenance.
Spend your time working efficiently in your organic garden. Keep all of your tools together; do not waste time looking for them! In addition to keeping your horticulture tools in one location, you should also clean your tools after each use. Get a tool belt if you need to, or a pair of pants with a lot of pockets.
The advice given here is perfect for helping you to know the best ways of organic gardening. You can find out a ton of information on the subject, you you really need to be aware of how to use it. Use the tips and build them into your own horticulture strategy and you’ll find great growing success!