Category: Gardening

Great Tips And Advice For Giving Your Garden A Much Needed Lift.

TIP! Start your seedlings in pots inside and then transplant them into your garden. This boosts the chance that the plants can survive to adulthood.

Horticulture has been an enjoyable activity for centuries. People can garden just for the sheer joy of the activity, or they can garden in order to provide their family with fresh produce. The following article will give advice for making gardening more fun.

Healthy Plants

TIP! Sometimes the soil you want to use for your garden has a high alkaline content. Combine coffee grounds with the soil to reduce this.

Having healthy soil in your garden is your number one defense against pests! Healthy soil equals healthy plants and healthy plants can fight off diseases with ease. So if you want your garden to provide plants that are as healthy as possible, you need a good quality soil that contains few chemicals and that can accumulate salts over time.

TIP! Make a plan for your garden. Planning gives you a map of your garden.

Use annuals and biennials to brighten your flower garden. Your flower beds will look different from one season to another. 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 different varieties to choose from such as daisies, marigolds, impatiens, and lantana.

TIP! One natural method of weed removal is called “boiling”. Boiling water is a very safe alternative to other potent herbicides.

Analyze the soil before you even get started with working in a garden. An inexpensive soil report can be used to adjust soil nutrients to optimum levels, which will ensure your garden thrives. Several Cooperative Extension locations offer this service, and it’s advantageous for you to know what type of soil you have, in order to avoid growing faulty crops.

TIP! Spread a little bit of organic mulch, around two inches worth, in and about each vegetable plant. Mulch will keep soil moist for longer.

For flowers throughout the spring and the summer, be sure to plant some bulbs. Planting and growing bulbs is very simple, and once planted the bulbs will grow for years. Choose from the variety of bulbs that bloom at various times of the growing season for a garden of color all spring and summer long.

TIP! Novice gardeners should read the manuals on all gardening tools and chemicals prior to using them. If you do not do this very simple step, you can end up causing skin irritation problems that are very painful.

Try to ensure your plants are dry and have enough air, daily! Moisture on your plants is a sure way to attract parasites and disease. Fungus infections are common in overly moist plants. You can control fungi with the application of fungicide sprays. However, the area should be treated before you see the onset of any problems.

TIP! Good tools for the gardener include a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool. Working in the garden means you’ll be down on the ground a lot.

Irises should be divided. Increase your iris population when you divide up overgrown clumps. When foliage is dead, lift bulbous irises. The bulbs should split up normally in the hand, and should flower when replanted for the next year. Use a knife to divide the rhizomes. Cut new pieces from the outside and discard the old center. Each piece must have a minimum of one strong offshoot. Replant your pieces right away.

TIP! An eye-catching plant makes an attractive focal point for your garden or flowerbed. There should be a solid focal point for every good garden design.

Keep your garden fertilized. Manure is probably the best fertilizer. Choose a commercial product to reduce the risks of pathogen exposure. There are many fertilization methods out there; the type is not quite as important as actually using something.

TIP! Use common sense when watering your garden. You can save time by using soaker hoses when watering plants.

If you are just getting into gardening, make sure you heed all of the directions on fertilizer and chemical labels. Failing to heed this simple advice can mean skin irritation that you are going to remember, and not pleasantly at that. Protect yourself and follow all instructions.

TIP! The sun can cause irreparable skin damage; therefore, it is essential to dress accordingly when gardening. Wear sunglasses and hats with wide brims, and apply sunscreen.

You should think about adding evergreen plants that yield berries into your yard space. This will allow your garden to have color, even in the dreary winter months. Some plants provide color during the winter like the Winterberry, and American Holly, the American Cranberrybush and the Common Snowberry.

TIP! Involve your children in gardening. Gardening helps your children learn about biological processes and serves as a social activity that helps the family grow closer while eating healthier.

Be aware of the optimum time frame for harvesting vegetables. Every vegetable has a proper time to be picked in order to capture the perfect flavor. Zucchini and baby peas, for example, have the best flavor when harvested early. Tomatoes, however, are best picked from the vine later when they are very ripe. Simply educate yourself on what the best time is to harvest each of your garden vegetables.

TIP! While gardening you must make sure your knees are protected. It’s difficult for most people to bend while standing, especially at the waist.

Keep your garden free from broad-spectrum pesticides. These pesticides will also kill any beneficial insects that consume the pests you are trying to get rid of. Good bugs are often more sensitive to pesticides than their bad counterparts, so if the population of good bugs goes down, the pest problem can grow. This can cause you to actually use more pesticides than you originally needed to combat the problem.

Choose one plant to be the focal point. A focal point can help direct a viewers gaze. Many times, it’s just a plant that differs from the surrounding plants.

TIP! When helping organic plants flourish inside, it is vital to keep in mind how much light is reaching them. If you live somewhere without strong natural sunlight, you might want to look into growing plants that thrive in lower-light environments.

Gardening can be hard on your knees. It’s difficult for most people to bend while standing, especially at the waist. You should kneel while tending to your plants for the sake of reducing stress to your spine. For extra comfort, purchase a knee pad for use as a cushion between your knees and the ground.

TIP! Perennial gardens should be prepared easily and quickly in the ground. Simply slice into the ground with a spade, flip the top layer of soil, and then cover it with several inches of wood chips.

When your plants begin to sprout, they can survive in somewhat cooler temperatures. Move your plants further away from your heat source as they grow. You should also remove plastic films that you had on your containers to keep the humidity and warmth out. To know when it is time for this, keep a careful eye on your seeds.

TIP! You can cover your muddied gardening footware easily by keeping plastic bags around. You will save time and be back in the garden much more quickly by doing this.

Working in the garden doesn’t have to be grueling; learn to work more efficiently. Have your tools laid out in an orderly way so you do not have to search for them. Prepare all the tools you need before you go out to work on your garden, and put them away nicely when you are done. A good way to keep your tools at hand is to buy a tool belt or utility pants with many large pockets.

TIP! Use an old laundry basket to gather your vegetables and fruits. This will be like a strainer for all your produce.

As previously mentioned, gardening is something that has been enjoyed by many throughout the centuries. A long time ago, people had to garden to survive. Although some people still do it to get food, others do it for fun. No matter what reason you wish to garden, you now have some useful advice. You are going to gain a greater appreciation for the benefits you reap from your horticulture efforts.

Organic Horticulture 101: Everything You Need To Know

TIP! Keep an eye open for stink bugs in your garden, especially during the fall months. Stink bugs are attracted to tomatoes, beans and most fruits.

An organic garden is a fascinating thing that also requires a lot of time and attention. Organic gardening is possible with some great tips. This will make the fruits and vegetables in your garden healthier and taste better. Use this information to make the best organic garden that you can.

TIP! Remove your garden’s weeds! Weeds can turn a beautiful garden into an eyesore. White vinegar can be a good solution.

In order not to shock your plants, you have to gradually accustom them to the change of temperature and conditions. Place them outside in the sunlight for an hour or two on the first day. Throughout the week, you should leave your plants out for a little longer each day. After a few more days, your plants will be more resistant and ready to stay outside all the time.

TIP! Vegetables should be placed in a spot in your garden that will get about six hours of sun every day. Most vegetables require this amount of sun in order to grow properly and at a quicker pace.

Clay soil makes working with a shovel difficult. The clay is hard and sticks to the shovel. Coat the shovel with floor or car wax, and buff it with a clean rag to make the job a lot easier. The clay will no longer stick to the shovel, and this also helps to prevent other problems like rusting.

TIP! One very good way to deal with weeds is to boil them away. Water is cheaper than chemical herbicides, and less hazardous to humans and soil.

If mildew is forming on your plants, you should not purchase an expensive chemical. Mix a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda into water. Then, spray this mixture onto all of your infected plants once each week till the mildew is gone. This solution is perfectly safe for your plants and gently treats mildew in a short amount of time.

TIP! Choose plants that will provide color in autumn. That doesn’t have to be way it is though! The foliage in the fall probably exudes more color than any other season.

All soil is not the same. You need to check the soil to make sure it’s the best for what you’re planting. Pay a small fee to have your soil analyzed, and you’ll be glad that you did when you understand what nutrients your soil is lacking. Many Cooperative Extension offices will provide this service, and it is well worth knowing exactly what the soil needs to avoid ruining a crop or two.

TIP! Strawberries are a great plant to grow in any organic garden, especially if you happen to have kids or any strawberry lover in your home. For kids, there are few things as fun as picking fruit fresh from the garden.

Grow wheat or cat grass around the plants your cat likes nibbling. You can also put something on top of the soil around the plants that has an offensive smell to cats, such as mothballs or citrus peel.

TIP! One of the problems that people come up against when trying to grow organic plants indoors is a lack of natural light. If you want indoor plants, choose specimens that can grow in relatively dark places.

As you cut your grass, do not trim it too low to the ground. If you leave a bit more height, the grass roots will get deeper, making your lawn stronger. When grass is cut too low the roots will not grow as deep, and your lawn may suffer from brown patches.

TIP! The optimal amount of organic mulch to use in your flower beds is 2-3 inches. Covering the beds with mulch serves multiple purposes; it helps the flowers by retaining moisture and adding nutrients, and it discourages the growth of unwanted plants.

Try “boiling” weeds to get rid of them. A pot full of boiling water is an effective herbicide, yet it is, chemically speaking, completely harmless. Douse the weeds with this pot, just avoid the nearby plants. Boiling water damages the weed roots and will inhibit future growth.

TIP! Pine mulch can be highly effective under the right conditions. Acidic soil is a favorite of garden plants that are high in acidity.

Fertilizing your garden is essential. Manure is probably the best fertilizer. Choose a commercial product to reduce the risks of pathogen exposure. You must be sure to use some kind of fertilizer. There are many different combinations available for different uses.

TIP! Space is very important when you plant an organic garden. It can be easy to underestimate how much space your plants will need once they begin growing.

If you are planning on growing peas, begin the plantings inside instead of outside. Seeds will always germinate much better when you first plant them indoors initially. Your seedlings will be stronger, and this will mean they can withstand diseases and bug attacks. Take the seedlings outdoors once they look strong enough.

TIP! Do not let your gardening chores add up. Even if you’re to busy to focus on your garden’s needs each day, you could do small things that could prevent you from piling up work when you wish to work on your garden.

When deciding on which plants to include in your landscaping projects, consider evergreens which produce colorful berries. This will keep your garden colorful, even during those months when other plants are not growing. These plants come in several different varieties, including the Winterberry, American Holly, Cranberrybush, and Common Snowberry.

TIP! It is a great idea to help your garden by ruffling seedlings, either with cardboard or with your own hands, a couple of times each day. This will sound a bit strange.

Choose a plant to use for a focal point. When you design your garden, think of a great focal point that will grab attention and add interest. It is usually a type of plant that stands out from the plants surrounding it.

TIP! Consider using botanical pesticides to keep the pest that plague your garden under control. Natural insecticides are often more powerful than ones that have chemicals in them.

Work efficiently in your garden. Do not spend half an hour looking everywhere for a tool. Get all of your tools together before you go into your garden, then place them in a safe spot when you are finished with them. You can keep your garden tools in a tool belt, or in your pockets. Another good idea is to keep them all in a bucket that you carry around with you.

TIP! Want to make organic gardening less complicated? You want to plan your landscaping around native flowers, bushes and grasses. If you choose groups of plants that all mesh with each other in terms of optimal soil conditions, weather requirements and plant interaction, you won’t need to do as much work to get the plants to coexist peacefully.

Pine is a surprisingly good source of mulch. Some plants are more acidic, and prefer soil that contains higher acidic levels. If you are growing these types of plants, simply gather up fallen pine needles for use in your garden. Cover up your beds with a few inches of needles. As they start to decompose, they’ll spread out acid onto the ground and soil.

TIP! A shady area makes a beautiful organic garden. These gardens are not high maintenance at all.

Make sure you consider adequate spacing when planting your garden, so that each plant is given room enough to grow and flourish. Many people underestimate the space needed for plants to grow to their full size. You need to take into account the plant’s size when it is fully grown, as well as allowing space for air circulation between each plant. Plan your garden accordingly, and make sure the right distance is between the seeds.

TIP! When choosing plants for your organic garden, make sure you have a plan about what you want to grow. Various types of a certain veggie or flower need different kinds of environments.

Looking for a natural way to kill weeds in your garden? Use a lot of layers of newspaper in order to achieve weed control. Weeds can only grow in sunlight. The layers of newspaper over the weeds will block out the light and kill them. Newspapers tend to break down into compost nicely. If you want it to look better, just add a layer or two of much over top of the newspapers.

Organic Garden

TIP! A great method to deter bugs in any organic garden is by planting garlic in several areas. Garlic plants emit a smell that many pests do not like.

Having an organic garden means that you can enjoy fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables whenever you want. Although it requires lots of hard work and patience, it’s ultimately worth it to own an organic garden that’s successful.