Having an organic garden is a great way to have access to healthy foods whenever you want them, which will ultimately lead to a healthier diet. Taking care of a garden does require effort in order to make things grow. Oftentimes, new gardeners can be intimidated because they’re not quite sure where to start.
Digging in clay soil with a shovel can be very difficult. The clay isn’t easy to work with and will adhere to the shovel, which only makes the problem worse. Coat and buff the digging end of the shovel with automobile wax to make digging easier. You will be able to work with the clay more easily, and it will not stick to your shovel.
Start your plants in containers, and then transplant the seedlings into the garden later on. This boosts the chance that the plants can survive to adulthood. This is also a good way to tighten up your planting schedule. The seedlings are reading for planting immediately after you remove older plants.
Your plants need to be kept dry, but sill receiving a good amount of air. Excess moisture on a plant will invite unwanted parasites or diseases to the plant. 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.
Spread a little bit of organic mulch, around two inches worth, in and about each vegetable plant. Mulching helps keep moisture in the soil. In addition, it will keep the weeds from growing. This will save you tons of time from pulling out tons of weeds.
An easy, inexpensive way to give them nutrients is to pour the leftover water from your steamed vegetables into the soil. You should also try using a bit of coffee grounds or tea to increase the acidity of the soil for your gardenias or your rhododendrons. Chamomile tea is a natural way to rid your plants of a persistent fungus.
You can keep your dog away from your garden by spraying perfume or aftershave in the grass. These scents overpower the garden’s scents, which causes your dog to lose interest.
Tools Close
To be more efficient when working in your organic garden, have your tools close at hand. You have several options including using a bucket to hold your tools or wearing pants with lots of sturdy pockets. A gardener’s tool belt will allow you to keep your horticulture gloves and other tools close by while you are working in your garden.
After your seeds begin to sprout, it is not as important to keep them warm. Take your plants out of the heat once they start to grow. Take off any plastic that is on the containers to keep away from warmth and moisture. Monitor the seeds carefully so you know the best time to do it.
Add used coffee grounds to your soil. Coffee has a lot of essential nutrients that plants need. Plants need an adequate nitrogen source in order to thrive. Adding coffee grounds, chemical fertilizer, or diluted urea to your soil increases the soil’s nitrogen content and will help to make your plants grow faster, taller and healthier.
When developing your compost pile, use equal measures of dried and green material. “Green” material refers to things like wilted flowers, weeds, leaves from your yard, and grass clippings. Dried plant matter, on the other hand, includes shredded paper, used wood chips and straw. Certain substances will undermine your composting efforts and cancel out any benefits; these include meat, charcoal, ash or plants that have diseases or fungal growths.
Beer Trap
Use alcohol to help control the slugs in your garden by fashioning a beer trap. To create a beer trap, dig a hole in your garden that is the depth of a glass jar, leaving the mouth of the jar level with the soil. Fill the jar with beer within one inch of the top. The slugs will be attracted to the beer, and will then become trapped within the jar.
If you sell your crops and label them organic, you should get an organic garden certified seal. This attracts customers who are willing to drive a little farther and pay a little more for products that are safe and healthy.
Your watering schedule should flow perfectly with the seasons, yet be adjustable according to climate. The amount of water you need depends on when you are doing the watering, whether your water is high-quality and the grade of the soil in your garden. In some cases, you can’t water because of climate issues. You can’t water the leave of your plants during humid, warm weather–it’ll promote the growth of leaf fungus. Water the plants root system thoroughly instead.
As you’ve read, organic gardening requires work, effort, and research so that you can grow organic plants. For the best results, you need to be dedicated to the work. By using the above tips, you will have a marvelous organic garden in no time.