For some people, organic gardening is a relaxing activity, while for others, it is a bother. Here are some suggestions to get you on the right path to successful organic gardening.
Biennials and annuals are great if you would like to better your flower bed. These usually grow quickly, and provide an easy-to-change solution to making your flower beds bright and beautiful. They allow you to select different flowers from one year or season to the next. They can be used to fill in gaps in your garden between the perennials or shrubs so your garden looks fuller. There are many different varieties to choose from such as daisies, marigolds, impatiens, and lantana.
Baking Soda
There’s no need for chemical intervention if you discover powdery mildew on leaves. Rather, you should mix a bit of baking soda with a small quantity of liquid soap in water. You then want to spray this mixture on your plants one time a week until you notice the mildew disappear. The baking soda is harmless to your plants and a very effective remedy.
Use climbing vines or plants to cover fences and walls. Climbing foliage is a great way to disguise unsightly features on your property, sometimes in the span of just one season. You can also use them in your landscape to cover an existing arbor, or allow them to climb up trees, or through shrubs. Some may need to be attached to a support, and others will attach themselves to any surface using their twining stems or tendrils. Trusted variations of climbers are honeysuckle, jasmine, clematis, wisteria and climbing roses.
You can prevent pests from invading your garden with certain plants and natural materials. Slugs who want to enter a vegetable garden, for example, can be repelled by a simple border of marigolds and onions. If you place wood ash around the base portion of a shrub seedling or tree, you will ward off insect pests. Natural materials and plants can be just as effective as chemical pesticides at keeping unwanted visitors out of your garden!
You may want to think about having evergreens that will produce berries planted in your yard. These year-round berries will give the rest of your yard a much-needed pop of color, especially in the winter. Other plants that boast of winter berries include: Holly, Snowberry and Winterberry.
Make sure to water your garden properly. You can save time by using soaker hoses when watering plants. By doing this, you won’t need to water your plants individually. Use low water pressure for your hose so that you do not cause harm to the tender members of your garden. Give it a few hours to water the plants so you have schedule freedom to tend to other matters.
When gardening outdoors, you must always wear sunscreen and appropriate attire; this will help to protect you from sun damage. Choose hats with overlapping brims, don those sunglasses and smear on the sunscreen. If you cover up from the sun, you are less likely to become burned or get skin cancer.
You can create the look and feel of an English garden by mixing different plants of varying heights throughout your flower bed. If you use a combination of plants that grow to the same height, your garden bed will be uniform and dull looking.
If you are a fan of organic, sustainable gardening methods, consider leaving part of your backyard untouched so that natural plants and wildlife can flourish in the area. As the natural wildlife begins to flourish, the various insects, birds, and other natural life around will all blend together and actually assist your garden as it begins to grow.
Pine can make for a great type of mulch. Some plants have a naturally high acidic level, and therefore like acidic soil. Use pine needles to increase the acid level in your soil if you have plants that require higher acid. Go ahead and cover the beds you have with needles a couple of inches and while they decompose, they actually disperse some acid into the soil.
Bring more value to your property. Landscaping your yard will bring you a big return on your investment. Strategic landscaping can increase the resale value of your home up to 20%, if you choose the right plants. Plants that are low in moisture and suit your environment are a good investment.
Beer Trap
Try using a beer trap to naturally eradicate slugs from your organic garden. 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. Pour beer into the jar until it’s almost full. Leave an inch of space between the beer and the jar top. The scent of the beer will bait the slugs into the jar and they will become trapped.
Organic gardening is a more involved form of gardening than is often realized. Every time you enjoy your vegetables, fruits, flowers or just take a satisfying glance around your garden, you’ll realize that all your efforts have been worth it. Utilizing the advice provided in this article will definitely help you improve your organic gardening techniques.