Learn techniques that can enable you to grow a more beautiful garden for yourself, your family or your work. Here you will find out the basic equipment and general techniques that are used in gardening so that your efforts are effective and efficient.
Clay soil can be a real pain to work with as it often sticks to the end of the shovel. To make the clay soft so you aren’t working as hard, take floor or car wax and rub a light coat on the surface of the shovel using a clean cloth, then buff the surface. This will make your task easier because the clay won’t stick to the shovel. It will also keep your garden tool from rusting.
Beginning your garden with healthy soil is your first defense against pests! Healthy soil leads to healthy plants with more strength to deflect those insects and various diseases. You want to cultivate quality soil with adequate salt levels, which leads to healthy plants.
Cover the fences and walls with climbers. You can hide an unsightly wall or fence, in as little as one growing season, with the right selection of climbing plant. They can grow through shrubs and trees, or even cover an arbor. There are natural climbers, which use tendrils or stems to wrap around any given surface, while others must be tied with a string or rope. Honeysuckle and jasmine are very beautiful varieties of such climbers.
The correct soil can make a big difference in how your garden grows. The kind of plants you want in your garden should let you know what kind of soil you need to get. You may also be able to design an artificial area that contains one type of dirt.
All soil is not the same. You need to check the soil to make sure it’s the best for what you’re planting. You can actually get an analysis of soil for a little fee, and with the report you get back you can figure out how to create a vibrant garden by enriching it properly. There are numerous places to find this service, such as your local Cooperative Extension office. The cost is well worth it to avoid a potentially ruined crop.
Many people delight in the taste of fresh mint leaves, but become frustrated when the plant spreads wildly. You can stunt the growth of mint by planting it inside a container or super-sized bowl. Plant the container in the ground, but its walls will hold those roots captive, and will prevent the plant from engulfing your garden!
Split up the irises. Increase your iris stocks by dividing your overgrown clumps. Try to life the bulbous irises when foliage begins to die. If you split the bulbs that you pull up, and replant them, they will bloom the following year. If you have a rhizome you will need to split it with a knife. Cut healthy pieces from the root stalk and throw out the dead center. Each piece must have a minimum of one strong offshoot. Replant the new shoots right away.
Purchase an inexpensive horticulture kneeling pad, as well as a wheelbarrow or wagon. You can make horticulture much more comfortable on your knees by using a portable garden stool. Gardening also requires transporting heavy objects and lots of dirt, so purchasing a wheelbarrow can be a very smart investment.
To draw good insects to your garden, plant heather. Bees love heather, and it’s one of the earliest sources of nectar for the bees when they emerge during springtime. If your heather bed is undisturbed, as it would be in nature, many beneficial insects will make it their home. Keep this in mind and remember to always wear appropriate horticulture gloves.
Make sure any open cuts are completely protected from dirt and chemicals before you go to work in your garden. If an open wound is not protected while you are working in the garden, dirt and bacteria may cause the cut to become infected. The key is to use bandages capable of covering cuts in their entirety.
If you are growing your organic plants inside of your home or office, it is vital to make sure that the right amount of light reaches them. If your house or apartment doesn’t get a lot of natural light, one option is to grow something that only requires medium or low light. You could also consider using grow-lights for this exact purpose.
Flower Beds
When mulching your flower beds, aim for anywhere between two or three inches of mulch. Mulching is the perfect way to lock in moisture, nourish soil, and to keep away weeds. It will also make your flower beds look more finished.
It just requires some effort and a bit of learning on your part, and of course, a whole lot of patience. Once you look upon your amazing garden, you’ll realize that the work has paid off!