Organic gardens can be vital to your healthy diet, but knowing about them and purchasing the proper equipment can be difficult. You also have a large variety of seeds you can choose from as well. The following article will provide you with advice that will help you create your dream organic garden.
All soil is not the same. You need to check the soil to make sure it’s the best for what you’re planting. Many nurseries offer a soil analysis service, which will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking and what you can do about it. 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.
When gardening, be watchful of stink bugs, particularly in the fall. Stinkbugs are most prevalent on tomatoes, beans and peppers. Proper measures should be taken in order to ensure minimal damage to your crops.
Use a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool when you’re working in your garden. You can make gardening much more comfortable on your knees by using a portable garden stool. Horticulture also requires transporting heavy objects and lots of dirt, so purchasing a wheelbarrow can be a very smart investment.
Broad-spectrum pesticides are really not the optimal choice for pest control in your garden. It’s true these pesticides kill the pests you don’t want, but they also lay waste to the advantageous insects that make those same pests a regular meal. These helpful bugs are usually more sensitive to the chemicals than the pests, so if you find yourself in a situation where the good bugs are dying out, you can expect the pest problem to grow. This will leave you using even more pesticides to fix the problem.
Try to plant an English garden with a mix of plants with different heights, all within the same garden bed. If plants have the same growth height, the bed will appear flat and not have much interest.
A mixture of aspirin and water can protect your plants from common diseases. An aspirin and a half, combined with a couple of gallons of water, will do amazing things for your plants. You can just spray this on them to fight disease. Use this solution once in every three-week period.
If you want a sustainable garden, leave part of it undisturbed as a home for the wildlife in the area. You will find that many of the supporting cast of insects and birds that aid in plant production and pollination will be present on your land and actually help your developed gardens to produce better.
Just as when outside, plants kept inside need varying degrees of sunlight, which can be harder to obtain from indoors. If you’re living in a home that doesn’t receive much sunlight, you should consider growing plants that thrive in environments with low to medium amounts of light. You can also try using artificial lighting to help.
You will garden more efficiently if you keep your tools close by. Use a bucket large enough to hold all your equipment or wear pants with multiple pockets. Keep all of the tools you use and your gloves handy and will help you work more efficiently.
Coat your flower beds with a few inches of an organic mulch. 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. As an added bonus, a nice mulch can help make your garden look more finished.
Working in the garden doesn’t have to be grueling; learn to work more efficiently. Don’t waste your time looking for missing tools. By keeping your tools in a certain area, they will always be ready whenever you are. You may also wish to invest in a tool belt to keep all of your tools within reach while gardening.
When planting seeds into a container, the depth of your planting should be three times bigger than the seed. Certain seeds are an exception to that rule, since they require sunlight to germinate, so they should be barely covered or not at all. Among the seeds meeting this definition are ageratum and petunias. If you are unsure if your seeds should be covered, refer to the seed packet, or if that is not available, look for information online.
Try using untreated stone, brick, or wood to create a raised bed. If you choose to use wood to construct your bed, choose a species that is naturally resistant to rot and avoid treated wood entirely. Excellent choices are cedar, locust and cypress. Take care to avoid wood that has been chemically treated when your garden will hold vegetables, since unknown substances in the wood can make their way into your future food. If you’re using treated lumber, line it with a barrier, or some plastic.
Adjust your watering according to season and current climate. Other factors that influence how much you need to water include time of day, soil factors and how hard your water is. If the climate is hot, but humid you’ll have to avoid watering the leaves, for example. A better method is to water the root system only.
Among the most important features of organic produce is the fact that it has not been exposed to harmful pesticides. This provides benefits for your family, but you ought to double check for pests.
In conclusion, organic horticulture can be a critical component of fulfilling your dietary goals. The knowledge that you gain from this pursuit is fulfilling in itself. Following the above tips is a very good starting place to successfully grow an organic garden for you and your family.