In terms of relaxing hobbies you could choose from, horticulture is probably near the top of anyone’s list. It is well worthwhile to research the best soil and tools to use and learn when and how to plant your seedlings or seeds for your gardening project. You will find useful answers to your horticulture questions and some general horticulture advice within this article.
Boiling away unwanted weeds is an odd, but productive method used in many gardens. A boiling pot of water is one the best and safest herbicides you can find. Pour hot water right on the weeds, but do not get any on your plants. The roots of the weeds are damaged by the boiling water which, in turn, inhibits further growth.
Create your own garden from scratch with seeds, rather than plants. Once the plant is healthy enough, replant it in your garden with the appropriate type of soil. It’s better for your garden, in particular, because transplants have high failure rates; whereas, sprouting a seed and growing a plant in the same conditions is better. Additionally, it’s better for the environment, because the plastic pots used by most greenhouses are generally not recycled and are cluttering landfills.
There is always a best time to pick your garden’s vegetables, and you should know them. Each type of vegetables has its own ideal time for picking for the best flavor. Some vegetables are best when fully ripe and others taste better when harvested early in their development. At the opposite end of the spectrum, tomatoes are at their best when mature. So, be aware of the best harvest time to pick your veggies.
Irrigate your garden efficiently. Take advantage of a soaker hose so that you don’t need to water every single plant individually, or have to keep filling up your watering can. Keep water pressure on your hose low so you don’t harm fragile plants. Allow the soaker to stay on for a few hours, so your plants can receive water while you tend to other tasks.
To deter meddlesome dogs from destroying your garden, you should use heavily scented substances around the perimeter. You can even use perfume! This will work to mask any scent that is attracting dogs, and will make the garden a much less interesting place to for dogs to be.
While you garden, it’s important that you wear the right clothing to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Wear hats and sunglasses, and make use of sunscreen. If you properly protect yourself from the sun, you will not get a sun burn and you will decrease your risk of getting skin cancer.
Use this simple tip to get your perennial garden ready in a flash. Only a garden spade and woods chips are necessary. To prepare the garden, slice out sheets of turf using the spade, and flip the turf upside down. Then, cover the newly turned soil with wood chips, approximately three inches deep. After a few weeks, you may then utilize the area to plant your flowers.
Spend your time working efficiently in your organic garden. Don’t waste your time looking for missing tools. Have all of your tools gathered and prepared for use before you work in the garden, and make sure to put them away neatly. Get a tool belt if you need to, or a pair of pants with a lot of pockets.
Coffee Grounds
Put used coffee grounds on the soil. The grounds contain essential nitrogen, which will benefit your plants in many ways. It is best for your plants to use coffee grounds that are part of a blend of ingredients in the compost or soil you are using for your plants, rather than directly adding coffee grounds to your garden plants.
When it is time to gather your produce, you should use an older laundry basket. Most laundry baskets are designed with a multitude of holes. This makes them a perfect strainer for washing your vegetables. Just rinse the produce right in the basket; the water will drain through the holes.
Try to use untreated wood, brick or stone and make a raised bed. For best results, you should only use wood that has not been treated with chemicals or protective coating. Good 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. In the event your vegetable garden already has treated wood as part of its enclosure, consider replacing it, or painting it, or wrapping the treated wood in some protective covering. Keep in mind that if any of the untreated wood is below the ground, you should dig it up to make sure that you completely protect your vegetable garden from the chemicals in the treated wood.
Try to avoid over-watering your plants. Too much water will make it more difficult for the plants to absorb the nutrients they need from the soil. Only water as necessary when there is no rain in the forecast, or for plants which need extra watering. Depending on the weather, you might want to skip watering for the day.
Grow organic garlic. You should plant garlic cloves in either early spring or late fall. Your soils should be well-drained. Each clove should be planted end-up, four inches apart and between one and two inches below the surface of the soil. You can cut the shoots of green garlic as they are growing and use them as an alternative to scallions and chives. The garlic will be matured when the green tops start drying out and turning brown. Harden the skin by setting the bulb in the sun, it usually takes several days. Garlic can be tied in bunches or left loose, and stored where it will be cool and dry.
As mentioned earlier, horticulture is a great hobby that benefits highly from increased knowledge about it. If you use the advice laid out here and plan accordingly, your garden will bloom gloriously in no time. If you follow the advice given in this article, you will soon enjoy your own beautiful garden.