Organic gardening is a rewarding hobby that anyone can enjoy, as long as they know what they’re doing. The horticulture experience can sometimes be rather intimidating and overwhelming to a beginner. How should a novice approach the learning experience of growing plants? If so, keep reading. You are only minutes away from becoming a better gardener.
A handy trick is to turn the handle on a tool that you use often into a makeshift ruler. Tools with long handles, such as shovels, hoes and rakes can be made into measuring sticks. Place the handles on the ground and measure them. Use a permanent marker to label distances. You will never find yourself looking for a ruler thanks to this simple tip.
Plant perennials that are slug-proof. Snails and slugs can do irreparable damage to your garden in a single night. Snails and slugs like to eat perennials with smooth and thin leaves, especially if they are young plants. Some perennials aren’t that tasty to snails and slugs since they have tough and hairy leaves, and an unappetizing flavor. Some of these plants include achillea, campanula, euphorbia, hellaborus, and heuchera.
Having healthy soil in your garden is your number one defense against pests! Healthier plants are greater in strength and resistance to illness and insects. To increase your garden’s likelihood of producing strong and healthy plants, use high-quality soil containing minuscule amounts of chemicals, which will eventually collect salts.
Baking Soda
Don’t bother with expensive chemicals if your plants start to sport powdery mildew. Plain water with a bit of liquid soap and baking soda will do the trick. Spray this mixture on your plants weekly until the mildew is gone. Baking soda is not harmful to your plants and will take care of the issue as well as any other treatment.
Soak your seeds in a dark spot during the overnight hours. Put a few seeds in a small container and fill it near to the top with water. This way, your seeds are well-hydrated and can start growing with a head start. Seeds that are grown in this way have a higher survival and maturity rate.
Do you enjoy fresh mint, but don’t like how they engulf your garden in their growth? Control their expansion by confining them to a large pot. This container can be placed in the soil if you prefer the look of mint in your garden, and it will continue to contain the roots of your mint and prevent it from taking over.
Divide your irises. Try increasing your stock by dividing your overgrown clumps of plants. When the foliage has died off, it is time to harvest the iris bulbs. The bulbs, when harvested, should easily split by hand – allowing you to replant them for even more blooms next spring. Rhizomes should be divided using a knife. New pieces should be cut from the outside, then the old center you want to discard. Each piece must have a minimum of one strong offshoot. Replant your cuttings immediately for the best results.
When gardening, don’t use any broad-spectrum pesticides. Besides killing the insects you don’t want, this type of pesticide will also kill beneficial insects. Good bugs are often more sensitive to pesticides than their bad counterparts, so if the population of good bugs goes down, the pest problem can grow. This ends up becoming a vicious cycle of increasing pesticide use.
Plant for fall color. It doesn’t have to be that way! The brightest season of the year when it comes to foliage is fall. Fall hues of orange, yellow and red can be seen falling from maple trees, and dogwoods and beech trees offer comparable spectacles. Some vibrant shrubs include hydrangea, barberry, and cotoneaster.
During the day, when the weather is hot, vegetables tend to be softer, which causes them to be damaged even if you gently pick them. Cut vegetables off at the vine, and don’t twist them off, as this could hurt the plant.
Add three inches of mulch to your flower beds. This is a simple method of discouraging weeds, retaining moisture, and adding excellent nutrients into the garden. What’s more, your garden will look professional all year.
Some advise passing your hand gently over your newly planted seedlings each day. While it might sound strange, research has shown that this method can increase the size of your plants.
Throughout the year and in different climates, it may be necessary to vary your watering schedule. When watering your plants, consider the time you are watering them, the kind of soil you are using and how good the water is. Overzealous watering in an already humid climate can lead to leaf fungus. Instead, focus water on the plant’s root system.
When deciding which plants you want to focus your organic horticulture efforts on, you should be as specific as possible. Even within the family of a specific flower or vegetable, the different varieties available have differing environmental requirements. For example, of the numerous varieties of roses, there are those that will thrive in your garden and those that will not. So you want to make sure you find ones that are suited for your organic environment.
Plants are bound to be healthier if placed in healthier soil, therefore they will be able to avoid diseases as well as damage that can be caused by insects. Insect will still likely inflict some damage, but your healthier plants will be more resistant to it.
Learn proper techniques for watering organic plants. You need to know how to water them properly as well as how frequently to water them. Use a soaker hose. Soaker hoses will water the bases of your plants directly, resulting in less moisture loss due to evaporation. Watering the garden early in the morning is ideal.
These tips probably gave you some insight into how to enjoy organic horticulture. Cultivating your green thumb is a relaxing, engaging hobby that the whole family can enjoy. Remember these tips to grow the perfect organic garden.