Gardens are much more than simply a venue for decorating. It is not just an aimless pasttime for the hobbyist with a green thumb. It is an activity which offers the gardener opportunities for achieving serenity and gaining a greater appreciation of life. You will improve your skills and feel closely connected to your garden.
If you are planning on growing peas, start them indoors before putting them outdoors in your garden. Planting them inside helps the seeds germinate better. Give the seeds enough time to get stronger: growing indoors will make it easier for your plants to resist diseases and the pesky bugs. You will be able to transfer the seedlings outdoors after they become better established.
Broad-spectrum pesticides should be avoided in your garden. These pesticides can kill the useful insects that work as predators to pests. 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 can result in your using more pesticides to eradicate the problem.
If you have problems keeping the dog out of the garden, spray things like aftershave, perfume or other scents on the grass surrounding the garden. This can help mask any scents which attract animals so pets will now avoid the garden.
The sun can cause irreparable skin damage; therefore, it is essential to dress accordingly when gardening. Choose hats with overlapping brims, don those sunglasses and smear on the sunscreen. Protecting yourself from the sun will lower your chances of getting skin cancer, as well as prevent premature aging from sun damage.
In order to bring in good insects to your garden, you need to plant heather. Heather is desirable to bees; when heather emerges in early spring, it can be a source of nectar. Heather beds are common grounds for helpful insects such as spiders and ground beetles, because they don’t usually get bothered by human activity. Being mindful of this, wearing gloves appropriate to horticulture is sound strategy when pruning any heather in or around the bed.
To make an interesting English garden, mix various plants and plant heights in the same bed. You should avoid using plants of the same height so that your flower bed doesn’t look flat and uniform.
Your children will enjoy being involved with your organic horticulture endeavors. Gardening helps your children learn about biological processes and serves as a social activity that helps the family grow closer while eating healthier.
Water infused with aspirin is great for combating plant disease. Dissolve one aspirin and a half for 2 gallons of water. Next, coat the plant with the aspirin mixture by spraying it on the leaves. Plants should be sprayed once every two to three weeks.
If sustainability and organic horticulture are appealing to you, leave a portion of the property you own undeveloped to give wildlife a place to thrive. This is a great natural way to allow the insects and animals found in nature to assist with the growth of your garden.
If you’re growing plants indoors, keep your thermostat around 65 or 75 degrees daily. The plants need this temperature in order to effectively grow. If you are not willing to keep your house that warm during winter, you could always get the organic plants a heat lamp.
Plant Material
Apply equal portions of dried plant material and green into your compost pile. Green plant material comprises leaves, weeds, spent flowers, grass clippings, and fruit and vegetable waste. Paper and straw are dry plant materials. Avoid using animal manure, charcoal or diseased plants in your compost.
Ruffle the seedlings carefully with a piece of soft cardboard or your hands twice a day. While this appears strange, research shows it can help plants grow larger, versus not petting them at all.
A beer trap is an effective way of of dealing with any slugs that invade your organic garden. Bury a glass jar in your garden so that its open mouth is level with the top of the soil. Fill this jar up with beer almost entirely. The scent of the beer will bait the slugs into the jar and they will become trapped.
Use the knowledge you have gained here to resuscitate your garden today. It is a decision you will not regret, especially when you see all your plants alive and blooming. If you start horticulture, it can really make a difference in your life, so start now!