While organic horticulture is a wonderful way to relax, it can also be a source of stress. These tips should help you to become a better organic gardener.
Try planting seeds in pots, and then transferring the seedlings to your garden. Your plants will be more likely to survive if you do this. This also enables you to close gaps between planting cycles. Your next crop of seedlings will be started and ready to be planted immediately after you remove your last crop from the garden.
Transform the handles of your tools into convenient measuring devices. Tools with long handles such as hoes and rakes can double as measuring sticks. Just lay your tool down on the floor then lay a yardstick beside the handle. Label the distances onto them using a permanent marker pen. Next time you work in the garden, you can have a larger ruler with you!
If mildew is forming on your plants, you should not purchase an expensive chemical. Mix some baking soda and a very small amount of liquid soap into water. Then, spray this mixture onto all of your infected plants once each week till the mildew is gone. This mixture will not hurt your plants and it will eliminate the mildew slowly but efficiently.
If your garden contains lots of short plants, purchase some gardening knee pads. Weeding, watering and picking through your vegetation can cause a lot of damage to your knees if left unprotected. Wear knee pads meant for gardeners so that you’ll be more comfortable when kneeling in your garden.
If you are planning on growing peas, begin the plantings inside instead of outside. When you plant the seeds indoors, your seeds will start to germinate better. The seedling may also be hardier, which means that they can better resist disease and attacks from pests. Once they grow a bit bigger, the seedlings can be easily transplanted to an outdoor garden.
It is important to follow the instructions on your chemicals and tools closely, especially if you are new to horticulture. You might end up damaging your plants or getting a skin irritation. Keep yourself safe and always follow instructions.
Use cologne or other items with a distinct scent to keep your canine out of the landscaping. Doing so shields the scents that your dog might pick up on and be drawn to, causing their potential interest in your garden to drop dramatically.
Heather can be planted to attract useful insects. Bees are drawn to heather, as heather is an early provider of spring nectar. If your heather bed is undisturbed, as it would be in nature, many beneficial insects will make it their home. Because of this, you might want to invest in a good pair of horticulture gloves for the times when you need to prune it.
Don’t underestimate pine as a great mulch. Acidic soil is a favorite of garden plants that are high in acidity. For these types of plants, pine needles are wonderful for mulching. Cover your beds with two inches of needles; acid will be dispersed into the soil as they decompose.
Add more value to your property. Landscaping increases your house’s curb appeal and give you a good return for the money invested. Strategic landscaping can increase the resale value of your home up to 20%, if you choose the right plants. For landscaping your yard, pick out plant species that fit your climate and require little watering.
The compost pile should include equal parts of dried material and green plant material. “Green” material refers to things like wilted flowers, weeds, leaves from your yard, and grass clippings. Dried plant material includes straw, sawdust, shredded paper, cardboard, and dried and cut-up woody material. Your compost pile should never contain meat, ashes or charcoal.
Clearly, organic horticulture is a more voluminous subject than is commonly known. Organic gardens require much patience and hard work, but you can have a wonderfully beautiful organic garden. The next time you are working in your garden, use the advice from this article to grow things without the use of harsh chemicals.
