Find out more about creating a great garden. You can figure out everything you need, so you do not waste money on unnecessary equipment, or the wrong types of seeds for your environment.
Using pest-resistant plants or natural materials in your garden is a good way to keep pests away. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your vegetable garden will help repel slugs. You can also prevent insect pests by using wood ash like mulch around your trees and shrubs. These are proven methods without having to use harsh chemical pesticides.
If you’re a new gardener, it is vital that you follow the instructions when it comes to your chemicals and tools. It may seem simple enough, but not following it could lead to chemical burns and skin irritations. Keep yourself safe and always follow instructions.
Avoid using broad-spectrum pesticides in your garden. Besides killing the insects you don’t want, this type of pesticide will also kill beneficial insects. Many times good bugs will be more sensitive to harmful pesticides than the ones you are trying to get rid of. If your good bug population goes down, your problem will only get worse. If this happens, you just fuel an expanding cycle of needing even more pesticides.
When you water your garden, do it with care. A soaker hose can save valuable time by watering all of your plants simultaneously, removing the need for hauling a watering can or hose around to each plant. Make sure that your water pressure is set to low, so that no harm will come to any tender plants. Let your soaker hose run for a few hours while you do other things.
When horticulture outdoors, you must always wear sunscreen and appropriate attire; this will help to protect you from sun damage. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. Utilizing the correct sun protection makes it less likely that sunburn will occur and decreases the chance that skin cancer will develop.
The flesh of vegetables gets soft in the heat of the day, making them especially vulnerable to inadvertent damage with even the gentlest picking. For vegetables growing on vines, cut them carefully rather than twisting them off to avoid damage to the plant.
Your children will enjoy the experience of working with you in the organic garden. A garden can provide a wonderful learning experience for children, and will give you an opportunity to bond with them while you produce healthy food.
A good tip to help your plants stay healthy and fight diseases is to use aspirin water. Crush and dissolve one and one-half 325mg tablets in two full gallons of plain water. Next, coat the plant with the aspirin mixture by spraying it on the leaves. Use this solution once in every three-week period.
Try to work as efficiently as possible when gardening. Do not spend half an hour looking everywhere for a tool. Prepare them all ahead of time and have them handy before you need to garden, and then put them back in their place when done. You may also wish to invest in a tool belt to keep all of your tools within reach while gardening.
Use plastic bags to cover muddy gardening shoes. This helps you stay in the zone so that you can continue gardening when you have completed your tasks in the house.
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. Before you set out to water your plants, you might want to verify that the forecast does not call for rain. Depending on the weather, you might want to skip watering for the day.
You may want to grow garlic organically. The best time to plant garlic is either early spring or in the fall. Plant garlic in moist soil with good drainage. Place them about one to two inches deep in the soil, pointed end up, and four inches apart. Green garlic shoots can be cut as they grow, and used in place of chives or scallions. When the tops of the bulbs begin turning brown, they are ready for harvesting. Allow the skin to harden by letting your bulbs sit out in the sun. Store the bulbs separately or tied in loose bunches in a cool place.
When watering your garden, a soaker hose may be your best bet. The water seeps slowly out of these hoses and can be directed straight to the roots so that the leaves stay dry. A soaker-hose does a better job and is easier than using a sprinkler or watering can.
There are many plant kinds you may grow in an organic garden. Mulch is something that you will likely rely on quite heavily, particularly for acid-loving plants. For plants that do well with it, be sure to mulch them around autumn each year. You can use pine needles or any other type of organic mulch. Pine needles in particular produce a lot of acid as they begin to decompose. Your plants will love this.
Are you ready to do some research, do some work outside, and be patient? Once you see the garden you’ve created, you’ll know all your efforts were worthwhile.