Gardens are much more than just a venue for decorating. It is not reserved for just an aimless pasttime for the hobbyist with a few select green thumbs. The effects can be profound if horticulture is something you excel at.
Your tool handles can easily be used as handy rulers. Large handled tools like rakes, hoes or shovels may be used like measuring sticks. Lay the tools down on the floor, then place a measuring tape along the handle. Mark your distances with a permanent marker. When you are gardening next, you’ll have a ruler beside you at all times.
Clay soil can be very hard to work with, as it is sticky and compact. To ease the digging, rub the shovel with floor or car wax and then buff it with a cloth. The clay easily slides off the surface and it will prevent rust.
Healthy Soil
Plants all need a good supply of C02 to grow properly! Most plants grow better in higher levels of CO2. The best way to get a high level is to plant them in a greenhouse. If you have a greenhouse, keep CO2 levels high.
Having healthy soil in your garden is your plants avoid insect pests. Healthy soil leads to healthy plants with more resilient against pests and disease. To boost your garden’s prospects of giving you the healthiest possible plants, start with a high-quality soil that has fewer chemicals which over time will accumulate salts.
Use annuals and biennials to add a splash of color to your flower garden. You can also use these flowers to fill any spaces between shrubs and perennials when they are in the sun.Notable varieties include cosmos, sunflowers, hollyhock, hollyhock, marigold and sunflower.
The approach of fall means you need to start planting autumn goodies. This year, instead of using your regular clay pots to plant your kale and lettuce, use a pumpkin as the container instead! Hollow out the pumpkin and spray with Wilt-Pruf to prevent rot. Now you can use the pumpkin as a planter.
Plant bulbs in your garden if you want flowers through spring and summer flowers. Different types of bulbs bloom at different times, so if you choose appropriately, you may have blooms early spring to later summer.
You should make sure to divide irises. You can increase your stock of irises you have by splitting clumps that are overgrown. The bulbs will split up naturally in your hand, and when you replant them, they will usually flower the following year. You should divide rhizomes by utilizing a knife. Cut several new pieces out of the outside then throw away the old center. Every piece needs to have at least one good offshoot.Replant your pieces as soon as you have finished the cuttings.
You can plant wheat grass or cat grass near the plants that the cat eats. Another option is to place offensively smelling objects on the topsoil near and around the plants you want to protect. Citrus peels or mothballs are a couple of examples.
Place organic mulch at the base of your vegetables. The mulch will help keep moisture in the soil for longer periods of time. It can also helps prevent the growth of weeds. You’ll save a time if you won’t have to pull them later.
Try to put an aspirin water to get rid of plant diseases. Dissolve 1 aspirin (1.5 pills per 2 gallons of water for a plant disease fighting solution. You simply have to spray the solution on them to fight disease. Try spraying your plants at least once in each three week period.
If your soil has high alkaline amounts, mix some coffee grounds into it. Coffee grounds add acidity to the soil and are very cheap. This simple act can lead to vegetables that taste better and look more appealing.
It can be extremely fast and easy to quickly prepare your perennial garden ground. Use a spade to dig into the turf, then flip each piece over, and spread wood chips on top to a depth of four inches. Let the area sit for a fortnight, next dig into it to plant your new plants.
Keep your garden tools close by to maximize horticulture efficiency.
You should make sure to divide your irises. Overgrown clumps of irises can be divided up to increase your numbers of this lovely flower. Try to life the bulbous irises when foliage begins to die. As soon as you pick up the bulb, it’ll split into pieces. That’s okay – in fact, it’s desirable. You can replant the bulb pieces and next year you’ll have a healthy bed of new irises. Use a knife to carefully divide rhizomes. Cut healthy pieces from the root stalk and throw out the dead center. Every piece is suppose to have at least one durable offshoot. Replant your pieces right away.
Spacing is one important factor to consider when planting your garden.You can easily underestimate how much space the plants need as they grow. Plan your garden carefully and put an appropriate amount of distance between the seeds.
Try to avoid letting your organic garden build up. If you’re too busy to do all those little things each day, there are still a number of things you can do to keep things from falling into disarray during your absence. For example, if your family is cooking out on the grill, take the time to pull out a few weeds.
A good green garden should start from seeds and not plants. Starting with your own seeds is more environmentally friendly than buying plants from a nursery. It is common for commercial plants to be packaged in plastic that is not commonly recycled, and therefore, it is better to use seeds or purchase plantings only from merchants who make use of organic packaging.
Use an old laundry basket to collect produce from your produce. The basket can be used as a colander for your vegetables.
While gardening organically requires more work than horticulture with the help of chemicals, the rewards are much better. While the chemical companies claim great benefits, growing organically is a great reward to whomever eats your produce.
Choose plants that will provide color in autumn. That need not be the case though! The brightest season of the year when it comes to foliage is fall. Fall trees sport a variety of colorful leaves that range from subtle yellows to rich crimsons. Cotoneaster, barberry and hydrangea can provide vibrant color if you are considering shrubs for your garden.
The garlic is ready to be picked when the tops start to turn brown.
Botanical Insecticides
You should protect the knees if you are kneeling in the garden. Bending from a standing position for excessive amounts of time can be difficult for many people. Kneeling is a great way to reach your plants without causing stress to your back. You can purchase an inexpensive kneeling pad for gardening in order to protect your knees.
Research botanical insecticides which can be useful in ridding your garden of pests. These natural insecticides can often be more effective than their chemically engineered counterparts. However, because botanical insecticides are biological, which makes them disappear more quickly.
After you plant tomatoes in your garden, wait three weeks and then plant a second round. This way you will not have to harvest all of your crops at the same time.
Keep your tools handy to work more efficiently. You can do this by using a bucket, or you can wear rugged pants or a gardening apron that has several pockets. Keep gloves, small pruning shears, a trowel and any other tools handy in order to increase the quickness of the work that goes into your garden.
Use the tips you just read to revitalize your garden with your new found green thumb. When the day comes that your plants are tall and smiling, you will be too. Gardening can literally change your life, but only if you put in the effort and do it!