When you first start reading about gardening, the whirlwind of information can make you just want to stop and do something else, but if you stick with it, you’ll find that it’s not a difficult skill to learn. Now that you have found this list of tips, hopefully, you can come out a little more informed when it comes to horticulture, so that you can refine your methods and become a great gardener.
Keeping your garden soil rich and healthy is the best way to discourage garden pests. Healthy soil encourages vigorous plant growth and makes your garden more resistant to common diseases and insects. For healthy plants, start with healthy soil that is properly amended and free of chemicals in order to avoid salt accumulation.
Use biennials and annuals to add color to your flower beds. These flowers grow quickly and can be planted at any time during the year. If you want to maintain a flower garden all year or you want to add new flowers to reflect the changing seasons, annuals and biennials are for you. In addition, they work well as gap fillers between other areas, as long as those areas receive plenty of sunlight. The most popular varieties to use include petunia, zinnia, cosmos, snapdragon, marigold, hollyhock, and sunflower.
Pull all the weeds in your garden. Weeds can take a promising garden and turn it into a shell of its potential. To aid in this venture, you might want to use white vinegar. White vinegar can kill weeds! Spray white vinegar onto those troubling weeds.
In a place that’s dark, pre-soak the seeds. Put some seeds in a container and fill the container to the brim with water. This way, your seeds are well-hydrated and can start growing with a head start. The seeds will most likely have a greater chance of maturing and surviving.
Coffee Grounds
If the soil in your garden has a high concentration of alkaline, try mixing some coffee grounds into your garden’s soil. The coffee grounds are an inexpensive way to give some acid back to the dirt. Improving the pH of your soil will make your vegetables and greens taste even better!
Deciduous shrubs should be protected from the elements. If you have a few potted shrubs, they should be shielded from the wintry weather. Pull the canes together at the top and securely tie them. Next, using a sheet or perhaps even a blanket, cover the structure. You will protect your shrubs from the cold without having to cover them in plastic, which can cause rot.
One natural method of weed removal is called “boiling”. Boiling water is a very safe alternative to other potent herbicides. Carefully pour boiling water right on the weeds, but be careful not to pour it on the plants you want. Boiling water can hurt the roots of weeds and can prevent them from growing.
Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Moisture on plants is sure to attract disease and parasites. A common parasite to plants is fungi. Be sure to prevent the growth of fungus with a spray that will inhibit their growth.
Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. Mulch is used to keep extra moisture and provide nutrients for your plants. It will also prevent weeds from growing. You’ll find this is a time saver since you won’t have to pull them later.
Broad-spectrum pesticides should be avoided in your garden. These strong pesticides are non-selective, killing beneficial insects as well as pests. 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. This might result in you having to use even more pesticides to get rid of the pests.
Have plastic bags on hand to put over dirty horticulture shoes. This helps the flow keep going so that you can get into the garden quickly to finish what you’re doing.
Now, admit it, horticulture isn’t as complicated as you thought! As any other skill, there is a great deal of information available to teach you about the subject of horticulture. Sometimes, if you figure out where to begin, it’s easy to “jump right in”. Hopefully, you got this from the tips above.