You are now prepared to embark on the journey of making a garden that is organic and healthy. What do you need to do get started? The following tips and tricks will help prepare you for organic horticulture success.
Clay Soil
It can be very hard to shovel clay soil, especially when it sticks to your shovel as you are working. Rub a thin layer of floor or car wax over the surface of the shovel, and then buff the surface using a clean cloth. This will make shoveling in clay soil easier. The clay won’t stick to it, and the end will not rust as an added bonus.
Do not plant perennials that are prone to snail infestation. Slugs or snails can kill a plant very quickly. They gravitate towards perennials with smooth thin leaves, particularly on younger plants. Others, though, are disliked by slugs and snails. Those with rough leaves or an unappetizing taste will be less desired by slugs and snails. Excellent varieties include heuchera, achillea, euphorbia, campanula, and helleborus.
Starting a garden which is pest-free is easy, if you have healthy soil. Healthy plants are naturally more resilient against pests and disease. Start your garden off with a high-quality soil that you can enrich over time.
When winter comes around, save some plants by putting them in the house. Your best bet would be try to save the best or most hearty plants. Dig around roots carefully before transferring to a pot.
When gardening, be watchful of stink bugs, particularly in the fall. This insect will gladly devour your tomatoes, beans, and peppers, as well as a variety of other fruits. If they are left in the garden, they can do great damage to your plants, so you should do whatever you can to eliminate them.
It is a good idea to pre-soak your seeds in a dark environment overnight. Put some seeds in a container and fill the container to the brim with water. This will hydrate your seeds and it will cause them to grow faster. The young plants will survive better, and get a boost toward maturity.
It’s easy to just jump in and start gardening without thought, but it’s important to plan your garden first. That way, if you see your plants beginning to bud but can’t recall what they are, you can refer back to your plan to refresh your memory. In addition, your small plants or groups of plants that are limited in number won’t become lost if you have a large garden.
Irises can benefit from being separated. You can create additional irises by splitting up irises that are growing into each other’s space. Try to life the bulbous irises when foliage begins to die. They will literally split in your hand, flowering the next year after replanting. Split rhizomes with a knife. Throw away the center after carefully cutting new sprouts from the exterior. Each piece needs one strong offshoot. Replant immediately.
Aspirin water will strengthen your plants against diseases. One and one half aspirin crushed and added to a two gallon container of water will be a great help for your plants. Spray your plants with the water if they have a disease. The spray ought to be applied approximately every three weeks.
When gardening, remember to take care of your knees! Most people can’t bend over while standing up for a long period of time. To get down to plant level without pain, try kneeling instead. You can buy a knee pad, put it on the ground and kneel on it so that you wont have to deal with knee pain.
It’s important to let your cuts heal prior to doing any horticulture without gloves. A cut can become infected if dirt is allowed to enter the cut while gardening. There are now bandages available that will entirely seal off any cut they are applied over.
If you have plants inside, make sure the thermostat stays between 65 and 75 degrees. Warm temperatures encourage plant growth. If you aren’t wanting your house to be this warm in the winter, you can use a heat lamp on the plants.
Paying attention to spacing is important. You can easily underestimate how much space the plants need until they begin to grow. You will also need to ensure that you allow ample space around full-grown plants for air circulation. Plan your garden accordingly, and make sure the right distance is between the seeds.
Laundry Basket
Use an old laundry basket to bring your fresh produce in from the garden. A laundry basket will act as a strainer for your produce. The basket won’t be affected by the water and it will drain right off as though it were poured into a large sieve.
You now know the basics of organic horticulture and can get started soon. You are now the expert, even if you didn’t think so before. Use the advice you have been given to make your organic garden bloom like never before.