Gardening is more than decorating your yard. In fact, it is even more than simply a hobby for enthusiasts with green thumbs. It is something someone can do to add tranquility and peace to his or her house, as well as a way to appreciate life itself. The harder you work at it, the more benefits horticulture will bring you.
Slowly acclimatize your plants to the outside environment to keep from shocking them. Place them outside in the sunlight for an hour or two on the first day. Slowly, day after day, you can leave your plants outside for a little longer. After a few more days, your plants will be more resistant and ready to stay outside all the time.
The handles on your gardening tools can be used as a convenient measuring instrument. Large handled tools such as shovels, rakes, and hoes can be used as measuring sticks. Place the handles on the floor, then set a measuring tape alongside them. Use a permanent marker to label distances. Now you have easy access to a long ruler whenever you are horticulture.
Slug-proof your garden with smart perennial choices. These creatures can wreak havoc on a garden in a short time. These pests are especially attracted to tender sprouts and to delicate, soft leaves. Some varieties of perennials are not preferred by snails and slugs, particularly perennials that have hairy, tough leaves or a taste that isn’t appetizing. Some varieties of these plants are campanula, helleborus, heuchera, or euphorbia.
Flower Bed
Biennials and annuals are great if you would like to better your flower bed. Biennials and annuals that grow quickly can add color to a flower bed, plus they permit you to modify the way the flower bed looks each season and each year. They are very useful for filling in the gaps between perennials and shrubs in a sunny area. There are plenty of varieties including petunia, marigold, cosmos, sunflower, hollyhock, and rudbeckia.
Prepare your seeds by soaking them in a dark environment. Simply place a handful of seeds in a container, cover the seeds up with water, and stash it away. This will allow seeds to be watered and they will get a kick start when growing. This increases the chances of survival for the seeds.
You should think about adding evergreen plants that yield berries into your yard space. These types of trees can offer your garden a splash of color, especially during the winter when all other plants and trees have lost their hues. A few of the most vivid plants in winter are American Holly, Winterberry, Snowberry and Cranberrybush.
Invest in a quality wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool if horticulture work is going to happen often. Horticulture can be very tough on the knees as you spend much time leaning near the ground, so a portable stool can make all the difference to your comfort. A wheelbarrow will help you move heavy items without hurting your back so ensure that you invest in one promptly.
Know when is the best time to harvest your vegetables. For the optimum flavor, be sure to follow the guidelines for planting and picking. Some vegetables, such as zucchini and baby peas, should be harvested when they are relatively young. Let your tomatoes, however, linger on the vine until they are fully ripe. To get the most out of your horticulture efforts, find out when to harvest your crops.
Use the tips you just read to revitalize your garden with your new found green thumb. When your plants are blooming and alive, you will be so glad you did. Horticulture has the potential to change your whole outlook on life, if you let it. So get started today!