Grow healthy and delicious food at home, right outside your door. There’s nothing better than eating fresh veggies in your salad. This article will give you some great horticulture tips to help you make the most of your garden.
If your plants have a powdery mildew, don’t use expensive chemicals on them. Mix a solution of baking soda, water, and a tiny bit of dishwashing liquid. Spray this on your plants once a week until the mildew disappears. Baking soda is a good way to get rid of mildew on your plants gently.
Use climbers if you want to cover any fences or walls. Many climbers are so robust that they can cover an unattractive wall or fence in a single growing season. You can direct them over certain branches or boards, or you can send them through plants you already have. Some of these plants must have support, and some can attach themselves to something using their stems and tendrils. Reliable varieties include wisteria, honeysuckle, climbing roses, clematis, and jasmine.
One natural method of weed removal is called “boiling”. A pot full of boiling water is an effective herbicide, yet it is, chemically speaking, completely harmless. Soak weeds with freshly boiled water, just being mindful to not afflict damage on plants you want to keep. Boiling water damages the weed roots and will inhibit future growth.
Using natural materials in the garden will keep pests away. For example, slugs can be deterred by the presence of marigolds or onions. You can also mulch around trees and shrubs with wood ash, which drives away insects. Using methods like these eliminates the need for chemical pesticides, which can be harsh or even harmful.
Know the ideal times to harvest each of the vegetables you plant. For the optimum flavor, be sure to follow the guidelines for planting and picking. Baby peas, for example have much better flavor if they are harvested early in the ripening process, as does zucchini. At the opposite end of the spectrum, tomatoes are at their best when mature. To get the most out of your gardening efforts, find out when to harvest your crops.
When tending a vegetable garden, you might find that pest control is a bit difficult. Avoid spraying harsh chemicals on fruits and vegetables destined for your table. One way to control gardening pests is to be vigilant. If you catch them when there are only a few around, you can actually pick them off the plants by hand.
Keep your pet out of the garden with old perfume or aftershave in the grass. This covers up the smells that bring dogs to gardens in the first place, which means dogs are less likely to enter the garden.
To make an interesting English garden, mix various plants and plant heights in the same bed. If you use a combination of plants that grow to the same height, your garden bed will be uniform and dull looking.
When you are cultivating an organic garden inside, you should think about the lighting situation. If your home does not let in sufficient light, then consider getting plants that thrive in low-light situations. If you simply must have a plant that has higher requirements for sunlight, you can use indoor UV lamps.
Be efficient when working in your garden. You do not have the time to spend an hour looking for each tool you need. Have all of tools you will need for the day before you head out your garden. When you are finished, put them away neatly for the next time. Get a tool belt if you need to, or a pair of pants with a lot of pockets.
Have plastic bags on hand to put over dirty gardening shoes. You’ll be able to keep your momentum going without needing to take off your shoes, and stay on track with your horticulture project.
Pine Needles
Pine needles make a great organic mulch. There are some plants that thrive in acidic soil. Plants like these thrive when you use pine needles as mulch. Simply add a layer of pine needles a couple of inches deep to the plant beds. The needles will decompose over time and provide the soil with acidity.
Tend your organic garden on a regular schedule. Every time you go outside, you should take care of a few things so that you do not have too much work to do when you have the time to go back to your garden. If you are outside with your dog, pluck a few weeds while your dog is taking care of his business.
As stated initially in this guide, horticulture is a good way to grow delicious, fresh vegetables and fruits in your own garden. You will enjoy the proud feeling you will have the first time you are able to use the plants that you have grown in preparing a meal. Use the ideas here to have the best garden you can.