Many people want an organic garden, but never try it. It can be intimidating to someone who does not know anything about organic horticulture. Peruse the following article to discover some very useful advice that will prepare you for success in this most enjoyable pastime of organic horticulture.
Pay attention to how you lay sod. Before laying the sod, the soil must be prepared. Do some weeding if necessary, then break the soil until it is no longer packed. Compact the soil firmly but lightly, and make certain it is flat. Afterward, you want to make sure the soil is moistened. You want the sod laid down in staggered rows, and the joints to be offset from each other. Press the sod down firmly so that the surface is flat and even. If there are gaps remaining, fill them with a bit of soil. Once it is in place, the sod requires frequent watering for at least two weeks. This is usually the amount of time it takes for the sod to grow roots, making it ready to grow seamlessly into place.
So that you don’t shock your plants, try gradually accustoming them to conditions and temperature. When starting the transition, leave the plants in the sun for just 1-2 hours. As the week progresses, gradually increase their exposure to the outdoors. By the time the week ends, your plants will be ready for their big move and should have no problems!
If powdery mildew appears on your plants, don’t purchase expensive chemical solutions. Combine baking soda with a small dollop of liquid soap and add it to water. This solution can be sprayed onto your plants once per week until the problem is resolved. This mixture will not hurt your plants and it will eliminate the mildew slowly but efficiently.
Try using climber plants to cover up your fences and walls. Plants that climb are extraordinarily versatile, and can help hide an unsightly wall or fence, usually within one season. They can be trained to grow over an arbor, or through trees and shrubs that are already in the garden. Some varieties of these plants will have to be tethered to some sort of support, but other varieties will be able to attach to the medium they are climbing. Some of the most reliable varieties are wisteria, clematis, jasmine, honeysuckle and climbing roses.
Before you start planting your garden, plan it! Use your seed packages to make fun markers that will remind you where each type of plant is growing. It’s also a good way to keep smaller plants from getting swallowed up by the rest of your garden.
Divide irises. Increase your iris population when you divide up overgrown clumps. Once the foliage has died off, lift out your bulbous irises. The bulbs often divide in your hand with no intervention on your part, and when you replant them, they will usually flower the following year. Rhizomes may need to be divided by using a knife. Cut new pieces from the outside and discard the old center. At the least, each piece will need to have one strong offshoot. Replant your new rhizome pieces as soon as you have finished the cuttings.
Pick one plant to serve as your garden’s focal point. In any good garden design, a focal point will grab the eye and hold it there. It is usually a type of plant that stands out from the plants surrounding it.
For in-home organic gardeners, you are looking for an ideal temperature of around 60-75 degrees for your plants. The temperature needs to remain steady and warm so the plants can grow. These temperatures may not be comfortable for you, however. As an alternative to keeping your entire home that warm, consider getting heat lamps for your organic plants.
Would you like to kill those obnoxious weeds naturally? Layer sheets of newspaper on the surface of areas where you are trying to control weeds. Weeds require sunlight to continue growing. The layers of newspaper will kill the weeds because they no longer receive any sunlight. As an added benefit, the newspapers will decompose over time, becoming organic compost. It can look more attractive by adding a mulch layer.
Once you understand and begin utilizing the tips you have read, the thought of working on your own organic garden should not seem intimidating at all. With the tips you gained from this article, you now should be able to cook homegrown, organic food, right in your kitchen, for you and others to enjoy.