Chances are you have probably heard about or seen organic foods in your local grocery store. These items are usually easy to recognize and you should be able to notice a difference in quality. They come is special packaging and they are usually a lot more expensive than their non-organic counterparts. Use the tips offered here to learn more about organic horticulture.
Before you plant anything in your garden, have the soil checked. You can actually get an analysis of soil for a little fee, and with the report you get back you can figure out how to create a vibrant garden by enriching it properly. There are numerous places to find this service, such as your local Cooperative Extension office. The cost is well worth it to avoid a potentially ruined crop.
Use bulbs to ensure continuous flowers throughout the spring and summer. Most bulbs are extremely hearty and grow easily. They also come back year after year. Keep in mind that different bulb types bloom differently and at different time periods, so when you choose a bulb plan accordingly, you can have your plant blooms lasting spring into summer.
If you want to effectively weed out young plants, you can try “boiling” away the weeds. Considering that boiling water is rather safe, you don’t have to worry about toxins in your soil or at your dinner table. Carefully pour boiling water right on the weeds, but be careful not to pour it on the plants you want. Boiling water damages the weed roots and will inhibit future growth.
Your plants need to be kept dry, but sill receiving a good amount of air. If your plants are moist, this can attract disease and parasites. A common parasite to plants is fungi. It is possible to get rid of fungi after it appears with anti-fungal sprays, but it’s better to spray at-risk areas before fungi appear.
You should divide irises. If you split up clumps of them, you will eventually have more of this flower. When the foliage dies it’s time to lift the bulbous irises out of the ground. The bulbs should split up normally in the hand, and should flower when replanted for the next year. If you have a rhizome you will need to split it with a knife. Cut the new pieces from its outside and dispose of the older center. Be sure to retain a sturdy offshoot on every piece that you intend to plant. Replant them immediately.
Using natural materials in the garden will keep pests away. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your garden will repel slugs. Using wood ash as mulch around the base of trees and shrub seedlings will also help keep away insect pests. Using these natural methods will reduce the need for potentially harmful chemical pesticides.
You should think about adding evergreen plants that yield berries into your yard space. This gives your garden a bit of a “splash” of color, even in winter when everything is nearly colorless. Some examples of evergreens that produce berries and color in the wintertime are the American Holly, Cranberrybush, the Winterberry and the Common Snowberry.
When you’re dealing with a veggie garden, pest control may be difficult. It’s wise to avoid harsh insecticides if you plan on consuming your fresh fruits and vegetables. You can prevent pests from appearing in the garden by adopting a vigilant attitude. If you catch them when there are only a few around, you can actually pick them off the plants by hand.
Plant for fall color. This does not have to be so. The autumn season can be one of the best growing seasons and is certainly the most colorful. There are many variations in leaf color with different varieties of Maple, Beech and Dogwood trees that can give you lively yellows and deep crimsons. Some very good shrubs to choose are barberry, hydrangea, and cotoneaster, which is a member of the rose family.
Use care when you are watering the garden. Take advantage of a soaker hose so that you don’t need to water every single plant individually, or have to keep filling up your watering can. Turn the water pressure on low so the soaker hose will not harm tender plants. Watering your garden for a couple hours while you are working on other tasks is an efficient use of your time.
To draw good insects to your garden, plant heather. Bees are very attracted to heather. When heather is first formed during the spring, it’s an early nectar source. Plant a heather bed, it will house many bugs that are good for a garden such as spiders and ground beetles. For this reason, you should always remember to put on your gardening gloves when tending to your heather.
Indoor plants have been bred over time to thrive in temperatures that are characteristic of a home. Most indoor plants like to be in about 70 degree temperatures, plus or minus 5 degrees. In order to encourage proper growth, they will need that warmth. If you are not willing to keep your house that warm during winter, you could always get the organic plants a heat lamp.
Cover your muddy shoes with plastic bags. You’ll be able to keep your momentum going without needing to take off your shoes, and stay on track with your horticulture project.
Space is very important when you plant an organic garden. It is easy to underestimate the amount of space that the plants will take up once they start to grow. You need to take into account the plant’s size when it is fully grown, as well as allowing space for air circulation between each plant. Keep this in mind when appropriating spots to plant your seeds.
Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you’re eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you’ve learned here and get started on your garden today.