Many individuals prefer organic horticulture, as they fear the possible long-term effects on their health as well as the environment from the many commercial pesticides and fertilizers that are used. A lot of techniques for organic gardening actually don’t cost a lot of money. Read on for some advice about how to work in your organic garden.
Many times when digging in clay soil the clay will adhere to the shovel, which will make it much harder to dig. To make the clay soft so you aren’t working as hard, take floor or car wax and rub a light coat on the surface of the shovel using a clean cloth, then buff the surface. The wax prevents the clay from sticking to the shovel, and stops rust from forming.
Get a slug-proof variety of perennials. Slugs and snails are voracious eaters that can destroy a plant literally overnight. These garden pests prefer perennials with thin, flat, delicate leaves, particularly if the plant is not yet mature. Certain perennials are unappetizing to slugs and snails, especially those with tough, hairy leaves or an unappetizing taste. Some of examples of these are achillea, heuchera, campanula, helleborus, and euphorbia.
Plants will respond with maximum growth if they have the amount of CO2 they require. In general, higher amounts of CO2 are related to better plant growth. Greenhouses provide the best levels of CO2 for plants. It’s very important to keep the CO2 levels high so your plants have the best possible growing conditions.
Split up your irises. If you split up clumps of them, you will eventually have more of this flower. Uproot bulbous irises if the flowers have wilted. The bulbs will then split naturally in the palm of your hand and if they’re re-planted, they can flower next year. Rhizomes should be divided using a knife. Cut new pieces from the outside and discard the old center. If done properly, each piece that remains for planting should have a minimum of one viable offshoot. Replant right away.
A great garden starts from the seeds and not from the plants. This is a more sustainable way to start a garden. Most nurseries use a lot of plastic that is not recycled. If you want to buy plants, find a nurseries that uses organic methods or grow your plants from seeds.
A good fertilizer is important to add nutrients to your soil. Manure is probably the best fertilizer. Choose a commercial product to reduce the risks of pathogen exposure. Although there are plenty of fertilizer choices, don’t be concerned with which one you use; just be sure to use one.
There is always a best time to pick your garden’s vegetables, and you should know them. Every type of vegetable has a different moment of ripeness. As an example, zucchini and baby peas both have the best flavor when they are harvested at a young age. However, tomatoes should be as ripe as they can be when pulled from the vine to ensure the best taste. To get the most out of your horticulture efforts, find out when to harvest your crops.
Use plants to get some autumn color. It doesn’t have to be this way, however. In terms of colorful foliage, fall is the time of year admired by many. There are a number of trees that provide exuberant displays of color, such as Dogwood, Beech and Maple. There are practically as many types of shrubs chosen for their fall colors are there are gardeners! Barberry, hydrangea and cotoneaster are particularly popular choices.
If you want to keep dogs our of your garden, take some aftershave, old perfume, or any other scented item and spray the grass around the area. This can help mask any scents which attract animals so pets will now avoid the garden.
When you are gardening out in the sun, wear the proper clothing so that you do not get any type of sun damage. Wear sunglasses and hats with wide brims, and apply sunscreen. By protecting yourself from the sun’s rays, you lower your risk of getting sunburns or skin cancer.
To attract insects that will benefit your garden, plant heather. Bees like it because it gives them nectar in the springtime. Heather beds are common grounds for helpful insects such as spiders and ground beetles, because they don’t usually get bothered by human activity. Protect yourself from being surprised by these bugs by donning horticulture gloves before disturbing your heather beds.
It’s simple to lay a new perennial bed. Use your spade in a slicing motion to cut a flap of turf. Carefully turn the flap over, then cover the area with a three-inch layer of untreated wood chips. Allow a few weeks to pass by before you dig down into the applied soil.
If you have recently planted seeds in your organic garden, you should regularly aerate the soil by using your hands to gently sift it. This may sound strange, but research has proven that doing this will help your plants grow bigger than if they were not petted at all.
Try to avoid over-watering your plants. Too much water will make it more difficult for the plants to absorb the nutrients they need from the soil. Before watering your plants outdoors, check to see if there is rain in the forecast. Skip watering your plants for a couple of days if a heavy rainstorm has descended; natural rainwater can be particularly good for your plants as well.
Think about using all-natural botanical insecticides in your organic garden; they are very handy when it comes to getting rid of harmful pests. Under certain conditions, organic pesticides can outperform chemical products in effectiveness and safety. The distinguishing factor of botanical varieties is that they will decay much more quickly and will be eliminated from your environment faster.
Hopefully the useful advice in this article will help you create and maintain your own beautiful, healthy, and toxin free organic garden. You should notice more wildlife present in your garden if you use natural methods.