You must have both patience and skill to grow an organic garden. The point of organic gardening is to grow healthy, toxin free food that you can enjoy and benefit from. This seems to be easier said than done, though, right? Read on for suggestions on what you will need to start gardening like a pro.
Clay soil can be a real pain to work with as it often sticks to the end of the shovel. 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 clay will no longer stick to the shovel, and this also helps to prevent other problems like rusting.
Choose plants that will give you the most yield at harvest time. In most circumstances, a cold-tolerant or disease-resistant hybrid will have a higher yield when compared to a more traditional variety.
Use pots to start your plants, then transfer them to a garden when they become seedlings. This raises the chances of the plants growing until adulthood. It also helps you make your planting times more frequent. After you remove the mature plants from your garden, you can immediately replace them with the seedlings and start the cycle over again.
You can use the wooden handles of your tools as measurement sticks. Tools with long handles such as hoes and rakes can double as measuring sticks. Place the handles on the floor, then set a measuring tape alongside them. Use a permanent marker to label distances. Now, the next time you do work in the garden, you’ll actually have a ruler at your fingertips.
Bulbs planted in the spring can flower all the way into summer. Typically, bulbs are simple to grow, and they’ll grow every single year. Remember that different bulbs will bloom at all different times of the year, so if you are careful to choose the right bulbs, you will see blooms in the early spring, and have flowers all the way to late summer.
Grow wheat or cat grass around the plants your cat likes nibbling. You could also repel your pet by planting rosemary or placing citrus fruit peels around your garden.
Do not mow your lawn close to the bottom. If you leave more height to your grass, the roots will grow deeper into the soil, making the lawn stronger and more resistant to drying out. Short grass on the other hand is more susceptible to drying out.
Using natural materials in the garden will keep pests away. Slugs stay away from marigolds and onions when they are planted in a garden. Wood ash also makes a great insect deterrent; simply use it as mulch around your shrub and tree seedlings. Using methods like these eliminates the need for chemical pesticides, which can be harsh or even harmful.
Place a few inches of organically based mulch around your vegetable plants. The soil will stay moist thanks to the mulch. It will also prevent weeds from popping up around your plants. This can prevent you from having to constantly pull weeds.
Don’t count the fall season out. It doesn’t have to be this way, however. If you plan properly, you can make your fall garden the most colorful time of the year. Maple trees produce yellow and red leaves, just like Beech and Dogwood trees. Shrubs such as barberry, cotoneaster and hydrangea all have gorgeous fall foliage.
Take advantage of horticulture as a means to unwind. There are numerous ways to seek personal comfort and peace. Amongst the simplest ways to get there is to start a garden. It does not have a large start-up cost and yields many returns. The best return on your investment is the feeling of happiness and tranquility from growing your own greenery.
Organic gardening takes patience and hard work. When you enjoy this hobby, you can find new opportunities to grow healthy and nutritious foods. Follow the tips and put in the needed effort, and you will be a successful organic gardener.