There are many people who'd like to have their own organic garden, but not many take the time to actually create one. Some may feel overwhelmed by all that needs to be done in order to create an organic garden. Follow the advice in this article to make organic gardening a simple and fun activity.
Use slug-proof varieties of perennials wherever possible. Creatures like snails or slugs can destroy a plant in a single night. Snails and slugs like to eat perennials with smooth and thin leaves, especially if they are young plants. Some perennials, however, leave a bad taste in slugs' mouths or are difficult to chew through because their leaves aren't tender. Some perennial families that snails and slugs won't eat include achillea, campanula, and helleborus.
Use annuals and biennials to brighten your flower garden. By utilizing quick-growing biennials and annuals, not only will you be brightening up your flower bed, you can also alter its look each season and each year. You can use them between the gaps in shrubs and perennials where there is plenty of sun. Some excellent choices include rudbeckia, hollyhock, sunflower, cosmos, petunia and marigold.
Before you start planting your garden, plan it out. This will help you to remember where you planted the different plants when sprouts begin to shoot up from the ground. A good plan can also help you to place each plant in the area that is most beneficial to them.
Boiling away unwanted weeds is an odd, but productive method used in many gardens. Considering that boiling water is rather safe, you don't have to worry about toxins in your soil or at your dinner table. One simple layer across the weeds with a pot of boiling water will take care of the problem, but you have to remember the same applies to your plants, as well. This can cause enough damage to the roots of any plant to kill it.
Do you love fresh mint leaves but hate how they quickly grow to take over your garden? Stunt their growth a little by planting your mint into a garden container or large pot instead. You can bury the container so the top is flush with the ground if desired, but the container's walls will prevent the roots from spreading so that the plant won't take over your entire garden.
Try dividing the irises. You can increase your stock of irises by dividing up overgrown clumps. Lift the dead bulbous irises. The bulbs will split up naturally in your hand, and when replanted, will often flower the next year. Use a knife to carefully divide rhizomes. Get rid of the center and keep the new pieces you cut from the outside. A strong offshoot is needed on every piece that you decide to plant. Immediately replant all your selected cuttings.
Pest control is very difficult if you are dealing with your veggie garden. Since your vegetables are meant to be eaten, refrain from spraying them with harsh chemicals. You can prevent pests from appearing in the garden by adopting a vigilant attitude. When you see bugs, remove them by hand before they have a chance of spreading.
Plan your garden to provide some fall color. That need not be the case though! When it comes to vibrant color, the bright foliage of fall beats all the other seasons. Many trees display a range of the vivid colors of fall, from bright yellow to rich crimson, including maple, beech, and dogwood. As you select your shrubbery, consider hydrangea, barberry or other similar plantings.
Make sure to water your garden properly. 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. Be sure to keep the pressure of the water on low so that the hose does not damage the tender plants. Allow it to water your plants for a couple of hours, so that you are free to do other things.
To keep your houseplants happy during the day, your thermostat should be set anywhere between 65 and 75 degrees. Indoor plants grow best at these warm temperatures. If you are not willing to keep your house that warm during winter, you could always get the organic plants a heat lamp.
Flower Beds
The optimal amount of organic mulch to use in your flower beds is 2-3 inches. Not only will you be adding nutrients, but weeds will be less likely to grow and moisture will be retained more easily. It will also make your flower beds look more finished.
Be sure your new compost pile contains roughly the same proportion of dried and green plants. Green plant material consists of spent flowers, veggie and fruit waste, leaves, weeds, and grass clippings. Dried plant material comprises shredded paper, cardboard, sawdust, and straw. Avoid using ashes, charcoal, diseased plants and meat-eating animal manure.
Consider the climate and season when watering your plants. Depending upon whether it is morning, noon or night, the chemical composition of your local water supply and soil type may determine your water usage needs. Overzealous watering in an already humid climate can lead to leaf fungus. Instead focus on watering the root system.
Make you garden diverse. When you have a bigger variety of plants, you also attract different wildlife as well. Plant things that are well-suited for the environment you live in. Not only will wildlife enjoy the space you have created, but you will have a pleasant spot to relax, and feel satisfied that you are helping the environment.
As you prepare to plant shrubs and trees in the organic garden, make sure your holes are rough, not smooth. If the hole has surfaces smoothed by the shovel, it may prove difficult for the roots to penetrate through the soil.
When you stick to the tricks, advice, and tips in this informative article, any fear you feel towards organic horticulture should dissipate. It is relatively easy to have an organic garden, that you can show off with pride. Soon you can have fresh, environmentally-friendly fruits and vegetables on your table.