Joshua's Gardening Weblog

Need Help With Your Organic Garden? Try These Tips!

With a push to eat healthier and to save money at the grocery store, many people are turning to organic gardening to meet their needs. Using the information in this article will help you to quickly get up to speed on how to grow your own organic garden. Coming up are a collection of organic horticulture oriented tips, tricks and ideas to grow and harvest nontoxic, free, healthy, fresh, produce for your whole family.

Clay soil can be very hard to work with, and you will often find that it sticks to the shovel. Simplify the process by putting a bit of wax onto the shovel. The clay won't stick then. The wax will prevent any rusting, and the shovel will cut through the soil with great ease.

TIP! Shoveling clay is very difficult and lots of work because the clay is hard and sticks to the shovel, making it tough to handle. To ease the digging, apply some car wax or floor wax to the head of the shovel and buff.

Turn the handles of your garden tools into measuring rulers. Large handled tools such as shovels, rakes, and hoes can be used as measuring sticks. Just run some measuring tape right on the floor next to the handles. Then, transfer the measurements to the handle using a permanent marker. Now when you go garden the next time, you'll have a giant ruler at your command.

Stink Bugs

Keep an eye open for stink bugs in your garden, especially during the fall months. Stink bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and all sorts of fruit. If not taken care of, these pests can damage the garden, so take steps to cut down their population.

TIP! The first thing you can do to ward off garden pests is to ensure you are using healthy soil in your garden. Healthy plants can better ward off pests and diseases.

Start your peas in a protected indoors environment rather than outside. When you plant them indoors first, the seeds will germinate better. The seedling may also be hardier, which means that they can better resist disease and attacks from pests. You can transplant the seedlings outside after they are sturdy enough.

Make sure you read instructions on products and tools before using them. Failure to follow instructions can be dangerous or painful. For example, some chemicals will irritate your skin if you don't follow safety rules. Keep your body safe and follow directions.

To create a beautiful English garden use various plants and differing plant heights in one flower bed. If you use plants that are all the same size your garden will look flat.

TIP! Try growing some cat grass or wheat grass in the vicinity of the plants that your cat likes to eat. You could also place something that will cause your cat to go away from your plants, such as citrus peels or mothballs.

Always completely protect any cuts, or wait until they are healed before attempting any gardening, as this can introduce dirt or chemicals into the wound. The dirt and grime you come into contact with while gardening can cause even a small cut to become seriously infected. However, there are bandages available that will seal the cut completely. Using these should protect the cut from any infection while horticulture.

Take the time needed to plant your seeds. You should start by moisturizing the soil. Then, evenly spread the seeds according to the type of plant and how much room they require for good growth. Plant them depending on how big the seeds are. Some seeds need some light to grow, and therefore shouldn't be buried.

Organic Garden

TIP! It is a good idea to invest in a good pair of knee pads, made specifically for gardening. They can be very helpful when working close to the ground on low-growth plants.

As you have learned before, getting your organic garden perfected just takes a little bit of time and patience. Apply the advice of this article, and enjoy the many benefits an organic garden can offer you. Despite what you grow, use the above tips to succeed with them.

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Tips To Help You Learn About Organic Horticulture

Organic horticulture can really be an intelligent move for having a healthier diet. It requires effort to grow. You probably do not know how to go about growing an organic garden on your own.

It is important to do your homework so you choose plants that produce higher yields. Hybrids are usually hardier in terms of disease and weather resistance, and are designed to produce more.

TIP! Clay soil can be very hard to work with, and you will often find that it sticks to the shovel. One way to get around this problem is to coat the shovel with wax.

Grow some wheat grass or cat grass next to the plants your cat seems to prefer. It may also work to add citrus peelings or mothballs to the soil of the plants, because the odor is unpleasant to cats.

Protect your plants from moisture on a daily basis. Excess moisture on a plant will invite unwanted parasites or diseases to the plant. One parasite you have to watch out for in particular is fungi. Although fungi can be treated with sprays, it is possible to preempt the problem and very important to plant health that you do so.

Irises can be easily divided. Take clumps that have become overgrown and divvy them up into separate plants. Lift the dead bulbous irises. The bulbs, when harvested, should easily split by hand - allowing you to replant them for even more blooms next spring. Split rhizomes with a knife. Cut new outside pieces and dispose of the center. Every piece is suppose to have at least one durable offshoot. Set your cuttings into the ground right away.

TIP! If you want your garden full of flowers spring through summer, plant bulbs. Bulbs will grow every year and are easier to take care of than seeds.

You should protect the knees if you are kneeling in the garden. Bending over while horticulture can be painful and unhealthy for your back. Kneeling down on the ground is a more comfortable way for many people to tend to their gardening chores. Get knee pads or a small mat you can use to kneel on if the ground is too hard.

If you want to start a small organic garden indoors, evaluate the amount of natural light that is present. If you're living in a home that doesn't receive much sunlight, you should consider growing plants that thrive in environments with low to medium amounts of light. If you simply must have a plant that has higher requirements for sunlight, you can use indoor UV lamps.

It never hurts to keep a few bags around the house to protect your floors from dirty gardening shoes. This keeps your flow going, so you can get back out to the garden quickly and finish your work.

Laundry Basket

When the time comes to harvest your produce, collect it using an old laundry basket. You can also use a laundry basket as a strainer. After you have rinsed your produce in the laundry basket, the water will just drain right out the sides.

When composting lawn clippings, leaves, and other materials, it is best to add the same amount of green, freshly-cut material as you do dried material. Examples of good green material to use for compost include grass clippings, flowers, leaves, and weeds. Dried plant material, however, can include items such as cardboard, sawdust and shredded paper. Materials to avoid during composting include diseased plants, meat, ashes and charcoal.

TIP! Every good gardener knows when the best time is to begin harvesting one vegetable or the other. For the optimum flavor, be sure to follow the guidelines for planting and picking.

If you have problem slugs in your organic garden, get rid of them naturally with a beer trap. Get a clean, empty glass jar to use as a trap. Bury it with its mouth facing upwards. Keep putting dirt over the jar until the mouth is at the surface of your garden. Pour beer into the jar until it is an inch from the top. Beer is especially attractive to slugs; they will lured to it and trapped.

If you over-water your plants, they can't get all the nutrients they need from the dirt. If you are going to water your plants outdoors, you should first check the weather for you area to see if any rain is coming that day. If it is going to be a wet day, you don't need to water the plants yourself.

Use a few inches of organic materials to mulch your flowerbed or garden. This is a great tip to practice for a healthy, vibrant organic garden. Not only will the mulch nourish the soil and subsequently the plants, but it also helps to cut back on the amount of weeds that grow in your garden.

TIP! Pick your vegetables when the temperature is moderate to avoid bruising them. Twisting off vegetables causes damage to the plant; always snip them at the base of the vine.

Organic horticulture is not rocket science, but it does some require some forethought and planning. Research and information will help you get started. For the best results, you need to be dedicated to the work. Keeping the aforementioned tips in mind, you are well on your way to becoming successful with organic horticulture.

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Gardening Does Not Have To Be Hard

You have probably heard about organic food and perhaps purchased some. It is easy to spot organic products. They're packaged differently and usually cost a lot more. Keep reading to learn how you can grow organic produce from the comfort of your own home.

Select plants that produce a relatively high yield. Frequently, a hybrid plant will produce a higher yield because of its disease-resistant properties.

TIP! Grow some wheat grass or cat grass next to the plants your cat seems to prefer. You may also place something offensively smelly atop the soil, like citrus peel or mothballs.

Start your plants in containers, and then transplant the seedlings into the garden later on. Your plants will be more likely to survive if you do this. This is also a good way to tighten up your planting schedule. Once you remove the most recent mature plants from your garden, the seedlings are immediately ready to be planted.

Cover fences and walls with climbing plants. These types of plants can climb anything, which makes them perfect for covering up a wall or fence that needs to be hidden. No need to worry if a bush or tree is in the way, as climbers can grow through them. Also, they can match the shape of an arbor. 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. Trusted variations of climbers are honeysuckle, jasmine, clematis, wisteria and climbing roses.

Always make sure to mow your lawn to the appropriate length, always making sure that the cut is not too close. Higher grass sends roots further down, increasing lawn strength and viability. Short grass leads to more shallow roots and will result in more brown, dried-out patches.

TIP! Keep your fragile shrubs protected from the winter weather. If you have tender shrubs in pots, they need to be protected in the cold weather.

Mix the grounds of coffee in soil that has a lot of alkaline. Coffee grounds are an affordable means of adding acid to the soil so that it is pH-balanced. With it, you will find that your greens and vegetables will be more vibrant and tasty!

Your vegetable plants need about two or three inches of mulch placed around them. Mulch helps the soil surrounding the plants remain moister for a longer time. It can also prevent weeds from growing. This will save you a ton of time and work.

You can help provide nutrients by watering your plants with room temperature water that is leftover after cooking vegetables. If you have rhododendrons or gardenias, use coffee and tea grounds to acidify the soil. Spray your plants with a 9:1 mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide to eliminate fungus without harming your plants.

TIP! Irises can benefit from being separated. To increase the number that you have, you need to take all your overgrown clumps and split them up.

Look for targeted pesticides instead of using popular but damaging broad-spectrum products. These kinds of pesticides kill the helpful insects that destroy the pests. The bugs you need are often more fragile than the ones you don't: a pesticide could actually kill the beneficial insects while leaving the pests unaffected. This can result in your using more pesticides to eradicate the problem.

Wisely water your garden. To save time, use a soaker type hose so each plant doesn't need individual watering from the nozzle of a hose or a little watering can. Keep the water running slowly so it doesn't spray up onto the plants' leaves. Just use it on your foliage for a few hours.

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.

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Get The Gardening Tips You Need To Get Growing

You are ready to grow a healthy organic garden. What great timing. The following tips can help you realize your plans for your garden.

It may be helpful to let your plants begin their life in a pot and to transfer them to your garden when they're seedlings. They are more likely to survive the transition to adulthood with this method. In addition, it lets you tighten the time in between plantings. The seedlings are reading for planting immediately after you remove older plants.

Soil Analysis

Do a soil analysis prior to planting. A soil analysis is inexpensive and can be used to figure out which nutrients should be added to provide a healthy garden environment. Many offices of Cooperative Extension will do a soil analysis, and it is important to know how to improve soil so that all crops can grow in it.

Soak seeds overnight, preferably in a cool, dark place. Place a couple seeds in each container, then fill it close to full with water. The seeds will get the hydration they need to start growing. The seeds will now have a greater chance of maturing and surviving.

TIP! Your soil needs to be of good quality before you start a garden. Pay a small fee to have your soil analyzed, and you'll be glad that you did when you understand what nutrients your soil is lacking.

You can prevent pests using other plants or natural materials. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your garden will repel slugs. Wood ash used as mulch helps repel pests as well when around shrubs and trees. Using these natural methods will reduce the need for potentially harmful chemical pesticides.

Plant for fall color. That need not be the case though! The brightest season of the year when it comes to foliage is fall. Maple trees can range from beautiful reds and yellows in addition to Beech or Dogwood trees. Consider hydrangea, barberry and cotoneaster when considering purchasing a shrub.

Heather is a magnet for friendly insects. Bees are drawn to heather, as heather is an early provider of spring nectar. Heather doesn't usually require a lot of tending, so spiders, ground beetles and other good bugs like to call it home. With this in mind, be sure to prune your heather while wearing gardening gloves.

TIP! Make sure to pre-soak seeds, preferably in a dark location. Put some seeds (a small amount) in a container that isn't too large for the plant you'll be growing.

To create an attractive, quintessentially English garden, you need to use a mixture of different plants that all grow to varying heights in each bed. By using plants which are all the same height your garden will appear flat and boring.

When planting seeds, make sure to take your time. First, add moisture to the soil where you will be planting. Then you want to spread your seeds evenly while making sure that they have enough room to grow. Typically, seeds should be planted at a depth that is equal to three times their size. Some seeds require direct sunlight to grow, and these should be left on top of the soil.

Sprouting seeds need less warmth than before. As your baby plants grow, you can move them from their heat source. You should also remove plastic films that you had on your containers to keep the humidity and warmth out. Check on your seeds often so you catch them when they are ready.

TIP! If your soil has a problem with high alkaline levels, mixing in some coffee grounds that have been used is a great solution. Coffee grounds add acidity to the soil and are very cheap.

Use approximately two or three inches of natural, organic material as some mulch in every single flower bed. By doing this, you can lock in moisture, discourage weed growth, and nourish your plants. It will also increase the visual appeal of the flower beds.

Have plastic bags on hand to put over dirty gardening shoes. You'll be able to keep your momentum going without needing to take off your shoes, and stay on track with your gardening project.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! If you are considering planting a garden take the time to plan it out. It will be a while before things start to sprout and visually remind you of what was planted where, so a written record can be helpful.

Coffee grounds are a great addition to soil. Coffee beans are loaded with nitrogen, which offers nourishment for plants. Generally, nitrogen is the limiting nutrient with any plant and having a good nitrogen source either by coffee grounds, compost, or even diluted urea, will make your plants bloom faster and grow taller.

You will now be better prepared as you start pursuing organic horticulture. If you thought you were prepared previously, then you should be at a pro's level now! Use the advice you have been given to make your organic garden bloom like never before.

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Useful Advice For Organic Gardening

A healthy diet can get a real kick start from having an organic garden, but understanding organic horticulture itself can prove complex. You can choose from many different seeds. Read on for a handful of tips and tricks for nurturing your garden with an organic approach.

Try using annuals and biennials to add color to your flower beds, and brighten them up. These fast growing flowers let you change how your flower bed looks season to season. They are very helpful when trying to fill in gaps between shrubs and perennials in an area that is sunny. A variety of flowers that will thrive in your region are available.

TIP! There is no need to purchase a costly chemical if your plants develop powdery mildew. Put a little baking soda and some dish soap in water.

Pull all the weeds in your garden. Weeds can destroy a once promising garden and take away all its potential. To help you do this, you may want to consider using white vinegar. Weeds can be killed by white vinegar! Put some white vinegar in a spray bottle, and spray directly on weeds. If you don't want to pull weeds out by hand anymore, give vinegar a try.

Your vegetable garden should get at least six hours of sun daily. Many types of veggies require this amount in order to thrive and produce the food source that you are hoping for. Some flowers need the same thing.

It's easy to just jump in and start horticulture without thought, but it's important to plan your garden first. This way, when the sprouts start shooting up, you can recall where you planted each plant. It can also keep you from planting any of your garden favorites too close to each other.

TIP! Your vegetable garden should get at least six hours of sun daily. Many veggies require this amount to properly grow at a faster pace.

Make sure you protect any tender deciduous shrubs. If you have them in pots, you need to guard them from cold weather that will damage or kill them. Tie together the tops. Once the canes are snugly together, put a sheet over the wigwam. This method is superior to covering plants in plastic, because air can freely circulate, which prevents rotting.

You can use boiling water to get rid of weeds naturally. Boiling water is a very safe alternative to other potent herbicides. Pour hot water right on the weeds, but do not get any on your plants. What this does it essentially kill the weeds by damaging their roots. The result is that those weeds are unlikely to regrow.

Try dividing the irises. Splitting up overgrown groups of irises will allow you to easily increase the number of irises in your garden. Try to life the bulbous irises when foliage begins to die. 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. Throw out the center and cut pieces on the outside that are new. Every piece is suppose to have at least one durable offshoot. You also need to make sure that you replant the new pieces as soon as possible.

TIP! A simple way to lower the alkaline content of your soil is to dilute it with coffee grounds. Using coffee grounds is a less expensive way to make your soil more acidic than trying to replace your topsoil.

Start a new garden from seeds. Once the plant is healthy enough, replant it in your garden with the appropriate type of soil. The planters used to hold nursery plants are generally not made from eco-friendly materials, and thus get thrown into landfills. Starting from seeds, or buying from one of the few nurseries that use biodegradable planters, prevents this.

Plant with the colors of autumn in mind. It's not necessary to think this way, however. When it comes to brightly colored foliage, fall is an amazing time of year. Maple trees, Dogwood, and Beech trees exist in lots of Fall colors that range from deep crimson to yellow. When selecting shrubs, consider barberry, hydrangea, or cotoneaster.

Try to relax with horticulture. Peace and relaxation can be found through several different avenues. One of the greatest such methods is the art of gardening. It requires a small monetary investment and has numerous returns. The biggest dividend is the emotional satisfaction of planting and growing greens on your own.

TIP! Try to keep your plants aerated and dry, every day. Moisture on the surface of a plant can attract parasites, and cause disease.

Have one plant be the most interesting eye-grabber in your garden. Your focal point will be the main center of attention for anyone who sees your garden. Usually, the focal point will be a plant that is unique from the plants around it.

When gardening outdoors, you must always wear sunscreen and appropriate attire; this will help to protect you from sun damage. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. If you properly protect yourself from the sun, you will not get a sun burn and you will decrease your risk of getting skin cancer.

As you have learned, having an organic garden is an important factor in healthy dietary habits, as is a thorough understanding of the many plants you can choose from. Using the above advice is a great starting point for a successful organic garden.

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Tips For Any Gardener To Use In His Garden

There are literally thousands of gardening books and websites out there. You could spend days on the Internet alone researching information that is pertinent to your particular garden. If you are ready to start creating your own garden you don't have to learn everything there is to know about horticulture, but you will want to pay attention to a few important steps that can increase the success you will have with planting and maintaining your garden. Peruse them now.

Plant bulbs if you want spring and summer flowers. Since bulbs are easy to grow and resistant to poor weather conditions, they will grow without fail year after year. Different bulbs bloom at various times, so choosing appropriately, you may have blooms early spring to later summer.

TIP! If you're planning on gardening, carefully watch for stink bugs! You should be particularly careful during Autumn. They enjoy tomatoes, peppers, beans, and many different varieties of fruits.

Protect your delicate shrubs from harsh, wintry elements. Tender shrubs are very sensitive to cold weather, especially those that are planted in pots. Try to tie the tops all together and cover them with a sheet, large piece of cloth, or blanket. Using fabric, rather than plastic, allows air circulation and prevents rotting from moisture build up.

You can keep pests away from your garden by using other plants or natural materials. Plant marigolds or onions around other vegetables to keep slugs away from them. Wood ash can be used as mulch, and if put on the base of shrub and tree seedlings, will keep insects away. You will be able to stay away from harsh chemical based pesticides by incorporating these techniques into your horticulture.

Horticulture can be very relaxing. A plethora of paths to individual relaxation and inner peace exist. Horticulture is a great way to just kick back, chill out, and enjoy your time with nature. You do not need to spend a lot of money and you can reap tangible benefits. One particularly enjoyable return is the pride you will feel when you grow your own food.

TIP! Autumn not only means colder weather but new vegetables to plant. A pumpkin makes a great container, and costs less than a clay pot.

If you want to draw advantageous insects to your garden, plant some heather. Bees will go straight for these plants in the spring. Beds of heather are largely undisturbed and make a perfect living space for spiders, beetles and a variety of other beneficial tenants. Because of this, don't forget to protect your hands when pruning heather beds.

Flower Bed

Use approximately two or three inches of natural, organic material as some mulch in every single flower bed. Mulch discourages weeds and helps retain moisture while adding nutrients to your flower bed. This will also make your flowers appear beautiful and finished all year long.

TIP! Do not mow your lawn too short. When the grass is a little longer, the roots will be stronger and the lawn becomes more resistant.

Do you want to know how to kill weeds in a natural way? You should layer some newspaper to get weeds under control. Weeds must have sunlight in order to grow. They will suffocate and die if you cover them with newpapers. You can use newspapers because of how nicely they break down, they can be added into compost. Cover the newspaper with a thick layer of mulch for a more attractive look.

Try lightly ruffling the seedlings with your hands about twice a day. This probably sounds like an odd recommendation, but research has shown that this technique encourages more plant growth, than no petting at all.

Organic gardening can be more difficult than horticulture with chemicals, but the end result makes it worth it. Even though the claims of the chemicals may be astounding, the organic way is always going to provide the best reward to you and whoever is eating your crops.

TIP! Before you start planting your garden, plan it out. Doing so means you can remember where each particular plant is when you start seeing sprouts arise from the earth.

Horticulture is a very relaxing and rewarding hobby. The greater your knowledge, the greater your gardening abilities. You need all the good advice that you can get your hands on. Apply the advice from this article to make your garden more beautiful and productive.

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The Skinny On Organic Gardening Like A Pro

Many people turn to organic gardening because they are worried about the long-term toxic effects of the many commercial fertilizers and pesticides, on both their health and the environment. Also, most methods of organic gardening are fairly inexpensive. Below are some great tips to assist you grow to be the organic gardener that you hope to be.

Sod should be laid correctly. Make sure you prepare your soil before you lay any sod down. Be sure to get rid of any weeds, and then proceed to break up the soil to get it ready to use. Lightly, but firmly compress the soil, making certain it is flat. You then will want to thoroughly wet the soil. Be sure to stagger the rows of sod. The joints should be offset like bricks in a wall. Even out the surface of the sod by firming it down flat, filling any available gaps with a handful of dirt. Water your sod daily for a fortnight, which is enough time for it to root and be able to withstand foot traffic.

TIP! Clay soil makes working with a shovel difficult. The clay is hard and sticks to the shovel.

To keep your plants from getting shocked, you need to gradually introduce them to changes in temperature and conditions. When starting the transition, leave the plants in the sun for just 1-2 hours. As you continue the first week of the project, gradually extend the duration of sun exposure. After a week's time, the plants should be fine staying outside.

Clay is naturally hard, and can can stick to a shovel making it frustrating to work with. To ease the digging, apply some car wax or floor wax to the head of the shovel and buff. This will keep the soil from sticking, and prevent rusting of the tool.

Create useful rulers from your tool handles. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes, and shovels can be converted into handy measuring sticks. Just run some measuring tape right on the floor next to the handles. Label the distances on the handle with a marker pen that will not smear or fade away. When you decide to work in the garden again, you will now have a ruler at your disposal.

TIP! Starting a garden which is pest-free is easy, if you have healthy soil. Healthy and well-nourished plants will be hardier and therefore better able to prevent pests from taking hold.

Your first and best line of defense against pests is having healthy soil. Healthy and well-nourished plants will be hardier and therefore better able to prevent pests from taking hold. So if you want your garden to provide plants that are as healthy as possible, you need a good quality soil that contains few chemicals and that can accumulate salts over time.

Use both annuals and biennials to add a splash of color to your flower beds. These flowers grow quickly and can be planted at any time during the year. If you want to maintain a flower garden all year or you want to add new flowers to reflect the changing seasons, annuals and biennials are for you. You can fill any spaces between shrubs and perennials when they are in the sun. There are many different varieties to choose from such as daisies, marigolds, impatiens, and lantana.

You may be able to re-pot some plants to bring indoors for the winter. Perhaps you can save your most expensive or resistant plants. Be careful not to damage the root system as you dig up the plant, and place it in a pot.

TIP! There's no need for chemical intervention if you discover powdery mildew on leaves. Rather, you should mix a bit of baking soda with a small quantity of liquid soap in water.

Putting the advice you just learned to use in your organic garden will help you realize several benefits, including having healthy plants and a reduction in toxins. You should expect to see more wildlife inhabiting your garden as your garden works more with nature.

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How To Make Gardening Fun And Easy

In the green horticulture world, it is important to take the best care of your organic garden that you can. A little extra gardening know-how doesn't hurt either. Nurturing your organic garden ensures that your veggies are bigger and your flowers are more beautiful. Keep reading for tips on how to transform your organic garden into the best that it can be.

Do not plant perennials that are prone to snail infestation. A plant can be completely demolished overnight by slugs and snails. These pests are particularly fond of young perennials and those varieties with leaves that are tender, smooth, and thin. There are perennials that slugs do not want to eat, the ones that they hate have hairy leaves, or are unappealing to their taste. Some of examples of these are achillea, heuchera, campanula, helleborus, and euphorbia.

TIP! There is no need to purchase a costly chemical if your plants develop powdery mildew. Put a little baking soda and some dish soap in water.

Do not mow your lawn close to the bottom. By leaving your grass a little taller, you are allowing it to become stronger, as the roots grow stronger and deeper. Leaving the grass short makes it more prone to drying out, which leaves your lawn look really brown and yucky.

Coffee Grounds

If you find that you have soil that has high amounts of alkaline, mix used coffee grounds throughout the soil. Used coffee grounds will add acidity, helping to optimize the soil's pH. The greens and vegetables need the proper balance and will grow bigger and stronger with the right mix.

TIP! When winter comes, you can save a few plants by transferring them inside the house. It's a good idea to save any expensive plants or those that will thrive in indoor heat.

Don't over-water your plants, and keep the soil around them aerated. If your plants are moist, this can attract disease and parasites. Fungi is the most common parasite for plants. Fungus can be handled with sprays specifically formulated for fungi control, but you must treat the area with spray before seeing any kind of problems.

Avoid using broad-spectrum pesticides in your garden. Broad-spectrum pesticides will kill insects that are helpful to your garden as well as the harmful ones. The bugs you need are often more fragile than the ones you don't: a pesticide could actually kill the beneficial insects while leaving the pests unaffected. This might result in you having to use even more pesticides to get rid of the pests.

In order to bring in good insects to your garden, you need to plant heather. Bees like heather, and they get their nectar from it early in the spring. Beds of heather are largely undisturbed and make a perfect living space for spiders, beetles and a variety of other beneficial tenants. Always remember this, and wear your horticulture gloves if you prune your heather!

TIP! Plants will respond with maximum growth if they have the amount of CO2 they require. A major portion of plants grow their best in an environment with a saturated level of CO2.

If you have plants inside, make sure the thermostat stays between 65 and 75 degrees. Warm temperatures encourage plant growth. If you are not willing to keep your house that warm during winter, you could always get the organic plants a heat lamp.

Increase your property value with landscaping. When you landscape, you can get one of the highest returns. Some plant investments can raise your resale value by 20% or more. Put plants in your front yard as well as your garden that need low moisture, and are ideal for the environmental conditions that you face.

One of the first things you need to learn about organic horticulture is how to properly prepare flower beds. To begin this process, cut under the turf and leave a space open. After that, flip it until it's upside down, then cover the area using three to four inches of some woods chips. Later, once the chips have decayed somewhat, you can begin to plant in the bed.

TIP! When fall has arrived, it is time to plant the edibles for the autumn. Clay pots are boring, so replace those ordinary lettuce and kale pots with pumpkins.

Open your mind to the diverse environments that can be created in your garden space. Increasing your plant variety will draw further variety in the wildlife around. Make your garden naturally inviting by planting many different kinds of plants. When you do this you and any guests you have can just sit back and appreciate all that you've done, and the diversity in your garden. Something you can feel satisfied with for years to come.

What plants are native to your area? When choosing plants for landscaping, stick to native flowers, shrubs, and grasses. Plants that are naturally suited to your environmental parameters are unlikely to require the degree of fertilization and chemical pest protection that would have to be expended on other plants. Plants that are native will work with a compost that is made of native ingredients.

If you're preparing to add a new shrub or tree to your organic garden, it's best that the hole you plant them in looks a bit off-balance. If you place a plant in a hole with glazed sides, the roots will not be able to penetrate the soil properly.

TIP! If your plants do not grown very tall, try buying some knee pads used for gardening. You will end up spending a good deal of time on your knees and this can cause a lot of pain by the end of the day.

If you want to do some organic horticulture, plan ahead. Decide exactly which plants you're going to grow. Different varieties of a particular flower or vegetable require different types of environments. As an example, take the beautiful rose bush. There are hundreds of variances available and while some will do well in your garden, others won't. For this reason, make sure that the varieties of plants you choose will work in your environment.

By having an organic garden, you will be providing yourself with much fresher and more nutritious produce. It does take work and patience, but all is worth it come mealtimes that include your organic, homegrown produce.

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The Secret To Successful Horticulture Is Finally Within Your Reach!

There is no better time than right now. The insights here can help you get going and answer a lot of questions you may have. Read on for some helpful tips to get started in gardening.

Try planting your plants in flower pots first, then transferring them to your garden once they have had a bit of time to grow. Your plants will have a better chance of getting big and healthy! It also lets you have tighter control over the planting periods in your garden. You can plant the seedlings once you have removed the old plants.

TIP! So you don't shock the plants, you should gradually get them use to a change in the temperature and conditions. Start by placing your plants outside for a few hours only.

A handy trick is to turn the handle on a tool that you use often into a makeshift ruler. Handles of things such as rakes, hoes or shovels make excellent measuring instruments. Lay the handles on the floor, then run the measuring tape down next to them. Label the distances with a permanent marker. You will never find yourself looking for a ruler thanks to this simple tip.

Healthy Soil

Healthy soil will also assist in your battle against pests. Healthy soil encourages vigorous plant growth and makes your garden more resistant to common diseases and insects. Start your garden off with a high-quality soil that you can enrich over time.

TIP! Annuals and biennials are an excellent way to add a splash of bright color to your flower gardens. You can use biennial and annual flowers to brighten the bed, and let you change how it looks.

Climbing plants and vines are great for covering fences and wall structures. Climbing foliage is a great way to disguise unsightly features on your property, sometimes in the span of just one season. You may also be interested in training them over an arbor or trellis. You can also grow them among existing landscape trees and plants. Some climbers will attach themselves to a support using twining stems or tendrils, while other varieties need to be held up by tying them in place. Some of these plants include, wisteria, jasmine, climbing roses, clematis, honeysuckle!

Make sure to be weary of stink bugs whenever you garden, particularly during the fall months. They like to feast on all kinds of fruits, as well as peppers, tomatoes, and beans. Decrease their presence as much as possible to avoid them wreaking havoc in your garden.

Your vegetable garden should get at least six hours of sun daily. Most vegetables need at least that much sun exposure to grow properly. Some flowers also have the same needs.

Knee Pads

If your landscape includes low-growing plants, you should invest in a set of knee pads specifically designed for horticulture. You will spend a lot of time on your knees while gardening, which can result in knee pain. Pick up a good pair of gardening knee pads to help cushion your knees.

Interested in using Mother Nature to keep pests at bay the natural way? A border of marigolds or onions around your veggies can prevent slugs. You can also prevent insect pests by using wood ash like mulch around your trees and shrubs. Using methods like these eliminates the need for chemical pesticides, which can be harsh or even harmful.

TIP! Your plants will reach maximum growth if they have a sufficient supply of carbon dioxide. A high level of CO2 provides an optimum environment for growth.

Think about planting evergreen plants that will produce berries in the backyard. These evergreens will color your lawn, even when other flowers are not blooming. Some evergreens that will provide winter color are the American Holly, Common Snowberry, American Cranberrybush, and the Winterberry.

Add aspirin to your plants to help them fight sickness. Try dissolving around one and one half aspirins into around 2 gallons of water for your plants. Spray this mixture onto your plants. Try spraying your plants with this around every three weeks.

Store a few plastic bags near your garden to slip on over your dirty horticulture shoes. You'll be able to keep your momentum going without needing to take off your shoes, and stay on track with your horticulture project.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds work great mixed in with your soil. Coffee grounds are filled with nutritional elements plants need, such as nitrogen. Generally, nitrogen is the limiting nutrient with any plant and having a good nitrogen source either by coffee grounds, compost, or even diluted urea, will make your plants bloom faster and grow taller.

In order to construct your raised beds, make use of untreated brick, stone, wood and other materials. If you choose to use wood, see to it that it's untreated and that it can resist rotting. Excellent choices are cedar, locust and cypress. Do not use treated wood in your vegetable garden. If you have some space treated wood, you can still use it, however, be sure to line it with some type of barrier like plastic sheeting.

TIP! Your plants should always be kept in an aerated, dry area. Moisture not only attracts parasites, but also makes it easier for your plants to contract diseases.

Now you are much more prepared when it comes to gardening. Even if you have some previous experience with horticulture, you now know more about this art. Hopefully the tips laid out here gave you pointers to improve your horticulture so you can start gardening with two green thumbs.

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Follow These Excellent Tips For A Beautiful Garden

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.

TIP! Transform the handles of your tools into convenient measuring devices. Larger handled tools like rakes, hoes, and shovels make great measuring sticks.

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.

TIP! Use proper soil for the best results. Dependent on the type of plants you are choosing for the garden, the soil may not be right for them.

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.

TIP! When mowing your lawn, avoid mowing the grass too short. If you leave a bit more height, the grass roots will get deeper, making your lawn stronger.

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.

TIP! Choose one plant and make it the focal point of your garden. You need a focal point that can catch your eye in garden design.

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.

TIP! Consider planting strawberries, especially ones that are everbearing, for your garden if you have small children. Kids are quite eager to pick fruit from a garden, and will help with the planting if they get a nice snack out of it at the end.

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.

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