As the trend of organic gardening becomes more popular, so do holistic lifestyles. People living this type of lifestyle typically need to grow herbs and other plants to experience the health benefits, and they have to be grown organically. If you are interested in growing plants, flowers and vegetables without the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers, keep reading.
You will need to properly lay sod. Before you use sod, you need to prepare the soil. Thoroughly weed the soil, and work it into a fine, smooth tilth. Flatten the soil back into place, gently but firmly. Now make sure the soil is thoroughly dampened. The optimum layout of sod rows is to stagger them with offset joints. Tamp down the sod so it has a flat and even surface, then using some extra soil, fill the gaps between. Sod has to be watered daily for two weeks, and then it can be rooted.
Clay is difficult to dig through with a shovel, as it is sticky and compact. To make digging clay soil easier, try applying a light coating of wax, either car wax or floor wax, and then buff off and commence digging. This causes the clay to slide rather than stick, and prevents rust as a side effect.
Your tool handles can easily be used as handy rulers. Larger handled tools like rakes, hoes, and shovels make great measuring sticks. Lay the handles on the floor, then run the measuring tape down next to them. You can label distances using a permanent marker. When you are gardening next, you'll have a ruler beside you at all times.
Annuals and biennials are an excellent way to add a splash of bright color to your flower gardens. 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. Use them to fill gaps between shrubs and perennials in the sun. Some varieties are hollyhocks, petunias and sunflowers.
When autumn has arrived, you must plant everything you want to eat before winter. This time, use a pumpkin for the container for your lettuce and kale, instead of plain clay pots. Clean out the pumpkin just like you would if you were making a jack o'lantern. Spray Wilt-Pruf inside the pumpkin and along its edges so that the pumpkin won't rot. After that, your pumpkin planter is ready to use!
Keep your fragile shrubs protected from the winter weather. If you have a few potted shrubs, they should be shielded from the wintry weather. Pull the canes together at the top and securely tie them. Next, using a sheet or perhaps even a blanket, cover the structure. When you do this you allow air to flow and circulate which can actually prevent rotting, this method is great and better than just wrapping your plant in some plastic.
Knee Pads
A set of knee pads are a life saver if you're an avid gardener and a lot of your plants sit close to the ground. If you spend a large portion of your gardening session on your knees, it could create pain over time. Investing in a comfortable pair of knee pads made specifically for gardening can really reduce the pain you may feel from the pressure of being on your knees for extended periods.
Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Many diseases, as well as most parasites, prefer moisture. An example of a common plant parasite is fungi. Fungicidal spray treatments can contain fungi, but spraying prior to problems even developing in the first place is the best way to go about it.
To ensure a healthy garden, make sure you surround your plants with a few inches of good organic mulch. The soil will stay moist thanks to the mulch. In addition, it will keep the weeds from growing. You'll save a ton of time if you don't have to constantly pull out weeds.
You should purchase a wheelbarrow, as well as a kneeling stool to help you garden. Get a portable stool if you want to garden comfortably without damaging your knees. Gardening also usually requires that you transport heavy loads, such as dirt or mulch, and a wheelbarrow will make this much easier to do.
Cooled water left over from steaming vegetables can be fed to them as a little snack. Some plants, such as gardenias, azaleas and rhododendrons need acidic soil for proper growth. Increase the acidity of your soil by adding coffee grounds and unused tea bags. If your garden has a fungus problem, a highly effective treatment method is to sprinkle it with chamomile tea.
Organic Gardening
Use these tips and think about some ideas of your own. Organic gardening can become a part of your life. Keep in mind that this advice is the beginning of your organic gardening knowledge.