Many people find inner peace by taking up the hobby of horticulture. Without the right information, though, it can be confusing. Gardeners have to know not only how to do the actual gardening, but what tools and equipment are most useful. Continue reading for some expert horticulture advice.
Don’t cut your grass down by the soil when you run the mower. By leaving your grass a little taller, you are allowing it to become stronger, as the roots grow stronger and deeper. Grass that is shorter has a root system that is easier to dry out.
Horticulture Knee Pads
If you have a lot of low-growing plants to take care of in your garden, purchase horticulture knee pads. 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. Cushion your knees with a pair of horticulture knee pads.
When the fall season approaches, you must prepare to plant your favorite fall veggies and other edibles. Rather than using clay pots or planters for your lettuce and kale, plant them in a pumpkin! Once you cut an opening at the top of the pumpkin and scoop out the insides, spray the inside and edges with Wilt-Pruf to keep the pumpkin from rotting. After you have finished this, you will be ready to start planting.
There are some annuals that grow better in the colder months. To make sure that these plants always look their best, prune them if they start to look too leggy. Once a few weeks have passed, these annual plants will bloom again, and provide a nice variation in color compared to their brown surroundings. Annual plants that flourish in cold weather are snapdragons, petunias and dianthus.
Consider planting trees that produce decorative fall fruit. Although fall color is normally associated with foliage, there are a number of trees that produce decorative fruit. You will appreciate the burst of yellow and red color from berries throughout the colder months, and the birds in your garden will thank you for the food, as well. Attractive varieties include crabapple, chokeberry, hawthorn and holly.
To defend your garden from errant dogs, spray something with a strong scent, including aftershave or old perfume around the perimeter of the garden. This helps mask the attractive scents and can make your garden unappealing to them.
When deciding what to plant in your vegetable garden, consider what kinds you tend to use most often in the kitchen. This will make your garden space-effective and cost-effective. It’s pointless to grow vegetables you won’t use, doubly so if your space is limited.
Plant perennials that slugs and snails won’t be interested in eating. Snails and slugs are garden nightmares, and only need a single evening to obliterate a plant. These pests are particularly fond of young perennials and those varieties with leaves that are tender, smooth, and thin. Slugs and snails will leave some perennials alone, particularly those with a bad taste or tough, hairy leaves. Some of these plants include achillea, campanula, euphorbia, hellaborus, and heuchera.
Coffee Grounds
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 are an inexpensive way to increase the acid level in your soil. You will notice that your vegetables and greens will have a stronger taste.
It is a good idea to pre-soak your seeds in a dark environment overnight. Place your seeds in a container filled with water. When you do this, you hydrate your seeds and they can start growing. The seeds will most likely have a greater chance of maturing and surviving.
Gardening is a great activity to share with your children or other family members. A lot of kids like picking plants and flowers. Children also love situations in which getting dirty is acceptable, especially if parents are in on the fun.
If you have recently suffered a cut, discontinue horticulture until the cut has healed completely. A cut will likely become infected if it is exposed to dirt when gardening. However, there are bandages available that will seal the cut completely. Using these should protect the cut from any infection while horticulture.
Beneficial Insects
Heather can be planted to attract useful insects. Heather will attract bees early in the spring as well as other beneficial insects. Since a heather bed is normally left undisturbed, ground beetles, spiders and other beneficial insects tend to live inside it. Being mindful of this, wearing gloves appropriate to gardening is sound strategy when pruning any heather in or around the bed.
You can prevent pests using other plants or natural materials. For example, slugs can be deterred by the presence of marigolds or onions. Keep insects away from shrub and tree seedlings with mulch containing wood ash. These methods remove the need for harsh chemical pesticides.
Baking Soda
There are home solutions available to combat the powdery mildew you may find on your plants. Plain water with a bit of liquid soap and baking soda will do the trick. Once weekly, spray this mixture to the affected areas of your plants, and the mildew should be eliminated shortly. No damage will occur to your plants, and the baking soda is mild and efficient.
Certain houseplants need to be re-potted; while others hate it when you disturb their roots. To check the roots of your plants, simply up-end the pot and gently tap the bottom. The plant will slide out into your hand, and you can look at the roots. If you see a lot of roots, it is time to get a new pot. If the roots you see are minimal, or you can’t see them at all, there is no need to upgrade the pot size.
As mentioned, horticulture is rewarding, but you need a wealth of information to really tend a garden well. If you follow the correct advice and plan your garden properly, your garden will flourish in no time. Use this advice to enjoy your own beautiful garden.