Many people are under the impression that gardening is difficult, but it’s actually quite simple if you know exactly what to do. Good information can turn anyone into an expert in horticulture. This article contain some creative horticulture tips that will turn you into a expert horticulturist in no time at all.
Put down sod correctly. You want to prepare the soil before you lay down the sod. Pull any weeds that you see, and work to break up the soil so that it is a fine tilth. When the soil is clean, pack it tightly and create a flat surface. Gently sprinkle water on the soil until you are certain that it is thoroughly moistened. Lay the sod in rows, and make sure the joints do not overlap. After the sod has been flattened to an even surface, you can use soil to fill any remaining gaps. Water the sod for two weeks and then you can safely walk on it as it will have had time to properly root.
Your tool handles can easily be used as handy rulers. Tools with long handles, such as shovels, hoes and rakes can be made into measuring sticks. Place the handles on the floor to measure the distance between them. You can label distances using a permanent marker. Next time you are working in the garden, you will have a large ruler at your fingertips!
It’s sometimes possible to save certain plants from winter cold by bringing them inside. You can save the ones you spent the most money on or the ones that are resistant. Dig carefully around the roots and transfer the plants to a pot.
Before planting seeds, soak them overnight. Place them in a cupboard or other place where they won’t be exposed to light. Simply place a handful of seeds in a container, cover the seeds up with water, and stash it away. This will give your seeds a good start by making sure they have plenty of water, which they need to sprout. The seeds will most likely have a greater chance of maturing and surviving.
Grow some wheat grass or cat grass next to the plants your cat seems to prefer. You could also place mothballs and citrus peels around your plants to keep your cat away.
Allow enough room between plants for air to circulate, so that plants do not stay too wet. Moisture on the surface of a plant can attract parasites, and cause disease. One parasite you have to watch out for in particular is fungi. It is possible to control fungi with sprays, but the key is to treat your garden before any problems arise.
Think about putting some berry-producing evergreens into your landscape. This will aid in giving your garden great color, even during the winter when other plants have lost their colors. Some evergreens that will add life to your yard in the wintertime are the American Cranberrybush, Common Snowberry, Winterberry, and American holly.
You should teach your children how to garden alongside you. A garden can provide a wonderful learning experience for children, and will give you an opportunity to bond with them while you produce healthy food.
Flower Beds
In your flower beds and garden, utilize a few inches of organic mulch. This is a good way to keep weed growth at bay and add nutrients that you need in your garden. Also, the flower beds will look beautifully maintained at all times.
Working in the garden doesn’t have to be grueling; learn to work more efficiently. One of the biggest time wasters is not keeping track of your tools and having to look for them every time you need them. Before you start work in the garden, make sure you have the necessary tools, and always remember to put them away when you are finished. Wear pants with several pockets or use a tool belt.
When the time comes to harvest your produce, collect it using an old laundry basket. An old basket will act like a strainer does. Rinse the produce while it sits in the basket, the extra water will go through the holes in the basket.
Over-watering your plants can be harmful, because roots that are drowning in water cannot effectively pull nutrients out of the soil. Before watering plants outdoors, check with some weather stations to find out if it will rain anytime during the day. If rain is predicted, you shouldn’t bother to water any outdoor plants for that day..
Plant Garlic
An easy to grow plant to grow in your organic garden is garlic. The best time to plant garlic is either early spring or in the fall. Plant garlic in moist soil with good drainage. Each clove should be planted end-up, four inches apart and between one and two inches below the surface of the soil. Green garlic shoots could be cut as it grows, and it can be used to substitute scallions or chives. The bulbs are ripe for harvesting when the tops area turns brown. To harden the bulbs’ skin, dry them for several days in the sun. The garlic may then be stored within a cool location tied together in bunches or simply loose.
When you start planting your organic tomatoes, stagger your planting time by planting two groups of plants, three weeks apart. The reason is, this will prevent your entire harvest from coming in all at once. If you have something go wrong during a single harvest, it will prevent all of your tomatoes from being ruined.
Buy a soaker hose if you plan to plant an organic garden. This type of hose allows you to water roots directly without wetting the plants’ leaves. These use much less water than the sprinklers and are less time-consuming than hand-watering your plants.
As aforementioned, becoming an expert gardener is not actually that difficult once you know how to get started. Having the right information will enable you to be a great gardener. Use the information and advice given to you in this article to improve your horticulture skills, and start creating your marvelous garden.