There are many factors involved to achieve the lush and beautiful garden you have always wanted. Garden can involve back-breaking labor, but it can also be very enjoyable. Some basic tips will help make your work more efficient, making both the process and result more fun.
Try dousing weeds in your garden with boiling water to get rid of them. Any vessel of boiling water that you can carry safely can be used as an organic herbicide. Pour the boiling water directly onto the weeds, just make sure you do not damage the nearby plants. The boiling water will damage the roots of the weeds and will usually prevent further growth.
If your horticulture plans include pea plantings, try starting them off indoors rather than planting the raw seeds in outdoor beds. When the plants are started inside, the seeds will have an easier time germinating. The seedlings tend to be healthier, which would help them resist diseases and pests more easily. The seedlings can then be transplanted outside after becoming strong enough to withstand the elements.
To grow properly, plants need adequate levels of CO2. If the level of CO2 is extremely high, your plants will grow much better. The best method to obtain a high amount is to get access to a greenhouse. If you have a greenhouse, keep CO2 levels high.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol and vinegar can be used to strip salt deposits away from terracotta clay pots. Plants potted in clay pots can accrue salt deposits over time and become quite unsightly. Mix up equal amounts of rubbing alcohol, water and white vinegar, then spray onto the pot. When you scrub the pot with a stiff brush, the salt stains will disappear. Then you want to rinse the pot and set it out to dry. It should be dry before you use it for another plant.
Use root cuttings to create new plants. Wait until winter when the roots are dormant before cutting them. Cut off the thickest, longest roots of the plant with a sharp knife. Once you have harvested several large roots, divide them into two inch cuttings. Place the cuttings on top of a seed tray that you have filled with a blend of damp peat and grit. Cover the roots with an additional layer of grit and peat. Leave the tray in a place that is cool for about a month and seedlings will sprout. Plant the seedlings separately in small containers until they are large enough to be planted outdoors.
Tempt your cat away from the plants he has been bothering by planting catnip or wheat grass near them. Another option is to place something smelly, like citrus peels or mothballs, on the soil surrounding the plants that have previously been eaten.
Be sure your garden is fertilized. Use commercially composted products in your garden to help your plants grow. This will reduce the chance of pathogens. Although there are plenty of fertilizer choices, don’t be concerned with which one you use; just be sure to use one.
When gardening, don’t use any broad-spectrum pesticides. It’s true these pesticides kill the pests you don’t want, but they also lay waste to the advantageous insects that make those same pests a regular meal. Beneficial insects are more susceptible to strong pesticides than the insects you are actually trying to get rid of. This will lead you to end up killing off the good bugs in your garden, leaving the field wide open for the harmful ones. This can result in your using more pesticides to eradicate the problem.
Separate irises. Increase your iris population when you divide up overgrown clumps. Try to life the bulbous irises when foliage begins to die. The iris bulbs should easily split apart in your hand. Once you replant them, they will have a good flower show the following year. Use a knife to divide the rhizomes. Get rid of the center and keep the new pieces you cut from the outside. Don’t plant any pieces that don’t have any strong offshoots. Replant your cuttings immediately for the best results.
Large specimens including trees and shrubs ought to be planted in the autumn so that they develop strong root systems. Planting larger plants during the fall gives them the foundation they need for proper growth. Although it’s starting to get cold outside, the ground is warm; in addition, newly planted trees and shrubs don’t have leaves yet. These factors present an ideal opportunity for the plant’s root system to develop.
With these tips, you’re better equipped to grow the most beautiful garden you can imagine. In learning how to create your dream garden, you’ll also be growing as a person. That’s because learning how to nurture your plants will not only help you reach the goal of having a great garden, but it will help you learn to nurture yourself.