There is a lot of information you need to learn if you want to achieve your goal of having a thriving garden full of beautiful, colorful, blossoming plants. While gardening is lots of work, it is also enjoyable! The following paragraphs are going to give you ideas and insights that you can use to make gardening fun, instead of laborious.
Use a plant for a focal point. You need a focal point that can catch your eye in garden design. Mostly it is a distinctive plant that sets it apart from the neighboring plants and flowers.
Knee Pads
If you have many low-growing plants in your garden, get yourself a pair of horticulture knee pads. Excessive time spent kneeling often results in significant stiffness and pain. Wear knee pads meant for gardeners so that you’ll be more comfortable when kneeling in your garden.
Gradually acclimate plants to temperature changes and conditions, if you want to avoid shocking them. When starting the transition, leave the plants in the sun for just 1-2 hours. Then over the next week, gradually increase the time they are in their new habitat. By the weekend, the plants can make that big move without a problem!
Coffee grounds can be used to amend soils that are high in alkaline. Coffee grounds add acidity to the soil and are very cheap. This simple act can lead to vegetables that taste better and look more appealing.
Choose perennials that slugs are not attracted to. If slugs or snails find their favorite perennials in your garden, they’ll snack all night. When you wake up in the morning, there will be very little left of your plants. These pests gravitate to young perennials with smooth, tender, thin leaves. 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.
Rubbing Alcohol
You can use rubbing alcohol and vinegar to remove any salt deposits from your clay pots when it comes to gardening. Over time, salt deposits can accumulate on the outside of pots. Spray a solution on the pot that is comprised of water, white vinegar and rubbing alcohol in equal parts. Then, make sure you scrub it using a plastic brush. The salt will melt away. Be sure to rinse and let it dry before using the pot for planting again.
Surround your vegetable plants with organic mulch, a few inches worth. Mulch keeps soil moist for longer periods of time. It also prevents weed growth. Time and effort will be saved pulling out all the weeds.
Some houseplants may require some humidity. Create humidity anywhere when you group a number of different plants in the same pot, or put one plant in a large pot, using compost or stones to fill the gap. A daily mist with water can be another great way to give your plants the humidity they need.
Put money into a quality wheelbarrow and kneeling stool if you plan to do garden work often. Gardening can take a toll on the knees, but a small ergonomic stool will be a comfortable solution. There is also a lot of heavy lifting involved with gardening, so a good wheelbarrow is a great tool to have around.
Watering your garden too little or too much is to be avoided if you want your garden to grow properly. If you over-water your plants you can cause root rot, which will kill your garden, likewise if you under-water the garden, you are in jeopardy of having dried up plants and soil. Check the moisture level of your soil to determine if it is getting adequate water.
Increase the value of your property! Of all the home improvement options that you might consider, landscaping is the most cost effective. A simple investment in plants can elevate your property value by as much as 20% or more. Select plants that will adapt well to your regional area and require minimum maintenance.
Make sure that you divide your irises! You can get more irises by dividing the overgrown clumps. When the foliage dies, take the bulbous irises and lift them. The bulbs will automatically split in you hand, and will likely flower the year after being replanted. If you have a rhizome you will need to split it with a knife. Cut healthy pieces from the root stalk and throw out the dead center. There needs to be a minimum of one healthy offshoot on each of the new sprout sections. Replant your pieces right away.
To grow peas, try growing them indoors first, instead of outside. Install your plants inside and wait for the seeds to germinate. Seedlings will grow stronger, and withstand attacks from pests and diseases a lot better. The seedlings can then be transplanted outside after becoming strong enough to withstand the elements.
Come up with a horticulture plan before planting anything. This helps you remember where each plant was planted before they begin to sprout. Another benefit is that you won’t lose the little plants in a big garden patch.
Root Cuttings
Make use of root cuttings to create many new plants. Cut the roots during the winter because they are dormant at this time. Start by using a sharpened knife to separate the plant from the largest roots. Cut each root into pieces that are two inches in length. Put the sections on top of a blend of grit and damp peat, in a seed tray. Lightly cover the root cuttings with a layer of the peat and grit mixture. Leave it in a cold place, and you’ll have new seedlings in a month. Plant the seedlings separately in small containers until they are large enough to be planted outdoors.
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.