Many people think of gardening as a hobby that is soothing and therapeutic. Knowing the right soil to get, which tools to purchase and when you should be planting are a few of the questions gardeners want to know. In this article, you can learn some key things when it comes to horticulture.
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.
In the hottest time of the day, most vegetables are less firm; even the act of harvesting the veggies may cause bruising. Also ensure that you use a tool to cut the vegetables off at the vine. If you just yank or twist the whole plant, it may become damaged.
While working in your garden during the fall season, watch out for those stink bugs! These destructive pests enjoy many kinds of fruit, as well as beans, peppers and tomatoes. If you don’t treat them, they can do a lot of damage in your garden.
An eye-catching plant makes an attractive focal point for your garden or flowerbed. The best garden designers always use a focal point that draws the eye. Focal points in gardens are normally a plant specimen that no one else in the neighborhood has in their landscape.
Use both biennials and annuals to add color to your flower bed. These usually grow quickly, and provide an easy-to-change solution to making your flower beds bright and beautiful. They allow you to select different flowers from one year or season to the next. These kinds of flowers are also excellent for filling in gaps between shrubs and perennials in sunny areas. The most popular varieties to use include petunia, zinnia, cosmos, snapdragon, marigold, hollyhock, and sunflower.
Do not use broad-spectrum pesticides within your garden. These pesticides can kill the useful insects that work as predators to pests. Since these pesticides often affect the good bugs more than the bad, using them can actually increase your pest problem. In the end, you may resort to using even more pesticides in order to erase the problem.
A great tip to implement when gardening is to plant only what you enjoy to eat. That way, you’ll be the most excited about using the plants you grow, and save some money on groceries. It is pointless to grow an item your family or you won’t eat, particularly if your space is limited.
Start your plants in some pots and plant its seedlings in the garden. This boosts the chance that the plants can survive to adulthood. In addition, it lets you tighten the time in between plantings. The seedlings are reading for planting immediately after you remove older plants.
To create a beautiful English garden use various plants and differing plant heights in one flower bed. Using plants which grow to the same length or height will make your bed look uniform.
Use the handles of your tools as a handy ruler when doing your outdoor chores. Tools that can be used for more than one task are quite handy to own. On the floor, simply lay out the handles, then take a tape measure and run it next to them. Next, use a Sharpie to accurately label the distance between each one. This will allow you to have a ruler at your fingertips when you are working out in the garden.
Cut Roots
Cut some roots to make new plants. Ideally, cut roots during the winter season when the roots are dormant. A sharp knife must be used in order to cut thick roots. Cut roots into lengths of two inches. Place these cuttings on the surface of a seed tray that you have filled with grit and peat moss and water thoroughly. Place a light layer of the grit and peat mixture on top of it. Leave in a cool place, and in about a month you will have new seedlings. When they sprout, it’s important that you plant each seedling in a separate larger tray or flower pot until it’s time to put them outside.
Irises can be easily divided. You can divide those overgrown clumps and increase the amount of irises you have. You can do this by simply picking up bulbous irises once the foliage has withered. They will literally split in your hand, flowering the next year after replanting. Divide rhizomes with a knife. Cut healthy pieces from the root stalk and throw out the dead center. Each piece must have a minimum of one strong offshoot. Replant each one immediately.
Pick the correct soil to get the best results. Depending on what kind of plants you want in your garden, the soil might or might not be adapted. You can also make an artificial area using only one type of soil.
Re-potting can benefit some plants, but disturbs the roots of others. You can easily find out which plants need to be re-potted by turning each plant upside down, then tapping the pot until the plant frees itself from the pot and drops out. If you see a tangle of roots, the plant must be replaced. Little to no roots means the pot is perfect for the time being.
Horticulture is a great hobby that can help a family with children to bond with one another. Children enjoy picking which flowers and plants will go in the garden. Many see it as a fun excuse to get dirty, especially with their parents.
As mentioned, gardening is rewarding, but you need a wealth of information to really tend a garden well. If you use the advice laid out here and plan accordingly, your garden will bloom gloriously in no time. Heed our tips and you’ll have your own stunning space.