Gardening can not only calm your mind, but it is also easy to jump into without spending hundreds of dollars. Family and friends can spend an enjoyable afternoon together, working in the garden. Kids will be amazed to see all those plants begin to grow. Gardening can also help appreciate outdoor life and nature. Here you will find some helpful tips to make gardening more enjoyable.
Create a planting calendar for your garden. A planting calendar will tell you the type of plant you need to plant in every season. Your calendar will keep you prepared so you know what you need to buy and when you should buy it. Create a calendar on paper, or download one from the internet.
Make sure to lay the sod properly. Prior to laying the sod, prepare your soil. Weeds should be removed, and you should break up the soil into a tilth. The next step is compacting your soil and carefully leveling it. Make sure the soil is thoroughly moist. You want the sod laid down in staggered rows, and the joints to be offset from each other. The sod should form a flat and firm surface. Fill in gaps with soil. Keep the sod moist and avoid walking on it until it is well-rooted, usually two to three weeks.
Plant perennials that are slug-proof. These mollusks are capable of consuming an entire garden full of flowers in a single night. They often enjoy feeding on perennials with very smooth and tender leaves. Young plants are a special favorite of theirs. Perennials with hairy leaves or bitter taste are unattractive to snails and slugs, keeping them safe from harm. Selecting an unappetizing perennial, such as campanula or heuchera, will help stop them from being eaten.
Climbing Plants
Plants that climb can hide fences and walls. Climbing plants can cover a wall after one growing season only. You don’t have to worry about removing trees between the climbing plants and the fence, because the trees don’t present obstacles to the climbers’ growth. Some people use climbers as a natural “ceiling” to arbors. Some need to be tied to a support, whereas certain climbers attach themselves to a surface with tendrils or twining stems. Reliable varieties include clematis, honeysuckle, wisteria, jasmine and climbing roses.
Deciduous shrubs need protection from the cold. Cold weather is very hard on these tender shrubs, and potted shrubs should be shielded and protected. Tie the tops of the canes together; then take a sheet and cover the wigwam loosely. This is a much better method, instead of putting the plastic wrap around the plant. It allows proper air circulation that can prevent rotting.
Take the time to place organic mulch in the area around your vegetable plants. Mulch helps the soil surrounding the plants remain moister for a longer time. An added benefit is that it also inhibits weed growth. This will save you tons of time from pulling out tons of weeds.
A wheelbarrow and kneeling bench or stool are smart investments for your garden. Working in the garden means you’ll be down on the ground a lot. This can cause knee pain, so if you have a stool, you’ll have an easier time. Gardening also requires transporting heavy objects and lots of dirt, so purchasing a wheelbarrow can be a very smart investment.
Give them a nutritious drink by using the water that you boiled your veggies in. If you have rhododendrons or gardenias, use coffee and tea grounds to acidify the soil. A natural cure for plant fungus is chamomile tea. Sprinkle some on the plant, and see if it works.
Plant with the colors of autumn in mind. It’s not necessary to think this way, however. Fall is the most colorful time of year for foliage. For example, maple, beech, and dogwood trees all change from their usual green to a vibrant spectrum of yellow, orange, and red. When choosing shrubs, think about cotoneaster, hydrangea or barberry.
Identify a plant that will be the most prominent object of the landscape. A solid focal point will draw peoples attention to your garden, leaving them to admire your unique design. Focal points in gardens are normally a plant specimen that no one else in the neighborhood has in their landscape.
So whether gardening is to be a solitary or a social hobby, you can make use of these hints. If you use this information, you will find yourself enjoying horticulture as a very rewarding pastime.