If you have an inkling as to what to do, gardening can be pretty simple and easy. You can become an expert gardener quickly if you have access to good information. This article’s tips and advice will help you become an amazing gardener.
When winter arrives, transfer some plants into the house to save them. Choose the plants that are most likely to survive. Remember to be gentle when digging up your plants; carefully dig away from the roots and gently place the plant into a container.
The first thing you should do when planning a garden is test the soil. Pay a small fee to have your soil analyzed, and you’ll be glad that you did when you understand what nutrients your soil is lacking. Save yourself the trouble of a failed crop by contacting your local Cooperative Extension to preform the soil test.
Stink Bugs
If you’re planning on gardening, carefully watch for stink bugs! You should be particularly careful during Autumn. Stink bugs prefer peppers, beans, tomatoes, and various varieties of fruits. Decrease their presence as much as possible to avoid them wreaking havoc in your garden.
Before planting seeds, soak them overnight. Place them in a cupboard or other place where they won’t be exposed to light. Place some seeds in your smaller pots and add water almost to the brim. This hydrates your seeds and jump-starts their growth. Your seeds will then have the best chance possible to survive to maturity.
Do you enjoy fresh mint, but don’t like how they engulf your garden in their growth? Instead of planting mint in the ground, confine it to a large pot. You can plant the container into the soil if you want to, but the container will restrict the roots, and make sure that the plant doesn’t run rampant in your garden.
Think about putting some berry-producing evergreens into your landscape. This will allow your garden to have color, even in the dreary winter months. Some examples of evergreens that produce berries and color in the wintertime are the American Holly, Cranberrybush, the Winterberry and the Common Snowberry.
Another way to help them grow is by watering them with the liquid that is left from cooking vegetables. Used teabags or grounds from coffee are a great way to add acid to the soil. Chamomile tea can be effective if you have problems with fungus in your garden. Simply sprinkle it on the affected plant.
The sun can cause irreparable skin damage; therefore, it is essential to dress accordingly when gardening. Always apply sunscreen with an adequate SPF level. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Finally, throw on a wide-brimmed hat to protect your scalp. Proper protection from the sun means a lower chance of sunburn, as well as a decreased risk of skin cancer.
Before planting your favorite perennials, you must first prepare the ground. Use your spade to slice chunks of turf up, then flip each piece over, and spread wood chips on top to a depth of four inches. Let this sit for a couple weeks, next dig into it to plant your new plants.
Have some plastic bags on hand that you can put over your gardening shoes if they are muddy. You will save time and be back in the garden much more quickly by doing this.
Water based on the current climate and the season. Knowing how much to water your plants can be a difficult task. You will want to look into various things, such as time of day, quality of water and type of soil. Gardeners in warm, moist climates should avoid watering leafy plants as this makes them more vulnerable to fungal growths. Instead, the roots should be thoroughly watered.
Over-watering plants is counterproductive, as too much water reduces plants’ ability to absorb nutrients from the surrounding soil. Check the weather for the next couple of days to see if you actually need to water your plants. If rain is on its way, you are probably safe to skip watering duties for the day.
Once a year, you must rotate your garden. When the same plants occupy a spot in your garden for many years in a row, it can lead to the development of fungi and disease. The diseases and fungi are harbored in the soil and are ready to make a comeback each year. Moving the plants to different areas will prevent these invaders from growing on your plants.
If you want to consistently grow healthy tomatoes, wait three weeks between planting each set. This can give you a steady supply to tomatoes and reduce an overabundance at any given time. You will also prevent your vegetables from being ruined all at once by an unexpected frost or an infestation.
A soaker hose is the best choice for watering an organic garden. Water seeps slowly from a soaker house, and can be aimed right at the roots, leaving leaves dry. This type of hose uses less water in comparison to a sprinkler and takes the time and work out of watering your plants by hand.
Make your organic garden easier to maintain. When deciding what to plant, opt for flowers, grasses and shrubs that are native to your area. If you select plants able to thrive in your climate, soil variety and indigenous neighbors, you can cut the amount of fertilizer and pesticide you might need. Instead, you will find that native plants will work especially well with compost made from other native ingredients!
As you read before, becoming a great gardener is not as difficult as it seems. After you take the time to educate yourself about all the ins and outs of what it takes to be a great gardener, you will can look forward to success in all your horticulture endeavors.