If you want to improve your diet, you may want to get into organic gardening. However, organic gardening does require a commitment. Perhaps you are hesitating about where to begin.
If you want your children to enjoy your organic garden, plant some tasty strawberries. Children love to snap up these sweet juicy fruits for themselves and will be much more willing to eat other foods you’ve planted as well.
Pine Needles
Pine needles should not be overlooked as a great source for mulch. Some plants do better in soil with high acidity as they are highly acidic themselves. For these types of plants, pine needles are wonderful for mulching. Cover your beds with the needles, as they will decompose and disperse their acid throughout the soil.
You should always take spacing into account when placing plants in your organic garden. Many people don’t realize exactly how much space a plant needs when it grows. Your plants will need the space not only because of their physical size, but also because the space will provide air circulation for the garden. Make sure your seeds have a good amount of space between each other for optimal growth.
You can kill weeds naturally. Take newspapers and layer them for controlling weeds. Weeds can only grow when there is adequate sunlight. Newspapers placed atop weeds will starve them from light and they will eventually die. Newspapers tend to break down into compost nicely. In order to improve its attractiveness, add one mulch layer.
When planting seeds in containers, remember that the depth should be at least three times bigger than the seed. It is important to note though, that not all seeds are covered to this depth, as some need direct sunlight to grow properly. Typical examples are petunias and ageratum. If you are unsure if your seeds should be covered, refer to the seed packet, or if that is not available, look for information online.
Try to use untreated wood, brick or stone and make a raised bed. For best results, you should only use wood that has not been treated with chemicals or protective coating. The best varieties include cedar, locust and cypress wood. In order to avoid toxic substances from getting into the ground and perhaps into your vegetables, avoid using treated wood to enclose or demarcate different sections of your vegetable garden. If you have built a bed with treated lumber already, use a barrier such as plastic to line the bed.
It is more rewarding to have an organic garden even though it is often more work. While chemical pesticides and fertilizers may claim to do great things for your garden, organic methods will give you the best crops possible.
Change how much you water your plants with the changing of the seasons. You should also adjust your watering habits if the temperature or amount of rainfall changes dramatically. You will need to water differently depending on what time it is or what kind of soil you are using. Gardeners in warm, moist climates should avoid watering leafy plants as this makes them more vulnerable to fungal growths. Make sure you give the roots plenty of water.
Ensure your soil is health by adding mulch. Mulch will protect and nourish the soil. On hot days, mulch will also protect your plant’s roots by keeping them moist and cool. It helps the soil retain moisture longer by reducing the evaporation rate. Mulch is also excellent for keeping weeds at bay.
Gardening, especially organic gardening, helps you feel more “at one” with the earth. When you garden organically, you see the entire process from the beginning to the end. The whole process becomes more clear, and you appreciate all the earth offers you.
Natural Insecticides
Look up local botanical insecticides; they can be very useful in keeping the pest population at bay. In some cases natural insecticides are actually more effective than the synthetic pesticides that are engineered in a lab. Natural insecticides do have the disadvantage of a shorter effective period and a quick decline.
When you start planting your organic tomatoes, stagger your planting time by planting two groups of plants, three weeks apart. Staggering the planting times ensures that you are able to consistently enjoy ripe tomatoes. In addition, if there are any problems with one harvested batch of tomatoes, you still have subsequent batches to harvest, so you will not be left without any.
You can create a garden for perennials easily. Cut into your turf using a spade and then cover the exposed portion with lots of wood chips. You’ll be able to dig into your new garden to plant out perennials within a few weeks.
Plant a variety of foliage native to your region for the best garden. You will notice more wildlife if you have diverse plants. Plant various plant types to create a natural environment. By doing this, you will turn your garden into a pleasurable and relaxing retreat, and will also have the benefit of helping the environment.
As has been outlined in the above article, you need to research all about organic gardening, and know that it will take a lot of work and effort in order to grow organic plants of your own. Furthermore, you will only see your garden blossom with consistent tending. Hopefully this article has you well prepared for your endeavor into the relaxing and productive world of organic gardening.