treated wood

Create Your Dream Garden With These Handy Tips.

~ craigb

You want to create a healthy and fresh organic garden. What great timing. Included in this article is advice that can assist you in your gardening endeavors.

TIP! In the cold winter months, you can salvage certain plants by bringing them into the house. This is especially useful if you have a particular plant that you love or was expensive.

Brighten up your flower beds with annuals and biennials. These flowers grow quickly and can be planted at any time during the year. If you want to maintain a flower garden all year or you want to add new flowers to reflect the changing seasons, annuals and biennials are for you. Use them to fill gaps between shrubs and perennials in the sun. There are many different varieties to choose from such as daisies, marigolds, impatiens, and lantana.

TIP! If you’re planning on gardening, carefully watch for stink bugs! You should be particularly careful during Autumn. Stink bugs like to reside in tomatoes, beans, and pepper plants, as well as many fruits.

Do not cut your grass too short. Higher grass sends roots further down, increasing lawn strength and viability. When grass is cut too low the roots will not grow as deep, and your lawn may suffer from brown patches.

TIP! Before you plant seeds, pre-soak them for a night somewhere dark. Place some seeds in your smaller pots and add water almost to the brim.

It can be tough to keep insects and other plant-ruining crawlies from infesting your garden. One major benefit of growing your own produce is knowing that they haven’t been treated with pesticides and other harsh chemicals. One way to control gardening pests is to be vigilant. If you catch them early, you can take them off the plants by hand.

TIP! If you are planning on growing peas, begin the plantings inside instead of outside. If you plant them inside, they might germinate more effectively.

Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides for your garden. It’s true these pesticides kill the pests you don’t want, but they also lay waste to the advantageous insects that make those same pests a regular meal. In fact, beneficial insects are more likely to die than pests if you spray these types of pesticides. As the population of “good” bugs dwindles, your garden may become overrun with pests. If you respond to the growing pest problem with more broad-spectrum pesticide, you only continue the harmful cycle.

TIP! Remember to place a layer of mulch over the soil around your vegetables, approximately 2 inches deep. Mulch keeps soil moist for longer periods of time.

Irrigate your garden efficiently. A soaker hose can save valuable time by watering all of your plants simultaneously, removing the need for hauling a watering can or hose around to each plant. To protect your plants, keep the flow on the soaker down. Just use it on your foliage for a few hours.

TIP! If you are just getting into gardening, make sure you heed all of the directions on fertilizer and chemical labels. Otherwise, you are likely to have skin irritations flare up, which can be extremely painful and uncomfortable.

If you can’t wait for a cut to heal before digging in the dirt, then at least protect your cuts from exposure. A cut that has come into contact with extraneous materials like dirt can become seriously infected. The key is to use bandages capable of covering cuts in their entirety.

TIP! Purchase an inexpensive gardening kneeling pad, as well as a wheelbarrow or wagon. Spending time on the ground is rough on the knees, a portable and light stool can help make gardening easier.

It’s simple to lay a new perennial bed. You just need to use your garden spade for slicing underneath the turf, then flip it, and finally spread about three or four inch deep piles of wood chips. After a few weeks, you may then utilize the area to plant your flowers.

TIP! If you have an organic garden and children, plant some everbearing strawberries for them. Children love to pick their own fruit right out of the garden, and will be more willing to help with the process if they get something out of it.

Go slowly as you plant the seeds. First, add moisture to the soil where you will be planting. You may then distribute your seeds evenly while being sure that they all have adequate space in which to grow. Look at how big the seeds are, multiply that by three, and plant them down into the earth accordingly. Be aware that some seeds need light to germinate and should be sown on top of the soil.

TIP! Make sure you protect your knees well while you are gardening. It’s difficult for most people to bend while standing, especially at the waist.

Learn to work efficiently. If it takes you thirty minutes to find a needed tool, then you are doing something wrong. Before you make a trip to your garden, you should gather all tools and items in advance. Afterwards, be sure to return them to their original storage place. If needed, purchase a tool belt or heavy duty pants with plenty of pockets.

TIP! If you are growing plants inside of your home, you need to keep the thermostat set to 65 to 75 degrees during the day. The temperature needs to be this warm so they are able to grow.

Space is important to remember when planting an organic garden. Plants take up quite a bit of space as they grow, and it’s easy to underestimate just how much. The plants will inevitably need to unfurl and spread, but they also need the circulation of air from open spaces. Plan your garden carefully and leave enough space between the seeds.

TIP! Using coffee grounds as part of your soil mixture in your garden is often advised for healthy plants. Coffee grounds have nitrogen that plants will utilize.

Include both green and dry plant refuse in your compost. Add grass clippings, waste from fruits and vegetables, leaves, and weeds for the green materials in your compost pile. Examples of dried plant material are sawdust, shredded paper, straw, cut-up woody material, and cardboard. Avoid using ashes, charcoal, diseased plants and meat-eating animal manure.

Treated Wood

TIP! To make a credible claim that your crops are organically grown, you should be certified as organic by a credible organization. This will increase your sales, and it will prove to your customers that they have quality products.

In order to construct your raised beds, make use of untreated brick, stone, wood and other materials. If you choose to use wood to construct your bed, choose a species that is naturally resistant to rot and avoid treated wood entirely. Cypress, locust and cedar are all great examples of what woods to use when building a raised bed. Do not use treated wood in your vegetable garden. If you have to use treated wood, you should line it with a bit of plastic to create a barrier.

TIP! Do some research on the botanical insecticides that are available in your area, many of which are extremely helpful in preventing pests from invading your garden. These natural insecticides are just as effective as chemicals, sometimes even more so.

Your soil will be healthier if you add mulch. Mulch will protect and nourish the soil. On hot, dry days, mulch keeps the dirt underneath cool and moist. This protects and nourishes plant roots. Since it decreases the rate at which moisture evaporates, the soil also stays more moist. Mulch is also excellent for keeping weeds at bay.

TIP! Biodiversity is a key element of your organic garden. The wider the variation of plants growing in your garden, the more wildlife species will be attracted to your garden.

It’s not what’s on the surface that counts. Evaluate each tomato and check for green starts, as they generally have bad root systems that impede growth. These starts will suck the resources from your seedlings for several weeks, inhibiting their growth.

TIP! You can make organic gardening much easier. Plan your landscaping with primarily native grasses, flowers, and bushes! When you choose plants that can work with your soil type, climate and nearby plants, you can reduce the need of fertilizers and other aids.

When you water your organic garden, choose a soaker hose for the best results. These hoses deliver water directly to the roots of your plants and keep their leaves dry. They are better because sprinklers use too much water and hand-watering is too time-consuming.

TIP! If you’re preparing to add a new shrub or tree to your organic garden, it’s best that the hole you plant them in looks a bit off-balance. Roots may not be able to tap into nearby water sources if the hole is cut to cleanly with the shovel.

Be sure that holes you dig for planting trees and shrubbery are ragged around the edges. If, after digging a hole, you notice the sides look “glazed” from the action of the shovel, this could restrict plant roots from growing through to the surrounding soil.

TIP! You have to decide what you want to grow in your organic garden. Not all plants thrive well in the same environment.

You should now have the basic knowledge you need to start an organic garden. If you thought you were prepared previously, then you should be at a pro’s level now! You’ve read tips that you can use to create a lovely garden full of organic and natural products.

Tips To Make Your Organic Garden Succesful

~ craigb

TIP! Use climbing vines or plants to cover fences and walls. Climbing plants can cover a wall after one growing season only.

Horticulture is a relaxing hobby that can yield useful and beautiful products. It can be enjoyed as a pleasant hobby, or it may be performed for the purpose of providing fresh food for your family. This article will introduce ways you can make the most of your gardening activities.

TIP! You must be sure to remove all of the weeds that grow in your garden. Weeds can take over a healthy garden faster than you think.

When winter arrives, transfer some plants into the house to save them. It’s a good idea to save any expensive plants or those that will thrive in indoor heat. Carefully dig around the rootball and replant in an appropriate pot.

TIP! Protect your delicate deciduous shrubs from harsh elements. Cold weather is very hard on these tender shrubs, and potted shrubs should be shielded and protected.

When the fall season approaches, you must prepare to plant your favorite fall veggies and other edibles. This time, use a pumpkin for the container for your lettuce and kale, instead of plain clay pots. Simply carve open the top of a pumpkin so you can remove the innards, and then spray inside and out with something like Wilt-Pruf to prevent pumpkin rotting. Once you’ve done that, you can plant!

TIP! Fertilizing is an important step in preparing your garden soil. While a lot of people use manure, it is better to choose fertilizer from a reputable company, as this will reduce the risk of any pathogens getting into your soil.

A set of comfortable knee pads makes a great investment if your garden is full of plant material that stays low to the ground. Excessive time spent kneeling often results in significant stiffness and pain. Cushion your knees with a pair of gardening knee pads.

TIP! Protect the soil around your vegetable plants with an inch or two of organic mulch. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch.

Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. Mulch will retain water so that you won’t have to water your plants as often. It also helps prevent weeds from growing. This will save you time, money, and effort in your lovely garden.

TIP! Pick one plant to serve as your garden’s focal point. A good garden design will have a focal point which captivates attention.

Broad-spectrum pesticides should be avoided in your garden. These pesticides can also kill useful insects that eat your pests. Beneficial bugs are more sensitive to these pesticides than the bugs that are detrimental to plants, so if the good bugs are eliminated, the bad pest population may grow. In the end, you may resort to using even more pesticides in order to erase the problem.

TIP! Use cologne or other items with a distinct scent to keep your canine out of the landscaping. These scents overpower the garden’s scents, which causes your dog to lose interest.

Be sure to plant some strawberries for your children and grandchildren. Ever-bearing ones are especially nice. For kids, there are few things as fun as picking fruit fresh from the garden. Your children will be much more interesting in helping out if they know they’ll get to enjoy some tasty strawberries.

TIP! To draw good insects to your garden, plant heather. Bees are attracted to heather, and they can bring a source of nectar early in the spring.

Aspirin water will strengthen your plants against diseases. Three aspirins per four gallons of water will help keep your plants healthy. Simply spray your plants with the mixture, and this will help them fend off various diseases. Use this method to spray your plants every three weeks.

TIP! Aspirin water has disease-prevention properties that can protect plants. Dissolve one and one-half aspirins into two gallons of cold water, and use it to fortify your plants.

If you are looking at creating an endurable organic garden, you should think about keeping some of your property vacant so that wildlife may flourish there. As the natural wildlife begins to flourish, the various insects, birds, and other natural life around will all blend together and actually assist your garden as it begins to grow.

TIP! Do not rush planting seeds in your garden. Begin by adding moisture to the soil.

Having a garden of perennials can be an easy and quick process. 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. After a few weeks, you may then utilize the area to plant your flowers.

TIP! You can cover your muddied gardening footware easily by keeping plastic bags around. This allows you to maintain your flow so you can rapidly get back to your gardening.

You should work efficiently, instead of working hard in your garden, to simplify things. It’s frustrating to search for a tool for a half hour. By keeping your tools in a certain area, they will always be ready whenever you are. You can keep your garden tools in a tool belt, or in your pockets. Another good idea is to keep them all in a bucket that you carry around with you.

TIP! Try not to let the chores associated to your organic garden build up. While you may not be able to spend time in the garden on a daily basis, there are still many things you can do to keep things from snowballing out of control.

Do not let your gardening chores add up. No matter what your schedule is like, you should be able to fit in small things that will help you avoid having an overwhelming amount of work all at once. Take the time to do a little weeding or something else that needs to be done each time you have to be outside keeping an eye on your dog, which for some can be several times a day.

Treated Wood

TIP! Brick, stone or untreated wood is great for building raised beds. When selecting wood, make certain you pick untreated products that have a natural resistance to rot.

If you’d like to create a raised bed, use materials like brick, stone, or untreated wood. If you choose to use wood, see to it that it’s untreated and that it can resist rotting. Examples of good woods include cedar, cypress, and locust. If you use treated wood in your vegetable garden, the chemicals in the wood can make their way into the soil, and in turn, to your crops. If you have placed treated wood in your garden, line it with a coat of plastic.

TIP! If you need to prove to customers that your produce is legitimately organic, you can become certified as an organic grower. This will result in generating more sales and creating a loyal customer base.

One way to profitably sell products from your organic garden is to be a credible organic gardener. Get organically certified. Having certification will increase your sales and verify to your customers that what you are selling is the best produce available.

TIP! Organic foods don’t contain any chemical pesticides. While this is great for your loved ones’ health, still check for pests and bugs.

As already noted, horticulture is an activity that many have enjoyed throughout history. At one time, most people saw gardening as the sole means of providing food for their family. Although many people today still rely on their gardens as a source of food, horticulture for the sheer pleasure of it has become more common. Regardless of why you are interested in horticulture, this article can give you the tools you need. You are going to gain a greater appreciation for the benefits you reap from your gardening efforts.

Turn Your Thumb Green With These Horticulture Tips

~ craigb

TIP! To prevent your plants’ systems from becoming shocked, you need to gradually transition them from higher to lower temperatures. Start by placing your plants outside for a few hours only.

It goes without saying that taking care of an organic garden is critical for its success. Good organic horticulture techniques can be very useful in this context. By employing your knowledge you will be able to more efficiently and reliably produce healthy, tasty food. Use this information to make the best organic garden that you can.

TIP! When winter comes, you can save a few plants by transferring them inside the house. Try to save plants that are expensive or that are resistant enough to handle the transition.

If you work with clay soil, you have probably found using a shovel very frustrating and exhausting. One way to get around this problem is to coat the shovel with wax. Use a clean cloth to spread the wax evenly. You will be able to work with the clay more easily, and it will not stick to your shovel.

TIP! Use proper soil for the best results. Depending on what type of plants you have, your soil may or may not be adapted.

You can use the wooden handles of your tools as measurement sticks. Handles of things such as rakes, hoes or shovels make excellent measuring instruments. Simply lay the handles out on the floor and run a measuring tape next to them. Then, with a permanent marker, you want to label distances. When you are at work in the garden, you will always have a handy measuring device on each and every tool.

TIP! Prepare your seeds by soaking them in a dark environment. Put some seeds (a small amount) in a container that isn’t too large for the plant you’ll be growing.

When you go to mow your lawn, make sure you don’t mow it too closely to the ground. Higher grass has deeper roots, meaning a healthier lawn that will be less likely to dry out. The shorter the grass, the shallower the roots, which makes the lawn more likely to develop brown patches.

TIP! Always have a plan for the garden prior to the start of planting it. Use this to remind you where certain things were planted, later when they start sprouting.

Protect your plants from moisture on a daily basis. Parasites are attracted to the moisture on plants. Fungus infections are common in overly moist plants. Fungicidal spray treatments can contain fungi, but spraying prior to problems even developing in the first place is the best way to go about it.

TIP! Start your garden by planting seed in small pots. Planting seeds is the most eco-friendly way to start a new garden.

Protect the soil around your vegetable plants with an inch or two of organic mulch. Mulch will keep soil moist for longer. It will also dramatically decrease weed growth. This could save you lots of weed-pulling time.

TIP! Any time that you are gardening in direct sunlight, dress appropriately to prevent skin damage. Make sure you wear a wide brimmed hat along with sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen.

If you are going for a British feel with your garden, then vary the heights of your plants. Plants that are all at the same height makes a garden bed look flat and uninteresting.

TIP! If you’re really serious about environmentally-friendly gardening practices, refrain from developing some of your land and use it as an animal habitat. You will then find that the wildlife that can help you create a garden that can flourish become present; from birds to insects, they’ll be around your garden and help your produce grow better.

You should teach your children how to garden alongside you. Gardens are a wonderful place for kids to learn, and working side by side with them can strengthen the bond that you have.

Flower Beds

TIP! After your seeds begin to sprout, it is not as important to keep them warm. You should move your sprouted plants farther from the heat when they are past the sprouting stage.

When mulching your flower beds, aim for anywhere between two or three inches of mulch. Using this much mulch retards weed growth, locks in moisture, and ensures that your plants are well-nourished. In addition, your flower beds will have a beautiful, finished appearance year round.

TIP! Pine can make a great mulch. There are many common acidic plants that prefer acidic soil.

Pine can make surprisingly great mulch. Some plants do better in soil with high acidity as they are highly acidic themselves. Pine needles to line the bed of your garden are easy to find for these kinds of plants. Cover your beds with the needles, as they will decompose and disperse their acid throughout the soil.

TIP! Try using coffee grounds on the soil. They contain nitrogenous nutrients which are essential to plant growth.

Spacing is one important factor in gardening. Plants take up quite a bit of space as they grow, and it’s easy to underestimate just how much. Air circulation and room to grow is important for any plant. Think ahead and give each plant room for expansion, by properly spacing the seeds.

Treated Wood

TIP! One way to help maintain healthy soil is to incorporate mulch into your landscape. Mulch acts as a protective covering for the soil.

Create a raised bed for your garden out of stone, bricks or untreated wood. If you choose wood, it needs to be naturally rot resistant and untreated. Good choices are cedar, locust and cypress. In a veggie garden, don’t use treated wood since its chemicals can leech into the food crops and soil. If your existing garden structure contains treated wood, at least take the time to make a plastic lining beneath the soil.

TIP! Adding too much water could be harmful to the plants, because excess water will hinder the roots ability to get the nutrients they need from the soil. Always be sure to check the weather and keep a tight watering schedule.

Drowning your plants with water can kill them! It will stop your plant’s roots from being able to obtain any nutritional goodness out of its surrounding soil Don’t go ahead and water your garden if the weather report predicts rain that day. If a downpour is coming, you may want to forgo watering your plants that day.

TIP! Any gardening can connect you with Mother Nature, but particularly if you employ organic gardening techniques. Organic gardening is an excellent lesson in the plant life cycle and how to get the most from the planting process.

One of the most wonderful things about buying food that is organic is that they don’t contain pesticides. Though this is certainly a great thing for the health of your loved ones, it is important to watch for additional pests and insects that may be present.

TIP! When organic gardening, it is important to know how properly make an ideal bed for your plants. To begin this process, cut under the turf and leave a space open.

Gardening can not only be an excellent hobby for consuming time, but is great for saving money and aiding a healthy diet. Organic gardening is an excellent lesson in the plant life cycle and how to get the most from the planting process.

TIP! You should know how to water your plants. Purchasing a soaker hose would be a worthwhile expenditure.

Every year, rotate your organic garden. Repeatedly planting the same greenery in the same place can cause fungus and disease. The fungus and bacteria will stay in the ground a whole year and attack your plants when the time is right. If you mix things up, by planting in different spots, you will have enlisted a natural method of keeping fungus and diseases at bay.

TIP! You can be a bit more environmentally friendly by doing things like saving rainwater. Use barrels or buckets to catch water for your garden.

Grow garlic. Cloves should be planted whole during the fall or early spring months. Garlic grows best in soil that retains moisture but drains well. Place them about one or two inches deep into the soil pointed upwards and four inches apart. Green garlic shoots, which can be cut while growing, can substitute nicely for scallions or chives. You will know when to harvest the garlic, because the tops will gradually turn brown. Allow the skin to harden by letting your bulbs sit out in the sun. You should store your garlic cloves in a cooler area and tie them in some bunches.

TIP! Draw up a planting calendar to plan your gardening efforts. This calendar should have the dates when each type of plant will go in the garden.

As you now know, the taste and quality of your produce can be greatly enhanced from utilizing the method of organic gardening. It takes a lot of work and tons of patience, but it is all worth it in the end to have a successful organic garden.

Improve Your Organic Gardening Skills By Trying These Ideas

~ craigb

TIP! Plant some perennials in your garden that repel slugs. If slugs or snails find their favorite perennials in your garden, they’ll snack all night.

There are many different reasons for adopting organic horticulture methods. For example, some people prefer to use organic horticulture to cultivate edibles for the dinner table. But, you need to put in a lot of effort to grow your garden effectively. This probably has you wondering where to start your own garden.

TIP! For proper optimum growth, plants require sufficient amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). When exposed to high levels of CO2, most types of plants will grow better.

To prevent your plants from getting shocked by a big change, get them gradually used to climate and temperature changes. On the first day, put them out in sunlight for about an hour or so. Throughout the week, you should leave your plants out for a little longer each day. After a few more days, your plants will be more resistant and ready to stay outside all the time.

TIP! While working in your garden during the fall season, watch out for those stink bugs! Stinkbugs are most prevalent on tomatoes, beans and peppers. If you don’t take care of them, they can decimate your garden, so it’s best to do all you can to get rid of them.

Long plants that run up or around a fence or wall are often useful for masking ugliness. They can be used to cover up unsightly fences or walls. Often, they can grow enough to cover up an eyesore in one season. They also have been known to grow through existing trees or shrubs, or can be easily taught to cover any size arbor. Some must be tied onto a support, but a number of climbers attach to surfaces with twining stems or tendrils. Reliable varieties include clematis, honeysuckle, wisteria, jasmine and climbing roses.

TIP! Fall edibles are a wonderful addition to your garden. Try planting your fall veggies, especially leafy greens, inside of a pumpkin! After cutting an opening and removing the meat and seeds from inside the pumpkin, use Wilt-Pruf, sprayed throughout the inside and cut edges, and prevent rot from occurring.

Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is essential to the growth of plants because of its role in photosynthesis. A major portion of plants grow their best in an environment with a saturated level of CO2. Greenhouses provide the best levels of CO2 for plants. If you have a greenhouse, keep CO2 levels high.

TIP! Start your garden by planting seed in small pots. The most “green” way to create a new garden is starting from seeds.

When gardening in the fall, you need to be watching for stink bugs. They love to inhabit peppers, beans, tomatoes and all kinds of fruit varieties. If you don’t take care of them, they can decimate your garden, so it’s best to do all you can to get rid of them.

Mint Leaves

TIP! Take a look at planting berry-producing evergreens in your yard. These plants will look good year-round, even during the winter, when your other plants have lost their bloom.

Do you want fresh mint leaves without having to worry about them growing too quickly? Instead of planting mint in the ground, confine it to a large pot. The container will keep the roots from spreading throughout you garden, and prevent the mint leaves from sprouting in other areas.

TIP! Learn the ideal times for harvesting your vegetables. Every veggie variety has an ideal time frame for picking, so it’s important to catch them when their flavors peak.

If you’re going to grow peas, start them indoors before putting them in the ground outside. Seeds will always germinate much better when you first plant them indoors initially. Give the seeds enough time to get stronger: growing indoors will make it easier for your plants to resist diseases and the pesky bugs. Take the seedlings outdoors once they look strong enough.

TIP! Pest control can become a major issue. It’s likely you don’t want to spray pesticides around the vegetables you intend to eat.

Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. The soil will stay moist thanks to the mulch. It will also dramatically decrease weed growth. You will benefit by not having to spend so much time fighting weed growth.

TIP! Be careful how you water your garden. You can water efficiently by using a soaker hose which will eliminate the necessity of watering each plant one by one with a nozzle, or having to use a water can that you have to refill over and over.

Take a look at planting berry-producing evergreens in your yard. They will provide a splash of color in the drab and dreary winter months when a lot of other plants have lost their colors. The American Holly, American Cranberrybush, the Winterberry, and the Common Snowberry help provide color during the winter.

TIP! Avoid damage from the sun by dressing correctly when you garden. Wear sunglasses and hats with wide brims, and apply sunscreen.

It can be tough to keep insects and other plant-ruining crawlies from infesting your garden. While chemicals can help with pest control, you should avoid using overly harsh ones, as veggies you grow in your garden are meant for eating. Remain alert in order to control garden pests. Taking the pests off of the plants by hand is one of the best fixes if you are able to catch the infestation in its early stages.

TIP! You can attract the insects you need by planting heather. Heather is very attractive to bees, and when bees first emerge in the spring, it is an early source of nectar.

Aid them by dumping any leftover water from steaming vegetables over them. It is also possible to utilize coffee ground or tea to make the soil more acidic for gardenias, rhododendrons and other plants that prefer acidic soil. Chamomile tea is a good remedy against fungus.

Pectrum Pesticides

TIP! If you want your children to enjoy your organic garden, plant some tasty strawberries. For kids, there are few things as fun as picking fruit fresh from the garden.

When gardening, try not to use broad-spectrum pesticides. These pesticides will kill every type of pest in your garden, including beneficial bugs that eat garden pests. Bugs that provide a benefit to your garden are more easily killed by these broad-spectrum pesticides, you may simply end up with a bigger pest problem. You will need even more pesticides to deal with the problem, and it will never really go away.

TIP! Have your gardening tools near you to minimize the time spent searching for them. You can keep them in a good sized bucket, or wear utility pants that have plenty of large pockets.

Bring your young ones into the garden with you so they will learn about organic methods. A garden can be a great learning experience for your children, and it gives you a chance to bond while producing healthy food.

TIP! When composting lawn clippings, leaves, and other materials, it is best to add the same amount of green, freshly-cut material as you do dried material. Green means plant cuttings including grass, produce and weeds.

Use untreated stone, brick or wood to build raised beds. If using wood, make sure it’s naturally rot resistant and untreated. The best varieties include cedar, locust and cypress wood. Treated wood has chemicals that can be harmful to a vegetable garden. In the event your vegetable garden already has treated wood as part of its enclosure, consider replacing it, or painting it, or wrapping the treated wood in some protective covering. Keep in mind that if any of the untreated wood is below the ground, you should dig it up to make sure that you completely protect your vegetable garden from the chemicals in the treated wood.

TIP! Do you want to kill weeds without using commercial chemicals? You will need many layers of newspapers. Without exposure to the sun, weeds cannot thrive.

You can create a garden for perennials easily. Cut under the dirt with a spade and turn it over. Next, cover the area with three to four inches of organic wood chips. In a couple of weeks, plant your perennials in this new bed.

TIP! If you want to sell your crops as organic, you should look into obtaining a certification proving that you are an organic garden. This should improve sales and attract customers who are environmentally conscious.

As you were reading through this article, were you inspired to put forth the research, time and effort into adopting organic gardening techniques? Furthermore, you will only see your garden blossom with consistent tending. Remembering the above tips, you can successfully grow an organic garden.

Simple Tips For A Beautiful, Thriving Garden

~ craigb

TIP! A great gardening tip to use is to always select types of plants that are more likely to produce a high yield. Frequently, a hybrid that is able to deal with extreme temperatures will bring higher yields than the more traditional variety of a plant.

Horticulture can be very complicated, when you look at it more closely. There are so many things to consider, such as proper pH balance, natural but effective pesticides, adequate sunlight and water supplies and so on. If you are inexperienced with horticulture, making the switch to organic methods may be a challenge for you. By reading the tricks in this article, you will find yourself better prepared to grow your food organically.

TIP! A handy trick is to turn the handle on a tool that you use often into a makeshift ruler. It is possible to utilize tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes and shovels, as measuring sticks.

Gradually acclimate plants to temperature changes and conditions, if you want to avoid shocking them. Put the plants outside in the sun for one to two hours in the beginning. Over a week, increase the time outside slowly. After a week’s time, the plants should be fine staying outside.

TIP! Plants need a sufficient amount of CO2 for proper maximum growth. Typically, the higher the levels of carbon dioxide present in a plant’s environment, the better it will grow.

Digging in hard clay soil is made even more difficult because it sticks to the shovel. One way to get around this problem is to coat the shovel with wax. Use a clean cloth to spread the wax evenly. This will keep the soil from sticking, and prevent rusting of the tool.

TIP! It is important to allow cuts to completely heal before you do any gardening in order to protect the cut from exposure to dirt or chemicals. Cuts that are infiltrated by soil or other substances have the potential to breed serious infections.

Think about planting your seeds in indoor pots and then transplanting them to your garden once they become seedlings. This can give your seedlings the advantage they need to survive and reach adulthood. It also lets you have tighter control over the planting periods in your garden. Using this method, you can remove the mature plants, then put the seedlings in their places.

TIP! Do not be in a rush when you plant your seeds. A key first step is to add moisture to your soil.

Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. The mulch will keep the soil around the plants moist a little longer. An added benefit is that it also inhibits weed growth. This can prevent you from having to constantly pull weeds.

TIP! Be sure your new compost pile contains roughly the same proportion of dried and green plants. Grass clippings, vegetable and fruit leftovers, and grass clippings are all examples of green plant material.

When horticulture, try not to use broad-spectrum pesticides. These pesticides will kill every type of pest in your garden, including beneficial bugs that eat garden pests. In fact, beneficial insects are more likely to die than pests if you spray these types of pesticides. As the population of “good” bugs dwindles, your garden may become overrun with pests. As a result, gardeners often have to resort to using more toxic pesticides to get rid of garden pests.

TIP! While organic gardening costs more and requires more effort, the produce that will come out of your garden will be healthier for you. While chemicals offer an easy solution to many common gardening problems, the organic method is far healthier for you and everyone you share your food with.

Plant with the colors of autumn in mind. That idea is actually far from the truth. Autumn is the most colorful season of all, foliage-wise. There are many variations in leaf color with different varieties of Maple, Beech and Dogwood trees that can give you lively yellows and deep crimsons. Also, when considering shrubs, try using cotoneaster, hydrangea, or barberry.

TIP! Over-watering your plants is not healthy because too much water may inhibit the roots from getting nutrients out of the soil. Always check the weather forecast for chances of rain before going outside to water your plants.

If you want to keep dogs our of your garden, take some aftershave, old perfume, or any other scented item and spray the grass around the area. This will help mask the scents that attract your dog, and will make your garden a less interesting place for your pet to be.

TIP! Make sure you plant your garden in different areas every year. When you continuously plant some plants from the same family in the same area every year, disease and fungus is encouraged in these areas.

Try to put an aspirin in the water to get rid of plant diseases. An aspirin and a half, combined with a couple of gallons of water, will do amazing things for your plants. The solution can then be used to spray the entire plant, and will offer protection naturally. Apply at three week intervals.

TIP! Research the local botanical insecticides which can be useful in deterring the pest population. Natural insecticides are sometimes more effective than the myriad synthetic, chemical-based products available.

When gardening, protecting your knees is important. For most people, bending over while gardening is too difficult. Due to this, most people choose to garden while on their knees, which also makes it easier to tend to plants. You can pick up a knee pad for you to rest on so that your knees are at ease on the ground.

TIP! When you garden, be aware of what you can use. Instead of chemical fertilizers, use natural alternatives.

To keep your houseplants happy during the day, your thermostat should be set anywhere between 65 and 75 degrees. This is the optimum temperature to ensure strong growth. If your home isn’t that warm during in winter, try a heat lamp to use on your organic plants instead.

TIP! Be sure that holes you dig for planting trees and shrubbery are ragged around the edges. A hole with neatly pressed sides may prevent the plant’s roots from penetrating through this packed earth into the surrounding soil.

Easily and quickly prepare your ground for a garden of perennials. You just need to use your garden spade for slicing underneath the turf, then flip it, and finally spread about three or four inch deep piles of wood chips. Allow the newly turned soil to sit for two weeks, then plant your perennials.

TIP! There are a lot of different plants that you could grow in an organic garden. If you choose plants that require acid to grow properly, use mulch.

In order to maximize the efficiency of your horticulture, ensure your gardening tools are kept close by you. You can keep them in a good sized bucket, or wear utility pants that have plenty of large pockets. Have shears, a trowel, gloves and other commonly used garden tools portable and easy to access.

Treated Wood

TIP! Making your own compost is a great way of obtaining fertilizer. An easy way to start creating compost is to start a small worm bin for composting.

A diversity of materials can be used to construct raised beds. These include brick, stone, and wood. If you choose to use wood to construct your bed, choose a species that is naturally resistant to rot and avoid treated wood entirely. Cypress, locust and cedar are all very good choices. Avoid using treated wood in an organic vegetable garden. The chemicals in the wood can leak into the soil, and eventually into the plants. If you have built a bed with treated lumber already, use a barrier such as plastic to line the bed.

TIP! You need water for a healthy garden. Just like people.

Gardening is not only a great hobby, but also a way to feel at peace with the earth. Organic gardening will accomplish that feeling even more so. By engaging yourself in organic horticulture, you can start to gain knowledge and better understand the full process of planting.

TIP! There are many types of bees, most of which are beneficial to your garden, such as the bumble bee who help keep plants pollinated. Some bees are destructive, as is the case with carpenter bees that bore into wood to make their nests.

When planting tomatoes in your organic garden, a great tip is to plant another set of tomatoes after three weeks of planting the original ones. Staggering the planting times ensures that you are able to consistently enjoy ripe tomatoes. If something happens to ruin your harvest, you have time to fix the problem before the next set of tomatoes is due, sparing part of the harvest.

TIP! Some houseplants need humidity. You can create a humid environment by arranging a variety of plants in the same container.

Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.

Have Fun With Horticulture By Using These Tips

~ craigb

TIP! To keep your plants from getting shocked, you need to gradually introduce them to changes in temperature and conditions. Start by placing your plants outside for a few hours only.

For a healthy lush garden, you will need more than a green thumb. It may feel as if your neighbor is performing some kind of magic to make their yard look so good. There is not a secret behind having a wonderful garden. A little education is all you need to get better at gardening. You can get started on your gardening adventure by reading the advice in this informative article.

TIP! Always make sure to mow your lawn to the appropriate length, always making sure that the cut is not too close. By leaving your grass a little taller, you are allowing it to become stronger, as the roots grow stronger and deeper.

Plant perennials that are resistant to slug and snail infestations. Slugs and snails are voracious eaters that can destroy a plant literally overnight. They’re particularly fond of perennials with smooth and thin leaves, especially if the plants are young. Slugs and snails will leave some perennials alone, particularly those with a bad taste or tough, hairy leaves. Consider planting these varieties of perennials to discourage slugs and snails from eating your flowers. Euphorbia and achillea are examples of slug-proof perennials.

TIP! If you have a lot of low-growing plants to take care of in your garden, purchase gardening knee pads. You will end up spending a good deal of time on your knees and this can cause a lot of pain by the end of the day.

Insects and various garden pests can be avoided by making your soil healthy. If you have healthy looking plants, they are stronger and more resistant to diseases and bugs. Begin with a high-quality soil with less chemicals to avoid salt accumulation, and you give your garden an excellent chance of growing healthy plants.

TIP! If you want the best tasting vegetables, learn about the optimum time to harvest them. Different vegetables and fruits have their ideal seasons and months where they flourish, survive, and are harvested at the highest quality.

For flowers throughout the spring and the summer, be sure to plant some bulbs. Bulbs will grow every year and are easier to take care of than seeds. Include a variety of plantings to get a full season of flowers, from early bloomers to late-season varieties.

Knee Pads

TIP! When you are organic gardening, ask your children to lend a hand. Growing a garden offers a unique learning experience, and you and your child can grow closer while growing healthy food for your family.

Knee pads are absolute miracle accessories if you work in a garden with plenty of low-growing plants. Excessive time spent kneeling often results in significant stiffness and pain. Investing in good knee pads will help cushion your knees so you are more comfortable.

TIP! The ambient temperate of a room with live plants should be kept between sixty-five and seventy-five degrees throughout the day. Your plants will not grow well if it is too cold.

It can be tough to keep insects and other plant-ruining crawlies from infesting your garden. One major benefit of growing your own produce is knowing that they haven’t been treated with pesticides and other harsh chemicals. Remain vigilant to control your garden pests. When you catch a potential infestation early, the solution may be as simple as picking the pests off of your plants with your fingers.

TIP! Have your tools for gardening nearby in order to maximize your efficiency with gardening. You can keep them in a good sized bucket, or wear utility pants that have plenty of large pockets.

Add some heather plants to your garden, to attract good insects. Heather is quite alluring to bees; when spring comes along, it provides the bees with a source of nectar early. Spiders, ground beetles and other insects helpful to your garden tend to live in a heather bed, because heather beds are generally undisturbed. If you do have to tend to your heather, wear gloves in case you accidentally annoy one of the residents!

TIP! As the seeds sprout, they’ll need less warmth. After growth begins, you can remove plants from any excessive heat sources.

Get your kids to help you grow your organic garden. A garden can be a great learning experience for your children, and it gives you a chance to bond while producing healthy food.

TIP! When it is harvest time, use a laundry basket. The laundry basket will function as a makeshift strainer for the fruits and vegetables.

If you like the concept of organic gardening, then why not take it one step further by leaving some of your land undeveloped for the area’s wildlife? One side effect of this is that where animals thrive, so do birds and insects that help nurture and pollinate plants, which will increase the quality of your garden.

Indoor Plants

TIP! While any kind of gardening can make you feel as though you’re in tune with nature, organic gardening takes this to the next level. Organic gardening allows you learn the entire plant cycle, from the beginning to the end.

Indoor plants have been bred over time to thrive in temperatures that are characteristic of a home. Most indoor plants like to be in about 70 degree temperatures, plus or minus 5 degrees. They need this type of warm temperature in order to grow. If you are not willing to keep your house that warm during winter, you could always get the organic plants a heat lamp.

TIP! Rotate your garden annually. 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.

If you are growing your organic plants inside of your home or office, it is vital to make sure that the right amount of light reaches them. If the garden will receive little sunlight, find plants that can grow in medium or low-light environments. If your plants still need more light, there are always artificial light sources that you can use.

TIP! Always give your garden the benefit of looking beneath the upper portions of a plant. Make sure that the root system is healthy when you buy tomato seedlings and that the starts are healthy looking as well.

Top all your garden beds with several inches of organic mulch. This practice is an easy way to discourage weeds, retain moisture, and add valuable nutrients to your garden. A layer of mulch also creates a more attractive appearance.

TIP! When you are organically growing tomatoes, try planting only some seeds at once; then go back and plant an additional set of seeds in three weeks. This makes sure that you are not inundated with a huge tomato harvest all at one time.

The space you leave in between your plants is an important measurement when it comes to gardening. Many people underestimate the space needed for plants to grow to their full size. Space is necessary for the plants, but air circulation is also important. Plan accordingly and put an appropriate amount of distance between seeds.

Treated Wood

TIP! Make certain to learn what to look for when purchasing the plants you wish to include in the organic garden you will cultivate. This is true especially when you purchase perennials or annuals.

A diversity of materials can be used to construct raised beds. These include brick, stone, and wood. Choose wood that is naturally resistant to rot and is untreated. Excellent choices are cedar, locust and cypress. Treated wood can leach chemicals into any soil it rests against, so don’t use it in a garden with vegetables. If you have to use treated wood, you should line it with a bit of plastic to create a barrier.

TIP! You should plant trees in a manner that allows them to serve as shade for your home. Trees that throw shade on your home during the hot summer months can be an important ally in reducing energy costs.

Soil health can be improved by adding mulch. Mulch acts as a protective shield for the soil it covers. It protects roots because it helps the soil stay cooler when it’s hot outside. Mulch acts like a barrier that ultimately decreases the rate of evaporation. This can also help control any weeds.

TIP! A great way to obtain fertilizer for your garden is by making your own compost. An easy way to start creating compost is to start a small worm bin for composting.

Research botanical insecticide formulas, as they are often quite effective in eradicating pests. In some cases natural insecticides are actually more effective than the synthetic pesticides that are engineered in a lab. One downside of botanical insecticides is that they decay quickly.

TIP! If you plant things in your organic garden during the winter, construct a garden tent using materials you can find around the house. Bean poles are an easy and obvious way to create a frame.

A perennial garden can be set up in a few easy steps. Use a spade to cut beneath the turf, and cover the entire area with wood chips after flipping it over. Wait a few weeks before planting perennials in the new bed.

TIP! Among the most effective of all gardening techniques is mulching. Mulching your garden keeps soil moist longer by keeping water from evaporating so quickly.

As you can tell, most of these ideas don’t require a major expenditure of effort or funds. You just have to glean the knowledge and implement what you’ve learned. Pay close attention to your plants and how they react to your methods. If one method of care is not working well with your plants, abandon it and try a different one. A garden that is the pride of the neighborhood will be well worth the time it takes.

Tired Of Chemicals? Grow An Organic Garden With These Tips

~ craigb

TIP! Use your tool handles as rulers in the garden. Tools with long handles, such as a shovel or rake, are absolutely perfect for this job, and make your workload a little bit smaller.

Taking the time to use good gardening practices really shows in the end. It shows that you care about taking care of your plants and that you want them to grow up healthy. This is an admirable thing. However, you can always find new things to learn about, and improve your skills. Read this article to become a better gardener.

TIP! Plant perennials that are slug-proof. These creatures can wreak havoc on a garden in a short time.

It may be helpful to let your plants begin their life in a pot and to transfer them to your garden when they’re seedlings. By allowing them to sprout first, you are increasing the odds of a seedling reaching maturity. This also helps tighten time between plantings. The seedlings are ready to go, once you remove the mature plants.

TIP! Having healthy soil in your garden will help your plants avoid insect pests. Healthy soil encourages vigorous plant growth and makes your garden more resistant to common diseases and insects.

Get a slug-proof variety of perennials. Slugs and snails are voracious eaters that can destroy a plant literally overnight. They’re particularly fond of perennials with smooth and thin leaves, especially if the plants are young. Some perennials are not preferred meals for snails and slugs, especially if their foliage is hairy and tough, or tastes bad. Some of the best varieties of these include achillea, campanula, euphorbia, and heuchera.

Knee Pads

TIP! Let your new seeds soak in a dark spot overnight. Drop your seeds into a small jar that is filled with cold water.

If many of the plants in your garden grow close to the ground, some horticulture knee pads will prevent pain and knee injuries. You will end up spending a good deal of time on your knees and this can cause a lot of pain by the end of the day. Having a pair of excellent knee pads for gardening can help cushion the knees to provide additional comfort.

TIP! In order to rid your garden of pests, take advantage of plant materials and other organic matter. A border of marigolds or onions around your veggies can prevent slugs.

You could try to boil weeds if you are trying to remain organic. One of the safest “herbicides” you can find is a pot of boiling water. Just pour boiling water directly on top of the weeds cautiously to avoid damaging your plants. Boiling water is not good for the weed roots and will stunt further growth.

TIP! Apply organic mulch generously around your vegetable plants. Mulch helps the soil surrounding the plants remain moister for a longer time.

Think about using evergreens in your yard that produce berries during the year. These types of trees can offer your garden a splash of color, especially during the winter when all other plants and trees have lost their hues. Some examples include Holly, Snowberry trees, Winterberry and similar plants.

TIP! Keeping pests out of a vegetable garden can be difficult. The vegetables are intended to be eaten, thus you should refrain from using harsh pesticides and chemicals.

To keep your dog out of your garden, spray old perfume, aftershave, or other scented items in the grass around it. This will help mask the scents that attract your dog, and will make your garden a less interesting place for your pet to be.

TIP! Plant items with fall color. That doesn’t have to be it though.

Any time that you are gardening in direct sunlight, dress appropriately to prevent skin damage. Wear sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and sunblock. Wearing sun protection is important to help ward off the unnecessary pain of sunburn, and it will help lessen your skin cancer risk, too.

TIP! Be careful how you water your garden. Soaker hoses save time by watering all of your plants at once, rather than individually with a standard hose or watering can.

Heather is a magnet for friendly insects. Heather attracts bees, and when they come out in the spring, this provides an early nectar source. It is common to find all types of insects inside of an undisturbed heather bed. Protect yourself from being surprised by these bugs by donning gardening gloves before disturbing your heather beds.

TIP! Always dress appropriately when gardening in order to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun. Make sure you wear a wide brimmed hat along with sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen.

Your children will enjoy the experience of working with you in the organic garden. Growing a garden offers a unique learning experience, and you and your child can grow closer while growing healthy food for your family.

TIP! Grow heather so that you can attract useful insects. Heather is great for getting bees to stop by at the beginning of spring, as heather plants have nectar available early in the season.

Plants growing in your home need a constant temperature of no less than 65 degrees. Indoor plants grow best at these warm temperatures. You can also buy a heat lamp to maintain ideal conditions for your inside plants during the winter.

TIP! If you have a cut on your hand, take the time to make sure it is either healed or completely covered before you put your hands in the soil. A cut will likely become infected if it is exposed to dirt when gardening.

When you are working in your garden, you will want to have all of your tools in a convenient location. Don’t spend 30 minutes searching for a tool. Have all of your tools gathered and prepared for use before you work in the garden, and make sure to put them away neatly. Even something like a carpenter’s tool belt or some cargo jeans work well to keep tools organized.

Pine Needles

TIP! A good way to plant seeds is in containers. Plant them three times as deep as their overall size.

Do not overlook the benefits of pine mulch for your garden. Many types of plants thrive in soil that has high acid levels. If you have some of these plants, then pine needles are an easy way to add acid to their bed. Cover the plots with pine needles. As the pine needles decay, they’ll raise the soil’s acidity.

TIP! Every year, you should plant different things and in different places. If you keep planting the same thing in a particular area every year, it can cause a buildup of disease in the soil.

A good general rule when planting your seeds into containers is that the depth of the planting should be about three times the size of the seed. However, it is important to understand that some seeds require sunlight and should never be covered. Among the seeds meeting this definition are ageratum and petunias. If you don’t know whether your seeds require sun exposure, check the seed package or search online for the information.

Treated Wood

TIP! When deciding which plants you want to focus your organic gardening efforts on, you should be as specific as possible. You will need to cultivate specific environments for various vegetables and plants.

Use untreated stone, brick or wood to build raised beds. If you choose wood, ensure that it has not been treated with a sealant or other chemicals. Some good woods are locust, cedar and cypress. 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 your existing garden structure contains treated wood, at least take the time to make a plastic lining beneath the soil.

TIP! Plant your landscaping trees in places that will provide shade for your home. You can get more savings on energy bills because the shade you get from the trees will cool your home naturally.

You have the tools, the products, and the skill set to apply those tips to your organic garden. This is a positive thing. Learning is a constant process, so use the insights gained here to enhance your skills in organic gardening. Hopefully, you’ve learned things that will help make your organic garden beautiful.

How To Make Gardening Fun And Easy

~ craigb

TIP! When laying sod, it is important that you do it correctly. Get your soil ready before you lay the sod.

There are many different reasons for adopting organic horticulture methods. For example, some people prefer to use organic horticulture to cultivate edibles for the dinner table. You will have to put in some time and energy to be successful in this venture, however. You might be wondering where you need to start to have your very own organic garden.

TIP! To prevent your plants from getting shocked by a big change, get them gradually used to climate and temperature changes. Place them outside in the sunlight for an hour or two on the first day.

Use the correct type of soil for best results. The type of plants you’re planning to grow will determine the type of soil you need, and whether the soil will or will not be adapted. You may also cultivate an artificial area comprised of just one type of soil.

TIP! When winter arrives, transfer some plants into the house to save them. Maybe you could pick out the most expensive plants or the most hardy ones.

Make sure you remove the weeds from your garden! If you’re not careful, weeds can take over your beautiful garden, ruining it. White vinegar is one option you can use in your routine weed removal. Yes, white vinegar actually kills weeds! Mix white vinegar and water into a spray bottle instead of pulling the weeds by hand.

TIP! Consider growing wheat grass or cat grass near the plants your cat enjoys eating. Try putting mothballs or citrus on your soil to wards pets away.

Try to grow some wheat or cat grass around your cat’s favorite plants. Another option is to protect your plants by lacing them with offensive entities, such as peels from citrus fruit or even moth balls from your closet.

TIP! To save your knees from the wear and tear of gardening, invest in some knee pads if your garden includes a lot of low-growth plants. The amount of time that you spend gardening on your knees can make your knees hurt by the time you are done.

For an unusual, but effective, organic solution to weeding young plants, try “boiling” the weeds away. The safest herbicide that you can use in your garden is a simple pot of boiling water. Just pour out the water on the weeds being careful to avoid any nearby plants. Weeds will usually stop growing if boiling water damages their roots.

TIP! If you want to effectively weed out young plants, you can try “boiling” away the weeds. This is a safe way to eliminate weeds, as this will not damage the soil.

Make sure that you divide your irises! The more you divide clusters of irises, the more your irises will multiply. You can do this by simply picking up bulbous irises once the foliage has withered. You will be able to split the bulb easily and replant it to get more flowers next year. Use a knife to divide the rhizomes. Throw out the center and cut pieces on the outside that are new. If done properly, each piece that remains for planting should have a minimum of one viable offshoot. Replant immediately.

TIP! If you would love to have access to fresh and healthy mint leaves from your own back yard, but dread the way the plant spreads so quickly, worry not. That’s why it’s better to place mint in containers rather than letting it have free rein in your garden.

If you want to grow peas, consider starting them indoors instead of planting them outside. Pea seeds tend to germinate much better when planted indoors, before being moved to an outside garden. This method also results in hardier seedlings that can better resist insects and disease. Once the seedlings are sturdy enough, they can be transplanted to their rightful place in the garden.

TIP! Think about starting your peas indoors rather than planting them directly in the garden. When you plant the seeds indoors, your seeds will start to germinate better.

To help them out, try poring leftover water from steamed vegetables on them. Some plants, such as gardenias, azaleas and rhododendrons need acidic soil for proper growth. Increase the acidity of your soil by adding coffee grounds and unused tea bags. If you find that you have a fungus problem, try sprinkling some chamomile tea on your plants.

TIP! If you are a first time gardener, it is important that you follow all of the instructions on all of your tools and chemicals. Irritation of the skin or even more serious injuries are possible if you ignore manufacturer’s directions.

Prepare the ground for a perennial garden quickly and easily. It isn’t as hard as it may seem; you basically just slice down under the turf, flip it over, and spread wood chips four to three inches. You want to then give the area about a couple of weeks, then you want your new perennials planted by digging into it.

TIP! Pest control can be very difficult when dealing with a vegetable garden. You can’t use chemicals as they’re the last thing you want to be eating when you enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Sprouting seeds need less warmth than before. Move your plants further away from your heat source as they grow. This also includes removing any plastic that you had covering the plant or container. To know when it is time for this, keep a careful eye on your seeds.

Cover your muddy shoes with plastic bags. This lets you be able to return to the garden without interrupting your work.

Laundry Basket

TIP! In order to maximize the efficiency of your gardening, ensure your gardening tools are kept close by you. Carry your tools in a bucket, or keep them in the pockets of a pair of rugged pants.

When the time comes to harvest your produce, collect it using an old laundry basket. This type of basket can double as a large colander for the fruits and vegetables you pick. The produce can be rinsed off as it sits in the laundry basket, and extra water will drain out through the sides.

TIP! Plastic bags can be kept on hand and reused to slip over your dirty gardening shoes. This way, you won’t break momentum by fussing with your shoes, and you’ll be quickly back in the garden to finish your work.

Your compost pile should contain green plants and dried ones in equal amounts. Green plant material can include old flowers, fruit waste, grass clippings, vegetable waste, and leaves. Dried plant material includes straw, sawdust, shredded paper, cardboard, and dried and cut-up woody material. Avoid meat, ashes, charcoal, plants with diseases and manure from carnivores.

TIP! Do not overlook the benefits of pine mulch for your garden. Some plants do better in soil with high acidity as they are highly acidic themselves.

If you’d like to create a raised bed, use materials like brick, stone, or untreated wood. If you choose to use wood to construct your bed, choose a species that is naturally resistant to rot and avoid treated wood entirely. Good choices are cedar, locust and cypress. It is particular important that you don’t use treated wood for vegetable beds, as the chemicals and toxins on the wood could leach into the soil and be absorbed by food plants. If you have already used lumber that is treated, you can line it with plastic or another type of barrier.

TIP! An old laundry basket works great for gathering produce from your garden. Laundry baskets which have holes in them act as giant strainers for your home grown produce.

The watering needs of your garden will vary considerably, depending on your climate zone and the time of year. How much you water depends on the time of day, the quality of your water and the type of soil you have. As an example, do not water your plant’s leaves if you live in a humid climate since this will most likely result in leaf fungus. Instead, water the root system well.

TIP! A shady area makes a beautiful organic garden. These types of gardens are incredibly low maintenance, which many people will be relieved to hear.

As you are aware now, there is homework to be done and energy to be expended in setting up a real organic garden. So you can see these results, you must keep working with them. Now, after reading the tips from this article, you have the knowledge necessary in order to be a successful organic gardener.

Tips To Help You Learn About Organic Gardening

~ craigb

TIP! Slug-proof your garden with smart perennial choices. Slugs and snails are voracious eaters that can destroy a plant literally overnight.

Gather some ideas for planning your garden, whether it will be for home or commercial use. With a little research, you can learn exactly what you need, which will keep you from spending money on seeds you can’t use, or unnecessary equipment.

TIP! Plants need to take in CO2 to grow and thrive. Most plants will grow better with more CO2.

The first thing you can do to ward off garden pests is to ensure you are using healthy soil in your garden. Healthier plants are greater in strength and resistance to illness and insects. For the most vigorous and healthy plants, start with high-quality soil, and stay away from chemicals. These can accumulate salts over time.

TIP! Be sure to get rid of the weeds growing in your garden. Weeds can turn a thriving garden into a total wasteland.

You may be able to re-pot some plants to bring indoors for the winter. You can save the ones you spent the most money on or the ones that are resistant. Carefully dig around the rootball and replant in an appropriate pot.

TIP! Fertilizer is important when you garden. Choose commercial compost instead of homegrown manure to keep toxins out of your plants.

Invest in a quality wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool if gardening work is going to happen often. Gardening can take a toll on the knees, but a small ergonomic stool will be a comfortable solution. As well, gardening can involve some heavy lifting and moving, so a strong wheelbarrow can really make that aspect much more effortless.

TIP! You should think about adding evergreen plants that yield berries into your yard space. This will keep your garden colorful, even during those months when other plants are not growing.

If you cut your hand, you can use a glove to protect it from germs and chemicals until it heals. Open wounds can easily get infected while horticulture because you’re exposing yourself to dirt, bacteria and germs. You can get bandages that can completely seal your cut.

TIP! Sensibly water your garden. Utilize a soaker hose.

Have your tools for horticulture nearby in order to maximize your efficiency with horticulture. You can do this by using a bucket, or you can wear rugged pants or a gardening apron that has several pockets. You should always have your gloves, pruning shears and a trowel close to you.

TIP! Protect yourself from sun overexposure while gardening by wearing the proper clothing. Clothing should keep your skin covered, and don’t forget to wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Organic material piled three inches deep is an effective mulch in your flower gardens. Mulching helps to hold moisture in the soil, enhance the soil quality, and slow down the growth of weeds. This will also give a nice, professional appearance to your garden all year.

TIP! Bring your young ones into the garden with you so they will learn about organic methods. A garden can provide a wonderful learning experience for children, and will give you an opportunity to bond with them while you produce healthy food.

Believe it or not, pine makes great mulch. Some plants like acidic soil because they have high acidity. For such plants, pine needles function both as a handy mulch and as a soil amendment to lower the pH. Go ahead and cover the beds you have with needles a couple of inches and while they decompose, they actually disperse some acid into the soil.

TIP! Before planting your favorite perennials, you must first prepare the ground. With a garden spade, slice under the dirt then flip it over.

A good thing to know when it comes to your organic garden, and running it, is to, a couple times a day, lightly ruffle the seedlings with cardboard or your hand. This may sound strange, but research has proven that doing this will help your plants grow bigger than if they were not petted at all.

Treated Wood

TIP! It is more rewarding to have an organic garden even though it is often more work. Chemicals are extremely efficient, but the organic method is the best way to get healthy produce.

You can make a raised bed with untreated wood, brick, or stone. Be sure that any wood you use isn’t chemically treated, and will be able to resist rot naturally. Some good choices include locust, cypress, and cedar. 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 must use treated wood, consider using a liner to keep chemicals out of the soil.

TIP! Your soil will be healthier if you add mulch. The mulch will protect the soil underneath it.

While it’s harder to grow organically than chemically, the rewards are much better. Even though the claims of the chemicals may be astounding, the organic way is always going to provide the best reward to you and whoever is eating your crops.

TIP! Each year, you should rotate the plants in your garden. Fungus and disease are more likely to affect plants if they stay in the same location for long periods of time, especially if they belong to the same family.

Once a year, you must rotate your garden. When you continuously plant some plants from the same family in the same area every year, disease and fungus is encouraged in these areas. These kind of enemies to plants can stay underground ready for the next year to cause harm to your plants. So, you want to make sure you mix it up and keep your garden on the move so that you avoid a problem like this.

TIP! Research botanical insecticides that can be purchased locally to aid in ridding your garden of pests. Sometimes natural insecticides are more efficient than the synthetic pesticides you can buy.

Plant some organic garlic. Plant single garlic cloves during the spring or fall seasons in soil that is moist and well-drained. Place them about one or two inches deep into the soil pointed upwards and four inches apart. Green garlic can be cur directly from the plant and used in a pinch instead of scallions or chives. The garlic will be matured when the green tops start drying out and turning brown. To harden the bulbs’ skin, dry them for several days in the sun. Store the garlic in an area that’s cool, either tied up in bunches or loose.

TIP! An organic shade garden is a good choice for any beginner. These types of gardens are incredibly low maintenance, which many people will be relieved to hear.

Research the local botanical insecticides which can be useful in deterring the pest population. Natural insecticides are sometimes more effective than the myriad synthetic, chemical-based products available. The distinguishing factor of botanical varieties is that they will decay much more quickly and will be eliminated from your environment faster.

TIP! When deciding which plants you want to focus your organic gardening efforts on, you should be as specific as possible. While two varieties of a plant may fall within the same family, there could be variations in the basic requirements for each one.

Water your organic garden using a soaker hose. This type of hose allows the gardener to get a small, but steady amount of water near the roots without getting the leaves wet constantly. These are more efficient than sprinklers, which use more water, and can save you the trouble of hand watering.

It only requires some research, lots of outside work, and a large amount of patience. Once you see the garden you’ve created, you’ll know all your efforts were worthwhile.

Finally You Can Make Your Garden Grow Better Than Ever

~ craigb

TIP! A handy trick is to turn the handle on a tool that you use often into a makeshift ruler. Tools with long handles, such as a shovel or rake, are absolutely perfect for this job, and make your workload a little bit smaller.

Some people believe that growing a garden is difficult, but with the proper information, you can have a great garden of your own. All it takes is a little knowledge for you to have a green thumb of your own. The ability to develop into a master gardener is within your reach; just read on to get the advice that will help you get there.

TIP! If you would like to have flowers in your garden that last through the spring and summer seasons, plant bulbs. Bulbs are one of the easiest plants to grow and are hardy perennials that return each year.

The quick and drastic change in the weather conditions can shock your plants and cause them to die. It’s important that you gradually change temperate conditions over time, so that your plants can adjust. Try to place them in the new area for a couple of hours at a time the first day. Throughout the week, gradually increase the time they are spent outside. If you do this correctly, the plants should be able to make their final move at the end of a week’s time.

TIP! Try and maintain daily aerated and dried plants. Moisture not only attracts parasites, but also makes it easier for your plants to contract diseases.

Digging in hard clay soil is made even more difficult because it sticks to the shovel. Coat and buff the digging end of the shovel with automobile wax to make digging easier. The wax will prevent any rusting, and the shovel will cut through the soil with great ease.

TIP! If you plan on growing peas, you should consider starting them indoors instead of beginning them outside. Pea seeds tend to germinate much better when planted indoors, before being moved to an outside garden.

Plants need to take in CO2 to grow and thrive. A major portion of plants grow their best in an environment with a saturated level of CO2. Getting a greenhouse is the best way to get a higher amount. Here the CO2 can be increased, as it cannot be outdoors, and can give your plants the best conditions for rapid growth.

TIP! Consider planting evergreens that produce berries in your yard. These year-round berries will give the rest of your yard a much-needed pop of color, especially in the winter.

Make sure you remove the weeds from your garden! Weeds can destroy a once promising garden and take away all its potential. You might want to think about using white vinegar to do this. White vinegar can kill weeds! By placing a white vinegar solution in a spray bottle, you can spray the weeds away instead of having to pull them out manually.

TIP! There is always a best time to pick your garden’s vegetables, and you should know them. Every vegetable has a proper time to be picked in order to capture the perfect flavor.

Always make sure to mow your lawn to the appropriate length, always making sure that the cut is not too close. If you leave your grass kind of high, your roots will be deeper and your lawn will be stronger and not dry out. Leaving the grass short makes it more prone to drying out, which leaves your lawn look really brown and yucky.

TIP! If you have recently sustained a cut, you should allow it to heal entirely before toiling in your garden. If you simply cannot wait to get back to gardening, you should at least cover the cut to protect it.

Take extra care of any fragile shrubs that are known to drop their leaves in the autumn. Shrubs in pots especially need special care in the colder weather. Try to tie the tops all together and cover them with a sheet, large piece of cloth, or blanket. Using fabric, rather than plastic, allows air circulation and prevents rotting from moisture build up.

TIP! You should always take spacing into account when placing plants in your organic garden. Many people underestimate the space needed for plants to grow to their full size.

For weeds that aren’t in the middle of your plants, use boiling water to kill their roots. Water is cheaper than chemical herbicides, and less hazardous to humans and soil. Just pour out the water on the weeds being careful to avoid any nearby plants. The roots of the weeds are damaged by the boiling water which, in turn, inhibits further growth.

TIP! Your compost pile should contain green plants and dried ones in equal amounts. Green plant material can include items such as leftover produce waste, grass clippings and leaves.

One way to help your organic garden thrive is to leave an undeveloped area that is conducive to the wildlife around your area. Certain wildlife can be good for an organic garden; birds and insects can help your plants reproduce and be as healthy as they can be!

TIP! Water your plants appropriately for the climate. The level of necessary watering turns on the type of water you use, the kind of soil in your garden and the amount of direct sunlight you have.

If you have plants inside, make sure the thermostat stays between 65 and 75 degrees. Warm temperatures encourage plant growth. If your thermostat is normally kept lower in winter, you can use a heat lamp to keep your plants warm enough.

TIP! Adding too much water could be harmful to the plants, because excess water will hinder the roots ability to get the nutrients they need from the soil. Check the weather for the next couple of days to see if you actually need to water your plants.

Preparing the soil for your perennial garden is easy. It isn’t as hard as it may seem; you basically just slice down under the turf, flip it over, and spread wood chips four to three inches. Let the area have about two weeks, then dig it and plan the new perennials.

TIP! Check the roots of your plants. When you are purchasing tomato seedlings for your organic garden, you should watch out for lush green starts with bad root systems.

Sprouting seeds need less warmth than before. After growth begins, you can remove plants from any excessive heat sources. Uncover your containers; the plastic wrap traps humidity, so you need to remove it to stop your plants from overheating. Watch your seeds closely to find the right time to do this.

Pine Needles

TIP! You need to mulch your garden with about three inches of material that is organic. Your garden will look more professional, have fewer weeds, and benefit from the moisture control and additional nutrients.

Pine is a surprisingly good source of mulch. Some plants do better in soil with high acidity as they are highly acidic themselves. When you have any plants like this, it’s very simple to just collect pine needles to use in your bed. If you spread a few inches of pine needles around your garden beds, when they break down, the acid they contain will leach into the soil.

TIP! When preparing to plant a shrub or tree in your garden, consider digging a hole that looks ugly for planting them. If your hole has several “glazed” sides created by the shovel, it could keep roots from penetrating the soil nearby.

Use alcohol to help control the slugs in your garden by fashioning a beer trap. Dig a hole the size of a glass jar, and bury the jar with the top at ground level. Pour enough beer into the jar to fill it below an inch from the top. The slugs will be drawn to the beer and then drown in the jar.

TIP! Grow crops that are expensive to buy. Buy what crops you personally like in large quantity.

You should use wood that is untreated, brick or stone when building the raised bed. Any wood you use needs to be untreated and resistant to rot. Some good woods are locust, cedar and cypress. In a veggie garden, don’t use treated wood since its chemicals can leech into the food crops and soil. If you have placed treated wood in your garden, line it with a coat of plastic.

TIP! Before you start growing a garden, you should build a fence around it. This will keep animals and people out.

As was mentioned previously, all you really need is a bit of understanding the basics to see that gardening is not as hard as it seems. With the necessary knowledge, such as the advice presented by this article, you’ll be able to garden with perfection.