Organic gardening is an interesting hobby and helps you get in touch with nature. It is a good way to grow healthy fresh foods in an environmentally friendly, chemical-free way. Does this seem to be easier said than done? See these tips to learn how to get started with this healthy, rewarding hobby.
Take the proper approach to laying sod. You want to prepare the soil before you lay down the sod. Remove any weeds, and break the soil up into a fine tilth. Using a light but firm touch, compact the soil until it is flat. Thoroughly moisten the soil. Sod should be staggered in rows, the joints offsetting from each other. Pat down the sod and fill any gaps with soil. Sod must be watered every day for about two weeks, and then it will have rooted and be completely ready to be walked on.
Clay Soil
Digging in clay soil with a shovel can be very difficult. The clay isn’t easy to work with and will adhere to the shovel, which only makes the problem worse. Use a thin coat of floor or car wax on your shovel, then buff it with a nice clean cloth to make dealing with clay soil easier. You will be able to work with the clay more easily, and it will not stick to your shovel.
Use annuals and biennials to enliven your flower beds. Annuals and biennials that grow quickly can really wake up your flower beds, and they allow you to have a new garden look every season or every year, if you choose to. They are very useful for filling in the gaps between perennials and shrubs in a sunny area. The most popular varieties to use include petunia, zinnia, cosmos, snapdragon, marigold, hollyhock, and sunflower.
Baking Soda
If you see mildew that is powdery, stay away from expensive chemicals to treat it. Combine baking soda with a small dollop of liquid soap and add it to water. Once every week, you should spray the mixture on your plants; the mildew will disappear shortly thereafter. Baking soda is a good way to get rid of mildew on your plants gently.
Cover fences and walls with climbing plants. Climbing foliage is a great way to disguise unsightly features on your property, sometimes in the span of just 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 varieties will climb and attach using their tendrils or branches, but some will need to be trained or supported with ties. Honeysuckle and jasmine are very beautiful varieties of such climbers.
Plants need to take in CO2 to grow and thrive. Often, plants achieve better growth when they are surrounded by high levels of CO2. The best way to expose your plants to a high level of carbon dioxide is by growing them in a greenhouse. Make sure to keep CO2 levels high to provide the best growing environment for your plants.
To succeed at a nature based hobby like organic horticulture, you need a little hard work and a whole lot of patience. This skill utilizes a simple patch of ground to produce healthy, delicious, natural foods. If you are willing to put in the effort and if you follow the tips, you can become a great organic gardener.
Originally posted 2013-11-29 11:33:43.
