Gardening is a complex hobby, but it doesn’t have to be confusing or difficult. For instance, you have to know certain things like pH balance in soil or things that can fend off bugs naturally when you get into horticulture. Organic horticulture can be a bit tricky for those who are trying it for the first time. Keep reading to find out how the professionals do it.
Do not improperly lay your new sod. Before you lay the sod, the soil has to be prepared. Eradicate any weeds and work the soil until it is very fine. The next step is compacting your soil and carefully leveling it. Dampen the soil completely. Lay the sod in rows, and make sure the joints do not overlap. Firm the sod down to form a flat, even surface, and fill in any gaps between the sod with a little soil. Water the sod everyday for the first two weeks until the roots grow enough.
Analyze the soil before you even get started with working in a garden. Soil analysis costs a little money, but the report can inform you how to enrich your soil and open the door to a lush garden. Several Cooperative Extension locations offer this service, and it’s advantageous for you to know what type of soil you have, in order to avoid growing faulty crops.
You can alleviate this problem by planting grasses that your cat will naturally gravitate towards. You can also put something on top of the soil around the plants that has an offensive smell to cats, such as mothballs or citrus peel.
Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Excess moisture creates an appealing environment for disease and parasites. An example of a common plant parasite is fungi. There are many effective fungicide products that will prevent fungi growth and clear up any existing problems as well.
You can prevent pests from invading your garden with certain plants and natural materials. Forming a border around your vegetable garden with marigolds or onions are ideal for repelling slugs. Wood ash can be used as mulch, and if put on the base of shrub and tree seedlings, will keep insects away. These methods prevent use of harsh chemicals.
Your garden can really benefit from evergreens featuring berries. These year-round berries will give the rest of your yard a much-needed pop of color, especially in the winter. Some evergreens that will add life to your yard in the wintertime are the American Cranberrybush, Common Snowberry, Winterberry, and American holly.
A wheelbarrow and kneeling bench or stool are smart investments for your garden. Spending time on the ground is rough on the knees, a portable and light stool can help make gardening easier. As well, gardening can involve some heavy lifting and moving, so a strong wheelbarrow can really make that aspect much more effortless.
When tending a vegetable garden, you might find that pest control is a bit difficult. It’s likely you don’t want to spray pesticides around the vegetables you intend to eat. Instead of resorting to these harmful chemicals, you can keep garden pests at bay simply by paying close attention. If you catch pests early, you can remove them by hand effectively.
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.
Originally posted 2014-04-17 05:35:27.
