Most likely, you have seen organic foods in your local grocery store or read about them in a newspaper. Organic items are easy to spot on the shelves. These have different packages and cost a bit more. Look at the following advice to learn how to start an organic garden.
Transform the handles of your tools into convenient measuring devices. Tools that have long handles such as rakes, hoes and shovels can be used in place of a measuring stick. Place the handles on the floor to measure the distance between them. Paying close attention to the measurements, use a black marker to establish each interval along the handle’s side in a clearly visible manner. When you are horticulture next, you’ll have a ruler beside you at all times.
When winter arrives, transfer some plants into the house to save them. Think about saving your resistant plants or the expensive ones. Use caution when digging around the roots of your plant. You need to keep the root structure intact for it to thrive after being potted.
A garden needs the right type of soil to grow properly. For a small fee, a soil analysis can be obtained – based on that report – the soil can be properly enriched to support a vibrant garden. Save yourself the trouble of a failed crop by contacting your local Cooperative Extension to preform the soil test.
Bulbs will give you wonderful flowers that you can enjoy in early spring and right through the summer. Since bulbs are easy to grow and resistant to poor weather conditions, they will grow without fail year after year. If you choose your plants carefully, you could have flowers in blossom from the first weeks of spring to the end of the summer.
Mint is a very tasty herb that has a tendency to run wild in the garden if not kept in check. Rein in their growth by planting the mint in a large pot or garden container instead. If you prefer, you can even place the container in the ground, but the pot’s walls will prevent the mint from spreading and being a nuisance in your garden.
An excellent garden shouldn’t begin from plants. They should begin from seeds. This is a more sustainable way to start a garden. Seeds eliminate the waste of plastic containers from nurseries which rarely get recycled. There are some nurseries, however, that send their plants out in organic potting materials.
Natural Materials
Using natural materials in the garden will keep pests away. Slugs who want to enter a vegetable garden, for example, can be repelled by a simple border of marigolds and onions. Wood ash, when used like mulch, can keep away pests after it is spread around a tree base and shrub seedlings. Natural materials and plants can be just as effective as chemical pesticides at keeping unwanted visitors out of your garden!
If your gardening plans include pea plantings, try starting them off indoors rather than planting the raw seeds in outdoor beds. Seeds are more likely to sprout when started indoors. The seedling may also be hardier, which means that they can better resist disease and attacks from pests. Once the seedlings are sturdy enough, they can be transplanted to their rightful place in the garden.
Your garden can really benefit from evergreens featuring berries. They will provide a splash of color in the drab and dreary winter months when a lot of other plants have lost their colors. Some examples of evergreens that produce berries and color in the wintertime are the American Holly, Cranberrybush, the Winterberry and the Common Snowberry.
When growing a vegetable garden it can be hard to control pests. It is wise to limit the use of harsh chemicals, because the vegetables will be eaten. Persistence and care is a much better solution for pest control, but many avoid it because it actually requires some work on their behalf. If you discover the pests when they first infest your plants, the best way to remove them is to pick them off manually.
Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you’re eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you’ve learned here and get started on your garden today.
