Horticulture is generally a relaxing and therapeutic hobby. It is well worthwhile to research the best soil and tools to use and learn when and how to plant your seedlings or seeds for your horticulture project. In this article, you can learn some key things when it comes to horticulture.
When mowing the lawn, don’t mow the grass all the way down to the root. When the grass is a little longer, the roots will be stronger and the lawn becomes more resistant. Short grass is more prone to getting dried out and turning brown.
Knee Pads
It is a good idea to invest in a good pair of knee pads, made specifically for horticulture. They can be very helpful when working close to the ground on low-growth plants. When you spend a lot of time kneeling while gardening, your knees can be very achy by the end of the day A pair of good gardening knee pads can cushion your knees for more comfort.
Try dividing the irises. Increase your iris stocks by dividing your overgrown clumps. Once the foliage has died off, lift out your bulbous irises. These bulbs will divide into several parts naturally when you pick them up. You can then replant them, and watch them flower the following year. Split rhizomes with a knife. Cut the center out of each rhizome but save the pieces. Divide your pieces carefully; they should each have one good quality offshoot apiece. Replant the new shoots right away.
If you decide to grow peas, think about planting them indoors when you first start them off, as opposed to planting them outdoors. Seeds are more likely to sprout when started indoors. They will also be stronger, and better equipped to resist disease and insects. Once your seedlings are sturdy, you can then move them outside.
Know when to harvest your vegetables at precisely the right time. Different veggies have different windows of time in which they should be picked; it is during this period that the vegetable is most flavorful. For example, zucchini and baby peas are best picked young. Contrarily, tomatoes should be left on the vine until maximum ripeness has occurred. So, be aware of the best harvest time to pick your veggies.
Beneficial Insects
When horticulture, avoid the use of strong broad-spectrum pesticides. Besides killing the insects you don’t want, this type of pesticide will also kill beneficial insects. 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. This can lead to needing even more pesticides to eliminate the problem insects.
Use plastic bags to cover muddy gardening shoes. You will save time and be back in the garden much more quickly by doing this.
When planting seeds in containers, remember that the planting depth should be around three times bigger than the seed size. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried. Some of these seeds are petunias and ageratum. If you don’t know whether your seeds require sun exposure, check the seed package or search online for the information.
As you have learned from this article, gardening can seem like quite the task, yet is manageable if you know what you’re doing. The advice given here will help you to be able to plan and execute a beautiful and bountiful garden. Apply some of the tips you just read and, in no time, you’ll be amazed at what you can with your garden.
Originally posted 2013-09-03 09:50:19.
