Anyone can enjoy the relaxation and fruitful benefits of cultivating their own organic garden. But for someone just starting out it can seem very overwhelming, and even a little bit intimidating. How should a novice approach the learning experience of growing plants? Keep reading to discover some useful tips and tactics.
Using a shovel in clay soil is a lot of work, not only is the clay hard, but it will stick to the shovel and make it twice as hard to handle. Coat the shovel with floor or car wax, and buff it with a clean rag to make the job a lot easier. This causes the clay to slide rather than stick, and prevents rust as a side effect.
Insects and various garden pests can be avoided by making your soil healthy. The hearty plants that will grow in a garden with rich soil can resist the bugs and diseases that weak plants can’t withstand. To increase your garden’s likelihood of producing strong and healthy plants, use high-quality soil containing minuscule amounts of chemicals, which will eventually collect salts.
Tender Shrubs
Make sure to protect your tender shrubs from the elements. Tender shrubs are very sensitive to cold weather, especially those that are planted in pots. Join them together at the top, and use a blanket or old sheet to cover them. This method is preferred to wrapping a plant in plastic, since it promotes circulation and prevents rotting.
Do you enjoy your mint leaves, but can’t stand how they dominate your garden? You should plant the mint in a rather large garden container or pot instead so you can monitor growth. The container can be planted in the ground, and it will still prevent the plant from dominating the garden.
Always fertilize your garden. Choose commercial compost instead of homegrown manure to keep toxins out of your plants. The options for fertilizing are vast and include environmentally sound choices, so no matter which you choose, just be sure to use one.
You can use natural materials or other plants in your garden to keep away pests. Slugs can be kept at bay with a patch of marigolds or pungent vegetables. Using wood ash as mulch around the base of trees and shrub seedlings will also help keep away insect pests. These methods prevent use of harsh chemicals.
Learn to work efficiently. Don’t waste your time by looking all over for your tools. Prepare them all ahead of time and have them handy before you need to garden, and then put them back in their place when done. Get a tool belt if you need to, or a pair of pants with a lot of pockets.
Laundry Basket
Use an old laundry basket to gather your vegetables and fruits. It makes a great strainer for your vegetables. Rinse the product off whilst it’s in the basket so that any extra water can strain through the laundry basket’s holes.
You should now realize how much fun and how enjoyable horticulture can be. Taking care of a garden is a fun and relaxing experience. If you remember these tips the next time you are in the garden, you will be much more successful.
Originally posted 2014-02-10 16:23:14.
