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Top Tips For A Thriving Organic Garden

TIP! Clay soil is hard and will also stick to a shovel, making it difficult to work with. Rub a thin layer of floor or car wax over the surface of the shovel, and then buff the surface using a clean cloth.

Organic gardening is a goal many people have but never actually try to accomplish. A lot of people feel like growing your own garden is a daunting task because they feel intimidated by the unknown. However, the following article contains many hints and tips that can simplify the process and help you turn that daunting idea into an enjoyable hobby.

TIP! If you are going to be doing some gardening, watch out for stink bugs, especially in the fall! They thrive on fruits, citrus, peppers and various beans. They can do serious damage in your garden, so look for an effective method of reducing their population.

Do not spend your money on chemicals to fight mildew. Mix a solution of baking soda, water, and a tiny bit of dishwashing liquid. You just need to spray your plants with this solution once every five days until the mildew is no longer visible. This method is not going to cause any damages to your plants and the mildew will go away slowly.

TIP! Grow some plants that cats like to eat – try catnip or wheat grass. In addition, you could put an item on the soil’s top around the plants which has a smell that cats hate, such as citrus peel or mothballs.

For the right results, get the right type of soil. Fertilizer can enrich the soil to make it more viable. You can simply use one type of soil to make an artificial area.

TIP! If you discover that your soil is very alkaline, take used coffee grounds and mix them thoroughly with your soil. This is a great and cheap way to increase the acid levels in your dirt.

Soak the seeds and store in a dark area overnight. Place a small amount of seeds in a little container, while filling it to the brim with water. This way, your seeds are well-hydrated and can start growing with a head start. Seeds that are grown in this way have a higher survival and maturity rate.

TIP! You could try to boil weeds if you are trying to remain organic. Boiling water can be considered as an herbicide, and it is a safe one.

Deciduous shrubs should be protected from the elements. If you have a few potted shrubs, they should be shielded from the wintry weather. Tie the tops of the canes together; then take a sheet and cover the wigwam loosely. This is better than using plastic to wrap the plant, as more air can circulate.

TIP! Always fertilize your garden. Manure helps your plants grow.

Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Parasites are attracted to the moisture on plants. A commonplace plant parasite is fungi. Fungicidal spray treatments can contain fungi, but spraying prior to problems even developing in the first place is the best way to go about it.

TIP! 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.

Do you ever wish that your fresh mint leaves would not grow as quickly and overcome your garden? You can slow their growth rate by planting them in a garden container or large pot instead. You can then plant the container down in the ground if you like, but the walls of the container will hold the roots captive, and keep the plant from taking over your garden!

TIP! If you’re thinking about growing your own organic garden, then you might want to consider keeping a bit of your property undeveloped; this way wildlife can flourish. This will also benefit your cultivated gardens as it will attract more bugs and birds to pollinate your other plants.

Start your garden off right with seeds, not plants. When starting a new garden, the most environmentally friendly way is to start from seed. Since plastics that are in nurseries aren’t recycled very often and therefore usually wind up in landfills, you should begin with seeds or purchase from the nurseries that use natural materials in their plants’ packaging.

TIP! Put an organic material, such as mulch two or three inches deep, in your flower beds. This fights weeds, retains moisture, and gives your garden valuable nutrients.

When it comes to harvesting your vegetables, know when the optimal time is to do so. Each variety needs a slightly different amount of growing time to produce the most flavorful vegetable. Some vegetables are best when fully ripe and others taste better when harvested early in their development. However, tomatoes should be as ripe as they can be when pulled from the vine to ensure the best taste. Take some time to learn about the best harvest time for the vegetables that you have growing.

TIP! Tuck away some plastic grocery bags and use them to slip over your muddy boots. This allows you to maintain your flow so you can rapidly get back to your gardening.

Controlling pests can be quite challenging when trying to grow a healthy, hardy vegetable garden. Since your vegetables are meant to be eaten, refrain from spraying them with harsh chemicals. Instead of resorting to these harmful chemicals, you can keep garden pests at bay simply by paying close attention. If you catch the pests early, the best removal technique is just to take them off your plants by hand.

TIP! Use a laundry basket to help you collect produce from your garden. This laundry basket can be used as a type of strainer for all your produce.

When you use the advice that has been provided in this article, you should feel confident in your horticulture skills and be able to grow an amazing garden. Utilize the tips you’ve just read, and your yard with produce a bountiful crop, and you’ll enjoy foods that are pure and wholesome, very soon.

Originally posted 2013-05-29 17:20:46.

Updated: May 15, 2023 — 1:48 pm
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