How one takes care of their organic garden can say a lot about them as a person. An activity that focuses on working in the dirt and relying on nature and time is what makes organic gardening enjoyable. That can sound intimidating to a new organic gardener, which is why they should read the list of tips below.
When you buy young bare-root trees, keep the root ball moist until your are ready to plant. If the roots dry out, the tree will weaken or die. You should plant the tree as soon as you bring it home. If you cannot, lay the tree on its side and cover the roots with moist peat moss, then cover the roots with a tarp.
Use water efficiently as possible. One of the most precious resources in the world today is fresh water. It just cannot be wasted, so the use of mulch and soaker hoses are an efficient way to minimize the impact of the garden on the water supply. Consider having a rain barrel near the garden to capture and save rainwater for a minimal impact garden.
If you are practicing organic gardening then try using baking soda to prevent powdery mildew from forming on your plants. Simply mix one tablespoon of baking soda with a half teaspoon of mild liquid soap and add to a gallon of water. During humid or damp weather spray your plants which are susceptible to powdery mildew with this mixture each week. The unused mixture cannot be stored and used later.
Start your plants from cuttings to save loads of money! Plants are expensive these days. Many, however, can be started by taking clippings from other plants. All that’s required for some is just putting the cut ends in a glass of water. For the more difficult species, just dip the ends in some rooting hormone and push them into some damp sand.
Choose silvers and grays to lighten up the garden on dull days and shine in the moonlight. While most gray-leafed plants are attractive enough to hold their own in the garden, they are often used due to the effect they have on surrounding colors. They make pastel colors look brighter, and tone down the effect of vivid colors. Most plants with silver or gray foliage are native to the Mediterranean, therefore requiring little watering in the dry months. The best known silver and gray plants are dusty miller, lychnis, silver lace and artemisia.
A carpenter’s belt is a great investment for any organic gardener. This is because organic gardening involves many small tools that are all frequently used such as trowels, water sprays, pruners, and gloves. Rather than making several trips back and forth between your shed and the garden, a tool belt can help you carry all of your tools at all times.
While organic gardening costs more and requires more effort, the produce that will come out of your garden will be healthier for you. Although the chemicals may claim greater results, using organic methods to tame your garden will do less harm to your body, and the environment.
When you first begin using organic produce you will realize that it tends to rot quite a bit faster. This is because less preservatives are used. Having a lower shelf life means that you need to cook or eat the produce a little bit faster than you would normal store bought options.
Many people are confused about what the idea of organic actually means and so they think they can’t participate in organic gardening. Organic gardening simply means that no types of pesticides or preservatives are used on the product which results in a much more natural form of the produce.
Stagger you vegetable planting so you will have a new harvest every month or so. This method prevents a unified harvest, and allows separate times to pull the plants throughout the year. While ruin in one harvest can be an issue, having multiple harvests to look forward to can alleviate some of the issue.
When determining what you would want to plant in your garden, you should be as specific as possible. Not all varieties of flowers and produce are suited to the same type of environment. Each type of rose may need different types of environments, for example. You must make sure that any plants you purchase will thrive in the environment in which they are planted.
You can grow a variety of different plants in your home organic garden. Mulch is the friend of plants that need acidity to thrive. Using pine needs to create a thick layer, you can provide mulch to these kinds of plants annually. When the needles begin to decompose, their natural acid will begin to deposit into the soil.
Be sure to research what kind of plants you have in your organic garden and what types of plants you plan on adding. There are some types of flowers such as poinsettias, sweet peas, amaryllises, irises, and oleanders that are incredibly poisonous. Use caution when planting something in your garden.
A great tip for running your own organic garden is to make every single minute count. When you have time, do some chores so they don’t pile up, such as picking a few weeds or deadheading some flowers. This is a tip for many different areas of your life, but it also applies to your garden.
Plant garlic all around your garden to deter most determined pests. You can get rid of and repel a lot of insects with its smell. You want to plant these especially around the perimeter, as well as near those plants prone to insect damage. A great benefit to planting garlic is you can use it for yourself because it is edible.
Organic gardening really is a time and labor intensive activity, but that does not mean it is only for serious organic gardeners. This relaxing activity can be enjoyed by anyone with any kind of gardening skills. These tips were constructed to help those of all skill sets find out how to grow their own organic plants.