Organic horticulture is wonderfully therapeutic and anyone can enjoy it. However, a beginner may find the whole experience intimidating. How can the beginning organic gardener get a handle on how to start out? Read this article, and follow the helpful advice.
Utilize your garden tool handles as convenient makeshift rulers. Tools with long handles, such as shovels, hoes and rakes can be made into measuring sticks. Place the handles on the floor to measure the distance between them. Label the distances on the handle with a marker pen that will not smear or fade away. Now, every time you work in your garden, you are going to have a powerful ruler at the touch of your fingertips.
Before you even place the first plant in your garden, you need to check the composition of your soil. You can actually get an analysis of soil for a little fee, and with the report you get back you can figure out how to create a vibrant garden by enriching it properly. A Cooperative Extension office can provide you with this service, saving you learning on your own by trial and error.
When gardening, be sure to look closely for stink bug infestation, especially during Autumn. They like to feast on all kinds of fruits, as well as peppers, tomatoes, and beans. Stink bugs may get out of hand and do significant damage in your garden. It is important to take steps to eliminate them from that area.
Try to grow some wheat or cat grass around your cat’s favorite plants. You can put something over the soil which surrounds the plants which has a bad smell to cats to deter them.
A good but unusual organic solution for weeding your plants is try “boiling” your weeds way. One of the safest “herbicides” you can find is a pot of boiling water. Make sure to pour only on the weeds and to stay away from healthy vegetation. Boiling water is not good for the weed roots and will stunt further growth.
Irises should be divided. You can get more irises by dividing the overgrown clumps. Once the foliage has died off, lift out your bulbous irises. The bulbs, when harvested, should easily split by hand – allowing you to replant them for even more blooms next spring. Split rhizomes with a knife. Discard the center and cut pieces from the exterior. Don’t plant any pieces that don’t have any strong offshoots. Replant your cuttings immediately for the best results.
Place at least an inch of mulch that is organic in with your veggies! When you place mulch around your plants, it keeps the ground more moist. In addition, it will keep the weeds from growing. This could save you lots of weed-pulling time.
You don’t have to plant just for spring and summer. Consider what are often beautiful colors in the fall. That doesn’t have to be it though. When it comes to brightly colored foliage, fall is an amazing time of year. Fall hues of orange, yellow and red can be seen falling from maple trees, and dogwoods and beech trees offer comparable spectacles. Some vibrant shrubs include hydrangea, barberry, and cotoneaster.
Use gardening as a way to relax and recuperate. While there are many different ways to relax, choosing the right one for you is key. Horticulture is fun, and it is definitely one of the best ways to achieve this state. Gardening does not require a lot of dollars to start, and yields tremendous benefits. The joy of eating food you created as well as enjoying the beauty of your garden is the best return of all.
Now that you have read this article, you know why organic gardening is such a fun activity. It provides so much opportunity for relaxation in a soothing environment and so much reward when the garden flourishes. These tips will help you get your organic garden started.