Saturday, 1 September 2012

Use These Tips To Become Skilled At Organic Gardening

Tending to an organic garden can be a highly rewarding and calming activity that anyone can participate in. If you lack experience as a gardener, it is perfectly natural to be somewhat intimidated by the thought of all that work. Are you interested in cultivating green gardens and earning that green thumb? Read the advice provided in this article!

Maneuver the trees you plant around your home so that they are in a location that is optimal for shade over the home. If you plant your trees in the correct locations, you can save money on your heating and cooling bills, as they will provide a block from chilly winter wind, and cooling shade in the summer.

As a good general practice, you should make sure to plant your seeds three seed-widths deep into their containers. It is important to note though, that not all seeds are covered to this depth, as some need direct sunlight to grow properly. Among the seeds meeting this definition are ageratum and petunias. If you are unsure about your seed's requirements for sunlight, the resources are often provided along with the seeds, or you can find out online.

Do you want to know how to kill weeds in a natural way? A good thick layer of newspaper can be laid down to control weeds. Weeds can only grow in sunlight. When you put newspaper on top of weeds they will suffocate because they are not getting enough light. The newspapers will break down over a period of time, and will become part of your compost. If you want it to look better, just add a layer or two of much over top of the newspapers.

When they are in healthy soil, plants can withstand diseases and handle insect damage much better. Even though insects will be present, you will be able to avoid the damage they cause.

Coffee grounds work great mixed in with your soil. They contain nitrogenous nutrients which are essential to plant growth. Plants need nitrogen in order to thrive, so give it a natural source with coffee grounds, then watch everything come to life much more quickly.

Learn the right way to buy your plants. Find out if you are supposed to buy them when they are in bloom, when they are budded, or at some time in between. This is very true of perennials or annuals. In this case, you want plants that are budding, but not those that are blooming. This enables them to grow a much stronger root system within your garden.

Grow organic garlic. Plant single garlic cloves during the spring or fall seasons in soil that is moist and well-drained. Plant them approximately 4 inches apart at a depth of 1 or 2 inches beneath the surface of the soil with the pointed end facing upward. Green garlic can be cur directly from the plant and used in a pinch instead of scallions or chives. Harvest the garlic bulbs when the tops of the plants turn brown. Place the freshly picked bulbs in the sun, and let them dry and harden for a couple of days. They could be stored in an area that is cold, tied or loose in bunches.

Increase the biodiversity in your organic garden. Including a healthy mix of native grasses and flowers will attract wildlife. Try planting many different groups of plants in the garden so you are able to recreate a more natural environment. By doing this, your garden will have a nice appeal to it, and you can relax knowing you've done something good for the earth.

Any type of gardening can be a fun hobby because it brings you closer to the earth, but creating an organic garden is really good at this. When you do this type of gardening, you will start to have a good idea of the whole process of planting from start to finish.

If slugs are problematic in your garden, you can use an all-natural beer trap to do away with them. Bury a canning jar so that the open mouth and the soil top are level. Pour beer into the jar until it's almost full. Leave an inch of space between the beer and the jar top. Slugs will be attracted by the beer and fall into the jar.

Mulch your garden to keep the soil nourished. Mulch can give your soil some additional protection and nourishment. This protective effect is especially important during the summer, as it protects the roots from the effects of the heat. The soil will also stay moist longer because it reduces evaporation. Mulch is also great for controlling weed growth.

Gardening is within everybody's reach, but you will only make the most of your gardening experience with knowledge. Try using these organic tips.

Thursday, 30 August 2012

Guide On Being Expert In Organic Gardening

In the world of organic gardening, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced organic gardeners alike. There are many e-guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This set of tips contains some of the best advice for helping a good organic gardener become a great organic gardener.

It is a good idea to get organic garden certification so as to reaffirm your claims that your products really are organic. This attracts customers who are willing to drive a little farther and pay a little more for products that are safe and healthy.

Use ample mulch to help your plants to retain enough water. Covering the ground with mulch cuts back on the need for watering your plants. You can use store-bought mulch, composted lawn trimmings, or chipped wood from fallen or trimmed limbs. It doesn't matter as long as you have enough.

A good tip to help your plants stay healthy and fight diseases is to use aspirin water. One and one half aspirin crushed and added to a two gallon container of water will be a great help for your plants. Spray this mixture onto your plants. Be sure to repeat this process every two or three weeks.

When they are in healthy soil, plants can withstand diseases and handle insect damage much better. Even though insects will be present, you will be able to avoid the damage they cause.

You may be able to find botanical insecticides locally, which are often very helpful for preventing pest infestations. These natural insecticides can often be more effective than synthetically engineered pesticides. But, because they are made of natural materials, these types of insecticides frequently fade much faster.

In order to start a garden, you are going to need to know how to make beds. Begin by slicing beneath the turf using a spade. Once this is accomplished, flip it over and cover the affected area with wood chips a few inches in depth. Wait for a few weeks to pass, then cut into it for planting.

You need to be very specific about what organic plants you plan to grow in the garden. Not all varieties of flowers and produce are suited to the same type of environment. For instance, there are many kinds of roses and some will work in your garden, while others won't. So you want to make sure you find ones that are suited for your organic environment.

Find crops that are of a high value to grow in your garden. No two people are going to agree on the exact value of a plant because personal preferences vary. Growing crops that are expensive at the grocery store will offset some of the money spent growing them. So, plant things that you love and enjoy their results.

You need to mulch your garden with about three inches of material that is organic. Your garden will look more professional, have fewer weeds, and benefit from the moisture control and additional nutrients.

When you are gardening, you should know what you can and cannot use in an organic garden. Experiment with organic and natural fertilizers instead of the usual chemical, commercial ones. One good example is compost. Organic materials hold many advantages over chemical methods. Chemicals tend to build up in the soil, which can leach into the drinking water.

Mulch your garden to keep the soil nourished. Mulch can give your soil some additional protection and nourishment. This protective effect is especially important during the summer, as it protects the roots from the effects of the heat. The soil will also stay moist longer because it reduces evaporation. Mulch is also great for controlling weed growth.

Organic gardening will help you create a truly fresh and nutritious garden. Although organic gardening isn't easy since you have to put in time and effort and wait for results, the health benefits make it worth it.

Monday, 27 August 2012

Tips For Great Organic Gardening

Starting and maintaining an organic garden requires a lot of patience, and an affinity for growing plants. This is a hobby where the goal is to grow food that is healthy and pesticide free. It's easier than you may think. Check out the tips laid out below to learn what you must do to begin gardening organically like a professional.

While organic gardening takes a little extra work, it is healthier and more gratifying than regular gardening. While chemical-based gardening products make bold claims, it is hard to dispute that organic gardening consistently produces superior results.

Use companion plants in your organic garden. Companion plants will help your other plants grow naturally, simply find plants that compliment each other. These plants will help make the soil rich in nutrients and keep pests away, which will reduce your need for fertilizers or pesticides. For instance, highly fragrant types of herbs and succulents work to stave off vegetable plant pests.

Regularity is the key to keeping your organic garden in order, don't let your list of chores pile up. Even if you can't tend to your garden daily, you can do little things to help so that there is not a huge amount of work to be done when you are ready to get back to it. Try pulling a few weeds from the garden while your dogs are out doing their business.

When they are in healthy soil, plants can withstand diseases and handle insect damage much better. Even though insects will be present, you will be able to avoid the damage they cause.

Old laundry baskets are handy tools at harvest time. A benefit of using something like a laundry basket is that it can strain for you, as well as hold a large amount of produce. The basket won't be affected by the water and it will drain right off as though it were poured into a large sieve.

Always give your garden the benefit of looking beneath the upper portions of a plant. When buying tomato seedlings for the garden, keep an eye on lush green starts with root systems that are bad. The reason is because these particular starts will stay on the seedlings for weeks, which will not allow the seedlings to grow until these starts are gone.

Creating a new bed for your perennials is easy. Use a spade to cut and flip over your turf, then cover the new bed with wood chips. After a few weeks, you can cut into the new bed and plant your perennials.

The growth of organic garlic is simple. Plant individual cloves of garlic in the early spring or fall in moist, well-drained soil. Lay each bulb into the ground ends up at a distance of about 4 inches away from the next bulb and 1-2 inches down into the soil. Green garlic shoots can be cut as they grow, and used in place of chives or scallions. Each bulb can be harvested when the top has begun to brown. Leave the bulbs out the sunshine for a few days until the skin gets hard. Store them in a cool, dry location. You can store them as loose bulbs, or fasten them together into bunches.

Your compost pile should contain green plant materials and dry plant materials. When you pull weeds from your garden, throw them in the compost. The same goes for vegetable trimmings and grass clippings. These are considered green materials. The leaves you rake in the fall, straw, sawdust and the like are dry material. Diseased plants, meat and fire-waste like charcoal or ashes should not be placed in your compost pile.

When you are gardening, you should know what you can and cannot use in an organic garden. Experiment with organic and natural fertilizers instead of the usual chemical, commercial ones. One good example is compost. Organic materials hold many advantages over chemical methods. Chemicals tend to build up in the soil, which can leach into the drinking water.

When growing organic plants indoors, it is important to consider the amount of light that is available to them. If you live somewhere without strong natural sunlight, you might want to look into growing plants that thrive in lower-light environments. If you still are unable to get enough light to your plants, consider purchasing grow-lights.

An organic garden provides many benefits to your health, so understanding the various plants and options you can grow is crucial. Apply the tips you just read to start your garden to save money and eat healthier foods.

Sunday, 26 August 2012

Essential Tips To Increase Your Knowledge Of Organic Gardening

Regular tending is a necessity for any garden. It is particularly important for the organic garden. That is why wise organic gardening tips are important. Doing so will increase both the quantity and the quality of the produce you grow in your organic garden. Use this advice to take your organic garden to the next level.

Your children will enjoy the experience of working with you in the organic garden. You can provide a good learning experience that your children can appreciate the more they learn on how to grow healthy produce.

Weeds are pesky for any type of garden, whether or not it is organic. Vinegar is a non-toxic way to kill off the weeds without harming the environment.

Regularity is the key to keeping your organic garden in order, don't let your list of chores pile up. Even if you can't tend to your garden daily, you can do little things to help so that there is not a huge amount of work to be done when you are ready to get back to it. Try pulling a few weeds from the garden while your dogs are out doing their business.

A cheap, easy way to build your compost pile is to add fruit peels and scraps from your kitchen. Each of these ingredients makes for rich, organic compost that nourishes your flowers and vegetables and costs next to nothing.

If you are looking at creating an endurable organic garden, you should think about keeping some of your property vacant so that wildlife may flourish there. Most likely, you will find your organic garden producing better once your property is home to the insects, birds, and other wildlife that plants rely on for pollination and the production and dispersal of seeds.

Nobody likes to see weeds popping up in their beloved garden. This organic weed killer is safer for the environment and you and your family.

This will make organic gardening easier. Select native specimens for your landscape design. Plants that are adapted to your region's climate, soil type and surrounding ecosystem thrive without the need for expensive fertilizers or insecticides. Instead, you will find that native plants will work especially well with compost made from other native ingredients!

Within your composting heap, ensure that there is an equal split of dried and green plant materials. Garden wastes, such as grass clippings, are classified as green materials. Your dried material can be things such as sawdust, paper shreds, wood shavings, straw and cardboard. Certain substances will undermine your composting efforts and cancel out any benefits; these include meat, charcoal, ash or plants that have diseases or fungal growths.

When chopping and preparing vegetables for your daily meals, take the excess scraps and spread them on your organic garden. Your new plants in the garden will absorb the nutrients from the decaying veggies you have placed there. You may of course still choose to use some of these leftover vegetables for composting, but making immediate use of them is also beneficial.

While you may have heard a few things here and there about composting, how much do you really know about it? It is a mixture or combination of leaves, grass clippings, wood-chips, produce scraps, straw, and some small twigs that had the chance to break down into a "pseudo-soil." Make some compost, and start using that rather than costly commercial fertilizers.

Mulch your garden to keep the soil nourished. Mulch can give your soil some additional protection and nourishment. This protective effect is especially important during the summer, as it protects the roots from the effects of the heat. The soil will also stay moist longer because it reduces evaporation. Mulch is also great for controlling weed growth.

If you follow these advice on organic gardening, you will be able to have a productive, toxic-free, healthy garden in the future. You can also look forward to a rise in the number of wild visitors you receive in your garden.

Friday, 24 August 2012

Information On Growing A Better Organic Garden

Your organic garden can provide you with many essential nutrients. However, it can be difficult to grasp its intricacies and to know what type of equipment you need to purchase. There are a multitude of seeds and starter plants available. The following tips will help you make the most of your organic garden.

One way to ensure efficiency while gardening is to keep your tools close by. Use a bucket large enough to hold all your equipment or wear pants with multiple pockets. Keep common tools such as your gloves or your pruning shears within reach so that you can quickly and easily maintain your garden whenever you need to.

Before planting your favorite perennials, you must first prepare the ground. All you need to do is use a garden spade to slice under the turf, flip it over, then spread wood chips over the area about three to four inches deep. After a few weeks, dig, then plant your perennials.

To mulch your trees and flowers, use a minimum of three inches of organic mulch. This method is not only good for the earth, but conserves water, saving you money on your water bill and offering a bit of relief to the environment as well. You may also find the effect aesthetically pleasing.

If you want to do some organic gardening, plan ahead. Decide exactly which plants you're going to grow. There are a variety of environments that certain vegetables and flowers thrive in to grow. An example would be seen in the many different varieties of roses, as some will grow well in your garden, where other varieties may not. When choosing varieties, take into account not only your climate region, but also the specific planting environment, such as full sun, in boggy soil, etc.

Save the water you use to clean your vegetables and use it to water your garden. The dirt and nutrients that are washed from your fresh vegetables can be reused in the garden and add enhanced nourishment that tap water and rain water can not supply. When cleaning your vegetables, don't use any cleaners.

Mulch your garden to keep the soil nourished. A couple of inches of mulch will protect what lies beneath it. It can also keep the ground from overheating during hot weather, which will protect the roots of your plants from damage. This will ensure your soil stays moist by reducing the time in which it evaporates. This is also a good way to control the weeds.

You should think about digging small trenches between rows of plants if you are planting an organic garden. This will help water flow directly to your plants so that they do not require watering as frequently. Saving water saves money!

Plastic bags are great to cover gardening shoes when they get muddy. This allows you to maintain your flow so you can rapidly get back to your gardening.

It's simple to lay a new perennial bed. All you need to do is use a garden spade to slice under the turf, flip it over, then spread wood chips over the area about three to four inches deep. Let the area sit for a couple weeks, then begin digging into it and planting your new perennials.

Try to avoid over-watering your plants. Too much water will make it more difficult for the plants to absorb the nutrients they need from the soil. Before watering your organic garden, check weather forecasts to determine if it is likely to rain later that day. If a downpour is coming, you may want to forgo watering your plants that day.

Mulch your garden to keep the soil nourished. Mulch can give your soil some additional protection and nourishment. This protective effect is especially important during the summer, as it protects the roots from the effects of the heat. The soil will also stay moist longer because it reduces evaporation. Mulch is also great for controlling weed growth.

If you follow these advice on organic gardening, you will be able to have a productive, toxic-free, healthy garden in the future. You can also look forward to a rise in the number of wild visitors you receive in your garden.

Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Learn New Organic Gardening Techniques With These Simple Tips

Organic produce is better than normal produce in terms of flavor and nutrients. You can grow your own produce instead of heading to the supermarket. Read the following article to discover the secret to growing an organic garden right at home!

A valuable piece of advice is to plant crops with a high value to you personally. However, different people can have varying opinions as to how much a specific plant is worth. If you grow vegetables which are expensive to buy, you will save on food costs by producing them yourself. Plant vegetable plants that you love to eat.

Stagger you vegetable planting so you will have a new harvest every month or so. This can give you a steady supply to tomatoes and reduce an overabundance at any given time. This will also prevent the entire harvest from spoiling if there are any problems.

Horde rainwater for your garden. Use rain barrels or alternate containers to trap and store rainwater for an organic way to hydrate your garden. This saves you from paying for extra water to do your watering. You do not have to pay for rainwater, and it should be abundant. Rainwater works just as well as water from other sources, so you might as well use it.

Know when you should water your organic plants. Try using a soaker hose. A soaker hose will keep the base adequately watered and prevent the plant from drying out through evaporation. Watering is best done early in the morning.

Water based on the current climate and the season. The amount of water a plant needs depends on the soil type, time of day and the water's quality. In some cases, you can't water because of climate issues. You can't water the leave of your plants during humid, warm weather--it'll promote the growth of leaf fungus. A better method is to water the root system only.

Nobody likes to see weeds popping up in their beloved garden. This organic weed killer is safer for the environment and you and your family.

Grow organic garlic. Plant single garlic cloves during the spring or fall seasons in soil that is moist and well-drained. Plant them approximately 4 inches apart at a depth of 1 or 2 inches beneath the surface of the soil with the pointed end facing upward. Green garlic can be cur directly from the plant and used in a pinch instead of scallions or chives. Harvest the garlic bulbs when the tops of the plants turn brown. Place the freshly picked bulbs in the sun, and let them dry and harden for a couple of days. They could be stored in an area that is cold, tied or loose in bunches.

Organic gardening sounds contemporary, but it's been around longer than gardening with the use of chemicals. In olden days, pilgrims were encouraged to plant a fish with their seeds when they sowed them into the ground. Instead of paying for expensive fertilizer, create your own compost pile. Compost not only helps your garden, but also helps the environment by reducing trash.

Your compost pile should contain green plant materials and dry plant materials. When you pull weeds from your garden, throw them in the compost. The same goes for vegetable trimmings and grass clippings. These are considered green materials. The leaves you rake in the fall, straw, sawdust and the like are dry material. Diseased plants, meat and fire-waste like charcoal or ashes should not be placed in your compost pile.

When getting ready to plant a tree or a shrub in your organic garden, try digging an ugly hole to plant them in. If the hole that you create for them has any "glazed" sides that were caused by a shovel, then it may restrict the root from penetrating into the nearby soil.

Mulch your garden to keep the soil nourished. Mulch can give your soil some additional protection and nourishment. This protective effect is especially important during the summer, as it protects the roots from the effects of the heat. The soil will also stay moist longer because it reduces evaporation. Mulch is also great for controlling weed growth.

Organic gardening will help you create a truly fresh and nutritious garden. Although organic gardening isn't easy since you have to put in time and effort and wait for results, the health benefits make it worth it.

Monday, 20 August 2012

Be The Best You Can Be With Organic Gardening

There are a lot of methods out there for creating a brilliant organic garden. You just need to learn them and use them.

Make you garden diverse. The more types of plants you have, the more kinds of wildlife you'll have. Your organic garden should closely mimic a natural setting so plant different varieties of plants that can coexist in your location. Your garden will become a haven for you to enjoy, as well as a help to the environment.

Regulate the amount and timing of watering, to the specific climate and its seasonal variations. The amount of water you need depends on when you are doing the watering, whether your water is high-quality and the grade of the soil in your garden. For instance, in warm and balmy locations, it is important not to water leaves, as doing so tends to foster fungus growth. Water the roots with care.

A rule of thumb for when you are planting seeds in containers is to make the hole depth around three times larger than the seed itself. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried. Some common examples include ageratum and petunias. When in doubt about whether a seed requires direct sun exposure, you can find lots of information online or on the seed packaging itself.

To make a credible claim that your crops are organically grown, you should be certified as organic by a credible organization. This should improve sales and attract customers who are environmentally conscious. A certification will easily communicate to them that they are getting the best products possible.

Use companion plants in your organic garden. Certain varieties of plants can actually help other plants grow when they are planted nearby. Some companion plants have environmental benefits, such as pest reduction or soil enrichment, so that you do not need to use harmful chemicals. Garlic and onion plants, for example, emit a strong odor that some pests find distasteful.

One odd but apparently useful tip for growing organic plants, is to lightly brush your plants with your fingers or a piece of cardboard 1-2 times a day. That may sound like a silly thing to do, but it's been proven to help plants grow larger than they would otherwise.

When making your own compost, a very cost-effective technique is to utilize fruit peelings and other leftover pieces of fruit. Fruit peels and other organic waste creates spectacular compost. These all-natural items will give your garden a very healthy, vibrant look, and the cost is very low when compared to store-bought compost.

Find crops that are of a high value to grow in your garden. No two people are going to agree on the exact value of a plant because personal preferences vary. Growing crops that are expensive at the grocery store will offset some of the money spent growing them. So, plant things that you love and enjoy their results.

Use six parts water with one part milk to spray the leaves of your garden plants regularly. This will help prevent powdery mildew that could potentially ruin your plants. You will be able to store this mixture in your refrigerator for about three weeks. You can also use this every day until you get the mildew under control.

When you are gardening, you should know what you can and cannot use in an organic garden. Experiment with organic and natural fertilizers instead of the usual chemical, commercial ones. One good example is compost. Organic materials hold many advantages over chemical methods. Chemicals tend to build up in the soil, which can leach into the drinking water.

For an all-natural insect deterrent, try planting garlic. The smell of garlic will deter insects from inhabiting your garden. Be sure you plant them in an area that is going to be near other plants that are a little more prone to being attacked. One benefit of planting garlic is edibility.

Now, you shouldn't get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you'll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.