Why You Should Give Organic Gardening A Try

Written by on December 29, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Gardening can be quite complex when you break it down. If you decide to go the natural route, you may have to know about things like the pH balance of soil and natural bug-fighting concoctions. Growing organic can be a little on the difficult side for a rookie. Make sure you play for the pros by employing the tips from the text below.

Care for your compost. Cover your compost pile with a lid, tarp or black plastic. Sunlight will kill the bacteria that do the composting, so the outer layers of a compost pile that is exposed to the sun will not break down. Water the compost pile regularly, keeping it evenly moist. Do not over-water, as a soggy compost pile will rot. Turn the pile every two to five days to aerate and provide oxygen to the bacteria. If necessary, add a composting activator to speed up the process.

Organic gardening sounds like a new fad but in fact it is the tried and true method that existed long ago before the advent of chemicals. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. You can start a compost pile to create your own organic fertilizer for your organic garden. This helps to recycle, cut down on your trash output and increase your garden produce.

If you are experiencing a problem with slugs or other insects, a wonderful organic contact pesticide is diatomaceous earth. You can buy this at most garden centers, and it comes in a white powder form. It is an abrasive material that will kill the critters by damaging the skin of the slugs and joints of the insects.

Cut the tips off of your expensive perennials! Dip the cut ends in rooting hormone and submerge them in damp sand. In a couple of weeks the cuttings will form roots and you’ll have free start-up plants to give to all of your friends and acquaintances. Free plants are very much appreciated in today’s tough economic times!

Planting a living hedge around your property has many benefits. Hedges provide a softer barrier to mark the perimeter of your property and are less forbidding than a structured wall. A living hedge will provide privacy but still discourage trespassing by animals or people. If you have a hedge that blooms, it can be a lovely backdrop in addition to your landscape.

Use your fallen leaves to enrich your compost. Gather any fallen leaves and place them in a paper or plastic bag, and store them for the winter in a sheltered spot. If you are using a plastic bag, don’t forget to poke a couple of holes to ensure ventilation. Once springtime comes around you will have carbon-rich matter just waiting to get dug into your compost pile.

To insulate the soil and protect against weeds, you should consider different types of mulches. Use things like wood chips, leaves, hay, and lawn clippings. Protecting plants with a mulch helps them in many ways, such as guarding soil against erosion. You can even look into living mulches, which are plants that serve the same purpose as a mulch.

When you are ready to mulch, choose an organic mulch. Cocoa hulls or weed-free straw are great examples. The mulch will eventually decompose and add rich, organic nutrients to your soil. Just add a couple of inches to your garden each year and you will see the long-term benefits.

While caring for your organic garden involves many big, day-long tasks, it also calls for smaller jobs that need to be performed more frequently. Keep a good handle on the minor needs of your garden so that you can make good use of brief periods of free time. When you have a few minutes to spare, why not use them weeding, pruning or performing other garden maintenance tasks?

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.

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Switch To Organic Gardening By Using These Tips

Written by on December 27, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Organic gardening can really be an intelligent move for having a healthier diet. It does require some effort, in order to grow, though. This can make you wonder where to begin for growing your own organic garden. Don’t fret because everything you need to know about where to start with organic gardening is listed in the tips below.

Spread your mulch out. Mulching is great for your garden. Cover as much of your garden as possible with it. Just be aware that if you let mulch pile up against trees or structures, it can cause them to rot. No one likes rotting trees and sheds, so make sure your mulch is spread.

Prepare the ground for a perennial garden quickly and easily. 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. Give the area a couple of weeks, then dig into it and plant your new perennials.

Any organic gardening project is immediately susceptible to fungal diseases that can rot and ruin your seeds or seedlings before they even have a chance to grow. In order to prevent this, you should use sphagnum moss which acts as a natural fungicide. When your seeds are planted into the soil, apply the moss immediately after planting. On the other hand, if your seeds are exposed to sunlight, you should apply the moss first, and then deposit the seeds on the moss. You only need to use a sprinkle of moss.

When you are thinking about starting an organic garden, figure out a plan. Creating a plan for where you want to place each plant will be time saving. If you have a short amount of time that can be spent in your garden, having a plan could help you make the most out of that time.

For indoor organic gardening, temperature control is very important during the early phases. Seventy degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for most seeds to start growing. You can achieve this temperature relatively easily by installing heaters and placing the seeds near the vents. You can also purchase heat mats to place under your plant containers.

A great rule of thumb to follow when planting an organic garden is less is more. While you’ll want to plant a little more than you think you will need in case of rot or pests, you don’t want to overdo it because you’ll end up with much more than you can handle.

When growing your own organic tomatoes you should always alternate the tomato bed. The reason is because this will reduce the tomatoes’ risk of catching soil borne diseases like early blight and bacterial spot. These particular diseases can destroy your tomato plants, so you need to lower the risk of your tomatoes catching them as much as possible.

Use the leaves you rake out of your yard as an organic compost to mix with your soil. Leaves decompose, therefore creating an organic compost that is very healthy and nutrient rich for your plants. You will find this to be a great no-cost method of getting organic compound for your garden.

Keep your gardening tools close by to maximize gardening efficiency. Use a large bucket, or wear rugged pants with several pockets. You may also want to invest in a gardener’s tool belt. Keep your gloves, a trowel, small pruning shears and other tools handy and make quick work of your garden maintenance.

Try to think of your organic environment in terms of an ecosystem. More specifically, try thinking of it in terms of “biodiversity”. If you use many different types of plants, you will help encourage many different types of insects to live in your garden. Many of these insects can be beneficial to your garden.

Plants that thrive in mulch and acid-based fertilizers benefit from a think layer of pine needles. This is a great thing to do in the fall, as it also adds insulation from cold weather, and as the layer of pine needles decompose they will saturate the soil with their acid.

So, as you have seen, it is true that organic gardening requires research, work, and effort, to start growing your own organic plants. It is also true that in order to see results that you have to keep at it. Keeping the aforementioned tips in mind, you are well on your way to becoming successful with organic gardening.

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Use These Tips For Successful Gardening!

Written by on December 24, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Gardening is a great hobby. Not only does it provide the tangible, edible benefit of delicious fresh produce right from your backyard, but it’s also a fantastic way to spend some time outdoors getting exercise and relieving stress. If you’d like to start your own garden, read on for some advice.

When planting a new rose bush, be sure to prune the canes to about eight inches before you plant the rose in the ground. Also, remove decayed wood at the ends of the canes. Pruning a new rose will encourage it to grow more quickly. Keep in mind when you are pruning, try and cut the canes at a 45-degree angle to help the plant to shed water.

If you are a beginning gardener, choose plants that are easy to maintain. Some plants require more care than others. To lessen the workload, choose plants that do well with little care. For example, annuals that reseed themselves, flowering plants that bloom continuously without deadheading or pinching, bulbs that naturalize and shrubs that require little or no pruning.

Try growing a shade garden. Shade gardens use less water, require less light, and are generally lower maintenance than gardens in the sun. They typically have less invasive weeds than other gardens, and have a slower growing period as well. Your yard will be a more rounded environment with a garden like this.

To encourage new growth in plants that will add new branches and plenty of flowers, use your fingers to pinch off the tips of the plant just above the top of the unfurled leaves. This will make a stockier plant, but the technique develops more stems and buds that will make the plant bushier. Chrysanthemums are the perfect example of a plant that benefits greatly with bloom and keeps the plant bushy.

While most of the fruits of your labor and the fruits of your trees, will actually show up in specific seasons, this doesn’t mean that all of the work is done in those seasons. Gardening has tasks to do all year round so be sure that you are ready for this kind of commitment.

Edge your lawns and flowerbeds. Edging your lawn and flowerbeds will give them a tidy look, and it also serves as a mowing path. Run the wheels of your mower right on top of the brick or stone. The barrier is also helpful for preventing grass from making its way into your flowerbeds.

Plant smaller bulb plants in rock gardens because the bulb plant’s height will have the right scale combined with other smaller plants in your rock garden. Bulb plants might otherwise get lost in a larger flower bed. The rocks hold heat that protects the bulbs from late frosts.

Mow your lawn correctly. Reduce the height of long grass in several stages rather than at one time, as this prevents the lawn going brown. Let long grass dry completely, or it will look ragged after mowing. Mow hard-wearing lawns when the grass reaches 2.5 inches, and fine lawns when the grass reaches 1 to 2 inches. In late spring, when growing conditions are good, you may have to mow your lawn twice a week, whereas in late fall every 2 weeks is sufficient. Use grass clippings as mulch under mature trees and shrubs, or add them to the compost pile.

As you read in the introduction, gardening is a fantastic hobby with a variety of benefits, from delicious food to improved mental and physical health. Don’t pass up the opportunity to improve your life with such a beautiful and simple thing! Start your own garden today and see how it can help you!

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Simple Organic Gardening Tips That Anyone Can Try

Written by on December 23, 2011 · Leave a Comment

If you have always wanted to have an organic garden, but thought there was some magic trick to getting things to grow well, or turn out right, then this article is for you. We will show you just how simple it can be to grow your own organic fruits, flowers and vegetables.

You’ve decided to start an organic garden. First, you want to have a soil sample done. It is not only a matter of what you are going to put into the soil. You need to know what has been deposited there in the past. Generally, it takes several years for past chemicals and pesticides to be cleared out of the soil. Only then does your garden become truly “organic.”

To keep air flowing through your compost pile, stand a large PVC pipe with punched holes in the center of your pile so the air flows up and down the pipe, and then through the holes directly into the pile. The air movement helps your soil decomposers create the heat needed to jumpstart the decay process.

Create soil for your organic garden by composting. Composting is a wonderful way to re-use some items that you would normally throw away as garbage. It also provides for rich and fertile soil, without the use of chemicals and pesticides. Compost bins are available in many sizes to fit your specific needs.

Consider building raised beds. If you build your own raised beds, you can choose the perfect size for your garden, and you can fill it with a type of soil that is suitable for what you intend to grow. Since there will be little soil compaction, there will be more oxygen in the soil, and water drainage will be much better. The soil in a raised bed warms up much earlier in the spring, increasing the growing season.

Know the benefits of composting. Composting is one of the best things you can do for your organic garden. Composting improves moisture levels, promotes fertility, and stimulates plant roots. You can start your own composting at home, and reduce your household waste, as well as get free food for your garden.

For the best organic garden, choose plants that do best in your type of soil and climate. Plants that have adapted to a specific type of environment have a better chance to thrive without much fuss in that environment. These plants will also save you time in maintenance because they are naturally hardy.

Pest management in organic gardening doesn’t include pesticides and other chemicals, so it is best to maintain a high quality, healthy soil. With healthier soil, plants remain healthier, therefore can withstand more disease and even damage caused by insects. While the insects are still present, you are avoiding their damages, so everyone is happy.

Plant geraniums near tomatoes. Many bugs hate the chemicals in geraniums and will avoid them, so if you plant geraniums around your tomato patch and sparsely in your garden, the caterpillars and worms will have a tough time getting into the tomato plants. This is especially true if you have your garden enclosed.

Give your ailing plants an aspirin or two! Aspirin contains salicylic acid, the same chemicals plants naturally produce when they are trying to recoup from stress. By dissolving a couple of aspirin in a gallon of water and using it to water your stressed plants, you can help them get the healthy boost they need.

If you are new to organic gardening and are interested in growing vegetables, you should be aware that certain plants are much easier to start with than others. For example, broccoli, onions, and peppers are amongst the easiest. You should also be aware that different plants have different growing timetables. These timetables are available online. After selecting which plants you want to grow, look up their timetables so you know when to plant them.

Having an organic garden in your backyard, doesn’t mean that you will be constantly tied to it. On the contrary, gardening in an organic way can be more satisfying than any other method, because you are more in tune with nature, and the plants themselves. Use the ideas from this article to see just how easy it can be.

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Organic Gardening Tips That Everyone Can Follow

Written by on December 22, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Organic fruits and vegetables, are both delicious and healthy, far surpassing normal supermarket produce. The problem is that it’s much more expensive, and difficult to find fresh. Instead of buying from stores, why not grow your own? Read on to find out how to build your own organic garden, in your own home!

While organic gardening is a great way to know exactly what is being put into your body you will have to give a little more care in washing and looking over your produce. This is because there are no products used on the produce which can lead to more bruising and pests.

Once your seeds start sprouting, they do not need as much warmth as they needed before. Move your plants away from the heat as they grow. You should also remove plastic films that you had on your containers to keep the humidity and warmth out. Keep a close watch on your seeds to know when to do this.

When starting your organic garden, a great tip is to make sure you have the right timing when sowing your seeds. If your timing is off when planting a particular plant, you will have very disappointing results. If you make sure you have your timing correct, you will likely be pleased with your results.

Protect your seeds from fungus with natural products. You can use milled sphagnum moss to protect all your plants. If your seeds need light to grow, sprinkle the moss first and then place your seeds. This solution is much better than any chemicals you can find in a store and will protect your seeds efficiently.

Be specific about what you would like to grow in your organic garden. Different varieties of a particular flower or vegetable require different types of environments. For example, of the numerous varieties of roses, there are those that will thrive in your garden and those that will not. So be sure to choose the specific varieties that are most suited for your planting environment.

Many horse farms will give you their horse manure for free if you ask. Some will even transport it to your door for a small fee. Horse manure is rich in vitamins and minerals that plants crave. Usually, the manure is blended with wood shavings to reduce the smell. For the serious organic, make sure that the shavings used are also organic.

If you have children and want to become more involved with them, starting a small organic garden can be a great way. This type of hobby is wonderful for family bonding but also helps your children to start to understand many of the basics of the circle of life and growth.

Save your seeds. If you save the seeds from your plants, you will have new plants at no cost the next season. Remember to keep them in a cool, dry place as this is essential for germination. Always select the seed from the best individual plant, as this will ensure that you get a good plant next time around. Normally you can simply collect them from a dried flower head, but when saving seeds from something like a tomato, melon, or pumpkin, you will need to dry them thoroughly before storing them for the winter.

When growing your own organic plants, you should move your seedlings away from any air vents or radiators immediately upon germination. This is because your seedlings do not need to be really warm like germinating seeds do. They need to be cooler in order for them to grow in the best way.

Mulch should be your best friend when it comes to caring for your organic garden. Try to think of mulching as a way of maintaining the “floor” of your garden. To do this correctly every year, make sure to add one to three inches of compost or mulch when planting your beds.

Building an organic garden, as you’ve now read, is both easy and cost-effective. Stop buying inferior produce. You don’t need to pay an arm and a leg for organic produce elsewhere, if you start growing your own now! Apply the tips from this article today, to start producing your own fruits and vegetables!

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