Saturday, July 21, 2012

Learn New Organic Gardening Techniques With These Simple Tips

Gardening can seem complicated at first, if you do not know what you are doing. This is especially true if you want to garden naturally. You may need to learn everything from soil pH to controlling pests without chemicals. If you are inexperienced with gardening, making the switch to organic methods may be a challenge for you. By reading the tricks in this article, you will find yourself better prepared to grow your food organically.

Make garden beds correctly, if you want to create an organic garden. A spade can be used to slice under your turf. With the turf placed outside, cover the scalped area with fine wood chips. Wait a few weeks before planting in it.

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.

One of the biggest benefits from eating food that is organically grown is the absence of pesticides. This is great for your health, but you do want to check the produce for bugs prior to using 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.

Try raising organic garlic. Garlic cloves may be planted in soil with good drainage in either the spring or fall. Plant your garlic cloves around 1-2 inches into the ground, making sure the end is pointed up and they are four inches from each other. Green garlic shoots, which can be cut while growing, can substitute nicely for scallions or chives. When the bulbs begin turning brown on top, they are ready for harvesting. The bulbs should be allowed to dry in the sunshine for a few days; the heat will harden the skin. They could be stored in an area that is cold, tied or loose in bunches.

Before planting anything in the organic garden, decide exactly what you want to grow. Different types of flowers, plants, fruits and vegetables, require different kinds of soils and environmental conditions to grow properly. Certain types of roses need a specific content of nutrients in the soil. Know your specific surroundings and what will thrive there.

Just by doing a few things, you can make a garden for perennials. Cut into your turf using a spade and then cover the exposed portion with lots of wood chips. Wait a few weeks before planting perennials in the new bed.

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.

If aphids become an issue in your garden, then good old soapy water may do the trick and solve your problem. Simply spray the plant with a mixture of soap and water in its entirety, including its leaves, buds and stems, and then rinse with clean water.

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.

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.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Organic Gardening Has Never Been This Easy!

Having an organic garden does make it easier to eat healthy fruits and vegetables, but planning a garden and choosing the correct equipment can be a complex process. You can choose from many different seeds. Whether you are growing your first garden or looking for a few new tips, the following tips give some easy-to-implement organic gardening device.

Try to use untreated wood, brick or stone and make a raised bed. If you choose to use wood, make sure it is naturally rot resistant and untreated. Good choices are cypress, cedar and locust. Take care to avoid wood that has been chemically treated when your garden will hold vegetables, since unknown substances in the wood can make their way into your future food. If you are already using treated lumber, you can use plastic liners, or a different barrier, in order to protect your garden.

Adding too much water could be harmful to the plants, because excess water will hinder the roots ability to get the nutrients they need from the soil. Prior to watering your outdoor plants, you should check with weather stations to see if it will be raining later in the day. If rain is predicted, you shouldn't bother to water any outdoor plants for that day..

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.

Have biodiversity in your organic garden. Plants that naturally grow in your region will thrive when planted in your garden. If you are interested in creating an untamed, natural look for your garden, you should include many varieties of plants. If you do this, you can create a naturally relaxing atmosphere, and have satisfaction from helping the environment yourself.

Coffee grounds are good for your soil. Coffee grounds are filled with nitrogen, that is a nutrient required by plants. Generally, nitrogen is the limiting nutrient with any plant and having a good nitrogen source either by coffee grounds, compost, or even diluted urea, will make your plants bloom faster and grow taller.

One way to help your organic garden thrive is to leave an undeveloped area that is conducive to the wildlife around your area. Doing this will allow creatures that help plants to produce and pollinate to continue their actions, which will have a positive effect on the garden you develop.

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!

Although organic gardening is often much harder than using chemicals, the reward is much greater. Even though the claims of the chemicals may be astounding, the organic way is always going to provide the best reward to you and whoever is eating your crops.

Using a good amount of mulch is a wonderful method to conserve water in your garden at home. Mulch can decrease your need to water plants because it provides and conserves the moisture available to your plants. The mulch could be store-bought, made from decayed plant material or comprised of tree bark. It is important to use a large amount of whatever mulch you have.

For some plants, pine needles makes an ideal mulch. Many types of plants thrive in soil that has high acid levels. For these types of plants, pine needles are wonderful for mulching. Cover up your beds with a few inches of needles. As they start to decompose, they'll spread out acid onto the ground and soil.

Making compost is a wonderful way to get fertilizer for the garden. An effective technique is to start a worm compost container. Purchase red wriggler worms, then cultivate your compost bin with a combination of the worms, dirt, leftovers from your dinner table and shredded newsprint.

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.

Organic Gardening Ideas To Maximize Your Garden's Potential

All it takes to grow an organic garden is a few natural growing methods. All you need to do is gain a little knowledge, and then put it to good use.

For the best results when mulching, you should aim to create a bed of mulch two to three inches thick. Mulch adds nutrients to soil, maintains moisture and prevents weed growth.

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.

Try to make your organic garden a beautiful shade garden. Shaded gardens require very little upkeep, making them ideal for many amateur gardeners. They save much time and work because they require less water. While the plants in shade gardens grow slower, so do the weeds.

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.

Keep the temperature in your home between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, if you are keeping or growing any kind of plant in your house. Young plants need a temperature within that specific range to grow. If you think it would not be comfortable to keep your residence that warm in the winter, consider purchasing a heat lamp to use on the plants.

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.

When growing organic plants indoors, it is important to consider the amount of light that is available to them. If your home does not let in sufficient light, then consider getting plants that thrive in low-light situations. If you already have plants that need full light and the natural light provided is not sufficient, artificial lights can supplement their needs.

Weeds are a problem in any garden, even organic ones. This is an organic weed killer that is safer for you and for the environment.

Pay attention to which products you can use in your garden. Rather than dousing your garden with chemical fertilizers, use an organic alternative. Compost is a great example of what to use. Organic materials hold many advantages over chemical methods. Chemicals tend to build up in the soil, which can leach into the drinking water.

Using a large amount of mulch in your garden will save water. Adding additional mulch means your plants will require less water. The mulch could be store-bought, made from decayed plant material or comprised of tree bark. The most important thing is to have an adequate supply of it.

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.

Anyone can plant a garden, but only those with the proper knowledge will receive the most out of their crop. Use the tips provided here for organic gardening.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Simple Advice That Makes A Better Gardener!

There are many different reasons for adopting organic gardening methods. For example, some people prefer to use organic gardening to cultivate edibles for the dinner table. But, you need to put in a lot of effort to grow your garden effectively. Knowing where to start when planning an organic garden can be a little confusing.

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.

Strawberries are a great plant to grow in any organic garden, especially if you happen to have kids or any strawberry lover in your home. You will find that they enjoy participating in gardening if they are allowed to pluck the fresh berries and eat them straight from the earth.

Pine is a wonderful mulch so do not discard the idea. Some garden plants have a higher acidity, and prefer a more acidic soil. If you have these plants in your garden, keep them healthy by using pine needles as mulch. Cover the beds with a couple inches of needles and as they decompose, they will disperse acid to the soil.

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.

Include your children in your efforts to organic gardening. Helping a garden grow is an excellent learning experience for kids, and it allows your family to spend time together while creating healthy, nutritious foods.

Depending on the season and weather, adjust your watering habits. The amount of water you need to give your plants depends on soil type, quality of water and time of day. For instance, if you are in a warm and humid climate, avoid getting any water on the leaves because this will cause leaf fungus. Instead, water the root system well.

You can create your own tent to protect your plants in the wintertime. Use old bean poles and stick them into the ends of your beds. Next, cover the tops of the poles with an old sheet or tarp. Bricks, or bags of soil can be used to hold down the edges. This is a cheap method of building a tent to ensure that you save your crops during the winter.

Mulch your flowers and trees with three inches of organic materials. This strategy is highly effective because it benefits both your wallet and your planet. Water conservation is a major environmental concern that accompanies other, non-organic gardening practices. The proper amount of mulch also makes for a very attractive appearance.

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.

Using a large amount of mulch in your garden will save water. Adding additional mulch means your plants will require less water. The mulch could be store-bought, made from decayed plant material or comprised of tree bark. The most important thing is to have an adequate supply of it.

Organize the chores for your organic garden so they do not pile up. You may not have a lot of time to exclusively devote to your gardening hobby, but you can make the most of the time you do have. For example, if you are playing in the yard with your child, take a few moments to pull some weeds as well.

In conclusion, creating and maintaining an organic garden requires hard work, effort and research. Persistence is also a necessary ingredient for success. Remembering the above tips, you can successfully grow an organic garden.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Use These Tips To Become Skilled At Organic Gardening

Your goal is to plant the best organic garden possible. You've come to the right place! Listed below are some tips that will help you get started with your organic gardening aspirations.

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.

Annually rotate your garden. Planting the same type of plant in the same area of your garden each year can cause disease or encourage fungus growth. The next year, when you plant the same plants in the same area of your garden, they'll be exposed to these problems. Rotating the types of plants that you grow will help to keep the fungi and diseases from gaining a foothold.

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.

By planting garlic around your garden, you can deter bugs from taking up residence. The smell of garlic repels the majority of garden pests. You want to plant these especially around the perimeter, as well as near those plants prone to insect damage. One benefit of planting garlic is edibility.

If you want a sustainable garden, leave part of it undisturbed as a home for the wildlife in the area. This is a great natural way to allow the insects and animals found in nature to assist with the growth of your garden.

Organic gardening is a relaxing hobby that will give you a great sense of satisfaction. When you grow organic, you will learn much more about the planting and growing process, from A to Z.

Add used coffee grounds to your garden soil. Coffee grounds contain many of the essential nitrogenous nutrients that plants are able to use. The coffee grounds act as a powerful nitrogen source that will help your plants bloom much quicker.

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.

Organic fruits and vegetables grow without being exposed to pesticides and other chemicals. This is great for the health of your family, but you will still have to regularly check your plants for bugs and pests.

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.

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.

With these tips still fresh in your mind, you should be feeling more confident about your knowledge of organic gardening methods. You should be well on your way to be an expert in organic gardening. Remember to apply these tips as you plan and take care of your garden.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Easy And Fast Organic Gardening Tips For You

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!

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.

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.

You should use wood that is untreated, brick or stone when building the raised bed. If you choose wood, ensure that it has not been treated with a sealant or other chemicals. Some good choices include locust, cypress, and cedar. In order to avoid toxic substances from getting into the ground and perhaps into your vegetables, avoid using treated wood to enclose or demarcate different sections of your vegetable garden. If you have built a bed with treated lumber already, use a barrier such as plastic to line the bed.

Plant trees strategically to maximize the amount of natural share over your home. Your trees can provide natural cooling by shading your house.

One great way to keep your plants healthy is to spray them with a mix of water and milk regularly. Use six parts water and one part milk. This can prevent the powdery mildew that ruins plants. You can hold the solution in the refrigerator for a maximum of three weeks. The solution is gentle enough that you can use it daily until you are able to eliminate the mildew problem.

There are a variety of plants that are possible to be grown in organic gardens. Many acid-loving plants love mulch. These kinds of plants need to be mulched with thick layers of pine needles during fall each year. Pine needles in particular produce a lot of acid as they begin to decompose. Your plants will love this.

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.

Try planting your organic garden in the shade. These types of gardens are incredibly low maintenance, which many people will be relieved to hear. They don't require as much watering, and that can save you a lot of time and effort. While the plants in shade gardens grow slower, so do the weeds.

Preparing the soil for your perennial garden is easy. Use a spade to dig into the turf, turn the turf over, then spread the area with approximately three inches of wood chips. Give the area a couple of weeks, then dig into it and plant your new perennials.

For some plants, pine needles makes an ideal mulch. Many types of plants thrive in soil that has high acid levels. For these types of plants, pine needles are wonderful for mulching. Cover up your beds with a few inches of needles. As they start to decompose, they'll spread out acid onto the ground and soil.

Making compost is a wonderful way to get fertilizer for the garden. An effective technique is to start a worm compost container. Purchase red wriggler worms, then cultivate your compost bin with a combination of the worms, dirt, leftovers from your dinner table and shredded newsprint.

Never buy poor produce again. Use the tips featured above the next time you are in your garden, and in the not too distant future, you could be harvesting your very own organic fruits, vegetables and herbs.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Organic Gardening Tips That Will Help You Grow Better Food

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!

You can add richness to your compost heap by mixing in the dead leaves that you have raked in your yard. When you put leaves into your garden, the soil can take advantage of nutrients as the leaves decompose. This is a free way to boost the health of your garden's soil.

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.

You need to make a bed that is efficient for your plants. A spade can be used to slice under your turf. Then turn it over and put wood chips on this area. Three to four inches should be enough. After several weeks, you can begin to cut in it, then plant.

Stagger you vegetable planting so you will have a new harvest every month or so. This staggers your harvest over time. Additionally, if one crop is damaged in some way, you will still have more to look forward to.

A large part of organic gardening is paying close attention to the amount of water that is used. Obtain a soaker hose to use for the watering. Soaker hoses can provide water directly to your plants' bases. This stops the water from evaporating, which causes plants to lose moisture and become dehydrated after being watered. Watering during the early hours of the morning is best.

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.

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!

You can be a bit more environmentally friendly by doing things like saving rainwater. To collect rainwater, use rain barrels or buckets. This prevents the need to pay for water used in your garden. Rainwater is not only free, but it is abundant, too. The natural beneficial relationship between plants and rainwater is also worth noting.

Use fresh water to clean your vegetables, and then save this water for your garden. You can reuse the nutrients and dirt washed from fresh vegetables and it can add nourishment that tap and rain water do not offer. However, be aware that any type of cleaners can be harmful to your soil. Therefore, use only water when cleaning your vegetables.

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.

Now that you have read this article, you know why organic gardening is such a fun activity. There is so much fun and relaxation to be had as one tries to make their garden grow properly. Remember these tips to grow the perfect organic garden.