One of the tenets of organic gardening is to focus on the garden and to tend it well. This can be achieved by using smart, eco-savvy gardening techniques. Doing so will increase both the quantity and the quality of the produce you grow in your organic garden. Follow this advice and your organic garden will soon be flourishing above the rest!
Transform the handles of your tools into convenient measuring devices. Tools that have long handles such as rakes, hoes and shovels can be used in place of a measuring stick. Place the handles on the floor to measure the distance between them. Paying close attention to the measurements, use a black marker to establish each interval along the handle’s side in a clearly visible manner. Now, every time you work in your garden, you are going to have a powerful ruler at the touch of your fingertips.
Cover fences and walls with lots of climbers. Many climbers can cover the wall or fence in as little as one growing season. They also have been known to grow through existing trees or shrubs, or can be easily taught to cover any size arbor. Some varieties will climb and attach using their tendrils or branches, but some will need to be trained or supported with ties. Some climbers that have proven to be reliable are honeysuckle, jasmine, wisteria, clematis, and climbing roses.
When winter arrives, you can save some plants by placing them in your home. You might want to transplant your most valuable varieties. When you dig up the plant, carefully avoid the roots then place it in a container.
Try growing some cat grass or wheat grass in the vicinity of the plants that your cat likes to eat. You could also repel your pet by planting rosemary or placing citrus fruit peels around your garden.
Fertilizer in the garden is a must. Manure is great in enabling plants to grow, although it’s vital to use commercially composted products in order to lessen the risk of a variety of pathogens. There are many fertilizer options available, though in reality, whatever type you choose will do the job as long as you are using something.
There are natural steps you can take to keep garden pests at bay. Slugs stay away from marigolds and onions when they are planted in a garden. Wood ash, when used as mulch, can help keep insects away from trees and shrubs. With these natural methods, there is no need to purchase expensive, harsh pesticides.
The water that is leftover from the steamed vegetables is great to pour over them. Used teabags or grounds from coffee are a great way to add acid to the soil. Chamomile tea can be effective if you have problems with fungus in your garden. Simply sprinkle it on the affected plant.
The flesh of vegetables gets soft in the heat of the day, making them especially vulnerable to inadvertent damage with even the gentlest picking. You should also be sure to cut them off the vine and not twist them, as twisting can hurt the plant.
Get your children interested in helping with your organic garden. Gardens are a wonderful place for kids to learn, and working side by side with them can strengthen the bond that you have.
If you have children, plant strawberries, especially everbearing strawberries, in your organic garden. Children will be more willing to help you if they can pluck their own fruit from the garden.
Make sure you have your gardening tools near you, so you can maximize your gardening efficiency. Carry a large bucket with you or wear pants with a lot of pockets. Keep your gloves, pruning shears, a hand spade and your other tools handy to quickly and easily do your garden maintenance.
Cover your muddy shoes with plastic bags. You’ll be able to keep your momentum going without needing to take off your shoes, and stay on track with your gardening project.
If you want to sell your crops, you should become a certified organic gardener. This will up your sales and prove to your loyal customers that what they have been getting is only the best that you possibly could get.
Organic gardening can be more difficult than gardening with chemicals, but the end result makes it worth it. 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.
Water demands from plants will depend on the season and the climate in your area. 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. Gardeners in warm, moist climates should avoid watering leafy plants as this makes them more vulnerable to fungal growths. Instead focus on watering the root system.
The best option available to water an organic garden are soaker hoses. With a soaker hose, you actually help your plants grow to their potential because the water slowly seeps out the hose which helps guide it to the roots, allowing the leaves to remain dry. Soaker hoses don’t use as much water as sprinklers, and make it easy to water plants.
When preparing to plant a shrub or tree in your garden, consider digging a hole that looks ugly for planting them. If the sides of the hole you dug is packed hard by the shovel, the roots of your plant may have difficulty penetrating the surrounding soil.
You’re probably aware that compost is very beneficial to organic gardens, but are you aware of what goes into it? Compost is a mixture of scraps, grass clippings and leaves that have been allowed to break down which results in new rich soil. You want to use this type of fertilizer as opposed to one that is commercial.
As you can conclude from what you have just read, having an organic garden can provide you with nutrient rich and fresh fruits and vegetables. 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.
