If you are environmentally conscious and worried about the toxic effects of chemicals, organic gardening may be for you. Organic gardeners eschew the harsh chemicals and fertilizers used by large corporate farms. Organic gardening is a very cost-efficient way to grow fruits and vegetables. To begin your journey into the world of organic gardening, follow these tips.
Clay Soil
Many times when digging in clay soil the clay will adhere to the shovel, which will make it much harder to dig. Simplify the process by putting a bit of wax onto the shovel. The clay won’t stick then. The wax will enable the clay soil to simply slide off the shovel, and will also prevent the shovel from rusting.
If you have a wall or fence that you do not like, plant climbers to mask its appearance. Plants that climb are extraordinarily versatile, and can help hide an unsightly wall or fence, usually within one season. They can cover an arbor, or grow through trees and shrubs. Sometimes the plants will require being tied to supports, but some climbers will attach themselves naturally. Honeysuckle and jasmine are very beautiful varieties of such climbers.
You must be sure to remove all of the weeds that grow in your garden. Weeds will cause your garden to become overgrown and cluttered. White vinegar can be a good solution. Weeds can be killed by white vinegar! If you are too busy to pull weeds by hand, make a white vinegar solution and keep it handy for a quick spray when needed.
In a place that’s dark, pre-soak the seeds. Place your seeds in a container filled with water. This will hydrate your seeds and it will cause them to grow faster. The young plants will survive better, and get a boost toward maturity.
Coffee Grounds
If your soil is highly alkaline, try mixing used coffee grounds into the soil. Coffee grounds contain plenty of acid to get the soil back to a good balance. By amending your soils, you will help your plants grow and flourish.
Always have a plan for the garden prior to the start of planting it. Doing so means you can remember where each particular plant is when you start seeing sprouts arise from the earth. With a plan, you will also be less likely to lose track of small groups or individual plants within a large and ambitious garden.
You must protect tender, deciduous shrubs. If you have them in pots, you need to guard them from cold weather that will damage or kill them. Tie the tops together, and loosely cover the wigwam with a blanket or sheet. People sometimes use plastic to wrap their plants, but plastic can cause the plants to rot because it impedes air circulation.
Mint Leaves
Do you love fresh mint leaves but hate how they quickly grow to take over your garden? You can slow their growth rate by planting them in a garden container or large pot instead. If you would like the mint leaves to still be in the ground, simply plant the container, and the leaves will stay within the boundaries of the pot.
When tending a vegetable garden, you might find that pest control is a bit difficult. Since your vegetables are meant to be eaten, refrain from spraying them with harsh chemicals. Instead of resorting to these harmful chemicals, you can keep garden pests at bay simply by paying close attention. When you catch a potential infestation early, the solution may be as simple as picking the pests off of your plants with your fingers.
Give them a nutritious drink by using the water that you boiled your veggies in. You should also try using a bit of coffee grounds or tea to increase the acidity of the soil for your gardenias or your rhododendrons. If your garden has a fungus problem, a highly effective treatment method is to sprinkle it with chamomile tea.
Hopefully the useful advice in this article will help you create and maintain your own beautiful, healthy, and toxin free organic garden. In addition, you will notice more wildlife that congregates around your garden. You can be one with nature! Start planning your garden today.
