Organic horticulture can be a majorly relaxing hobby, or a major headache. Here are some suggestions to get you on the right path to successful organic horticulture.
Plants that result in a larger yield should be higher on your priority list when planning the garden. A hybrid designed for your weather, and resistant to local diseases, will give a better yield than non-hybrids.
When powdery mildew appears on your plants, you should not rush out to purchase a costly chemical treatment. All it takes is a liquid soap, water, and baking soda mixture. You just need to spray your plants with this solution once every five days until the mildew is no longer visible. Do not worry about your plants; the baking soda cannot harm them.
Pay attention to how you lay sod. Before laying the sod, have your soil prepared. Pull any weeds and break up any clods of soil. The next step is compacting your soil and carefully leveling it. Thoroughly moisten the soil. Avoid laying your sod in straight rows with all of the seams lining up. Instead, stagger the rows for a more pleasing visual effect. Even out the surface of the sod by firming it down flat, filling any available gaps with a handful of dirt. Water the sod for two weeks and then you can safely walk on it as it will have had time to properly root.
It is important to choose the right type of soil if you want to achieve the best results. Depending on what type of plants you have, your soil may or may not be adapted. You can also make an artificial area with one variety of soil.
Be diligent in your efforts to banishing weeds! Those nasty weeds can turn your beautiful garden into a scruffy version of its former self. To help with weed destruction, use white vinegar. White vinegar is a weed killer! Load up your spray bottle with some white vinegar, and spray the weeds away instead of breaking your back removing them by hand.
Do you hate how fresh mint leaves grow and take over your lovely garden but still like them? You can slow down this growth by planting them inside a pot or container! You can plant the container into the soil if you want to, but the container will restrict the roots, and make sure that the plant doesn't run rampant in your garden.
Slug-proof your garden with smart perennial choices. Snails and slugs can quickly wreak havoc on a garden. These pests prefer plants with thin smooth leaves. Plant some helleborus or euphorbias along with your other perennials. Certain perennials are unappetizing to slugs and snails, especially those with tough, hairy leaves or an unappetizing taste. Some of these plants include achillea, campanula, euphorbia, hellaborus, and heuchera.
Start a new garden from seeds. The most “green” way to create a new garden is starting from seeds. Most nurseries use plastic containers to grow seedling. This plastic is seldom recycled, so most is dumped in landfills. Be kind to the environment and start your garden with seeds or purchase young plants from nurseries that use organic packaging materials.
Try placing evergreens that grow berries around your garden. These will help give your garden a burst of color, even in the winter months when most other vegetation has lost their colors. Plants which you can purchase that offer color during the winter are the Winterberry, the Common Snowberry, the American Holly, and the American Cranberrybush.
Choose a specific plant to become your garden's focal point. The best garden designers always use a focal point that draws the eye. Quite often a distinctive plant works well as a point of interest.
Make a plan for your garden. This helps you remember where each plant was planted before they begin to sprout. It's also a good way to keep smaller plants from getting swallowed up by the rest of your garden.
As you now know, organic gardening isn't as simple as you may have thought. Every time you enjoy your vegetables, fruits, flowers or just take a satisfying glance around your garden, you'll realize that all your efforts have been worth it. Using the tips that you just learned you can improve your skills in organic horticulture.