Horticulture can be very complicated, when you look at it more closely. If you plan on gardening the natural way, you might have to understand certain complexities like the soil's PH balance and bug fighting concoctions. If you are a newbie, getting into organic horticulture can be daunting. Use the tips below to grow like a pro.
In the cold winter months, you can salvage certain plants by bringing them into the house. Your best bet would be try to save the best or most hearty plants. Carefully loosen the dirt around the roots, then transfer the plant into a pot filled with the same soil.
When gardening, beware of stink bugs and other insects, particularly in the autumn. These bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and many kinds of fruits. If left uncontrolled, they can cause substantial damage in your garden, so make plans for how to protect your plants from these pests.
Clay soil can be very hard to work with, and you will often find that it sticks to the shovel. Coat the shovel with floor or car wax, and buff it with a clean rag to make the job a lot easier. The clay will slide off of its surface and it will prevent rust.
As you cut your grass, do not trim it too low to the ground. Keeping grass with a little more height makes it healthier. This allows the roots to grow more deeply and makes the blades of grass more resistant to becoming dry and discolored. Short grass on the other hand is more susceptible to drying out.
If you discover that your soil is very alkaline, take used coffee grounds and mix them thoroughly with your soil. This is an easy and inexpensive method to increase the acidity of your soil. The greens and vegetables need the proper balance and will grow bigger and stronger with the right mix.
If you want to effectively weed out young plants, you can try “boiling” away the weeds. The safest herbicide that you can probably find is a cup of boiling water. Although this method is organic, it does pose a danger to your plants. Boiling water is not good for the weed roots and will stunt further growth.
Look for the variants of a plant that offer the highest yield. Many times, a cold-tolerant or disease-resistant hybrid can have a higher yield versus traditional ones.
Invest in a quality wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool if gardening work is going to happen often. You can make horticulture much more comfortable on your knees by using a portable garden stool. Using a wheelbarrow or wagon to transport heavy loads of dirt will help protect you from back injuries so make sure that you have one.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are a great addition to soil. Coffee grounds are filled with nutritional elements plants need, such as nitrogen. Plants need an adequate nitrogen source in order to thrive. Adding coffee grounds, chemical fertilizer, or diluted urea to your soil increases the soil's nitrogen content and will help to make your plants grow faster, taller and healthier.
Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is essential to the growth of plants because of its role in photosynthesis. Plants are more likely to thrive in environments where high levels of CO2 are present. A greenhouse will provide the best method of providing enough CO2 for your plants. A greenhouse will help maintain a high level of CO2 and cause the plants to grow faster.
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.