Horticulture is a thing people have loved for hundreds of years. Some people do it as a hobby, while others do it to feed their family. This article can help you experience the joy of gardening.
Choose the varieties of plants that will produce a higher yield. Hybrids are usually hardier in terms of disease and weather resistance, and are designed to produce more.
Your tool handles can easily be used as handy rulers. Large handled tools such as shovels, rakes, and hoes can be used as measuring sticks. After laying the handles on the floor, run the measuring tape along beside them. Next, use a Sharpie to accurately label the distance between each one. When you decide to work in the garden again, you will now have a ruler at your disposal.
Many times when digging in clay soil the clay will adhere to the shovel, which will make it much harder to dig. Use a thin coat of floor or car wax on your shovel, then buff it with a nice clean cloth to make dealing with clay soil easier. The shovel will glide through the clay and as a bonus, your shovel will be resistant to rust.
Choose perennials that slugs are not attracted to. Your plants can be destroyed by slugs and snails overnight. These pests gravitate to young perennials with smooth, tender, thin leaves. Others, though, are disliked by slugs and snails. Those with rough leaves or an unappetizing taste will be less desired by slugs and snails. A few great choices are achillea, campanula, and heuchera. Other options from which you can choose are hellebourus and euphorbia.
Try using annuals and biennials to add color to your flower beds, and brighten them up. Using a variety of flowers allows your flower garden to have a different look each season. They can be used to fill in gaps in your garden between the perennials or shrubs so your garden looks fuller. Notable collections include sunflower, marigold, hollyhock, rudbeckia, cosmos, and petunia.
If you have a wall or fence that you do not like, plant climbers to mask its appearance. Climbing plants can cover a wall after one growing season only. They also have been known to grow through existing trees or shrubs, or can be easily taught to cover any size arbor. Some require ties attaching them to supports, but others will attach themselves to any surface nearby. Some climbers that have proven to be reliable are honeysuckle, jasmine, wisteria, clematis, and climbing roses.
Starting off your garden with healthy soil can be the best defense against those pesky garden bugs. The healthier the plants you grow, the more resistant they'll be to illness, fungus, or bugs. So if you want your garden to provide plants that are as healthy as possible, you need a good quality soil that contains few chemicals and that can accumulate salts over time.
Check the nutrients in the soil before you plant your garden. Consider getting a soil analysis and working on enrichment techniques for giving your garden a vibrant and healthy environment. Before you ruin any crops, make sure you do this. Soil can be analyzed at a lot of cooperative extension offices, so make sure you plan accordingly.
As previously discussed, gardening has been a source of enjoyment for centuries. Back in the day, horticulture was a necessary in order to survive. Now people either do it for necessity, pleasure, or to make some money. The tips in this article will increase the satisfaction you get from horticulture. Enjoy your garden!