Horticulture can be relaxing and inexpensive. Horticulture is a great way to spend time with your family and friends. Children will be delighted watching seeds grow and flourish into beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables. This is a great way to help them appreciate the great outdoors and nature. The advice in this article will help you to view gardening as a relaxing hobby rather than a chore, and when you enjoy it yourself, it will be easy to encourage others to join in.
Clay Soil
Shoveling clay soil is tiresome since clay is hard, and it can also stick to your shovel for twice the difficulty. One way to get around this problem is to coat the shovel with wax. Use a clean cloth to spread the wax evenly. The wax will enable the clay soil to simply slide off the shovel, and will also prevent the shovel from rusting.
Try dousing weeds in your garden with boiling water to get rid of them. Boiling water is a safe herbicide which won't damage your garden or your body. One simple layer across the weeds with a pot of boiling water will take care of the problem, but you have to remember the same applies to your plants, as well. Boiling water kills weeds by destroying their roots. Weeds won't be able to survive, never mind grow, with damaged weeds.
Healthy soil will be your best defense against the pests that can invade your garden. Healthy soil encourages vigorous plant growth and makes your garden more resistant to common diseases and insects. Use a high-quality organic soil and as few chemicals as possible.
Climbing plants and vines are great for covering fences and wall structures. These versatile plants can grow over fences to enhance the fence's appearance. Often, climbers grow quickly, so you'll get the effect you want by the time the season changes. Climbers can also be trained to grow and cover an arbor, and they will grow through or around existing trees and shrubs. Some may need to be attached to a support, and others will attach themselves to any surface using their twining stems or tendrils. If you're looking for the most reliable varieties available, choose from clematis, wisteria, and climbing roses.
Pre-soak your seeds through the night in a dark area. Place a couple of seeds in a tiny container, and fill it with water nearly to the top. The water will hydrate the sends, giving them a head start once you plant them. Seeds that are cultivated this way are more likely to survive and mature properly.
Divide your irises. Increase your iris population when you divide up overgrown clumps. Pick up bulbous irises after the foliage dies. The bulbs will then split naturally in the palm of your hand and if they're re-planted, they can flower next year. You should divide rhizomes using a knife. You can trim new pieces away from the outside of the bulbs and then simply throw the old center away. If done properly, each piece that remains for planting should have a minimum of one viable offshoot. For optimum viability, plant your new cuttings into the ground without delay.
Both cat grass and wheat grass are good for giving your errant feline pause. Offensive smells also work to repel cats and other pesky animals from eating your plants. Try putting mothballs, citrus peels, garlic and other pungent items on the topsoil.
No matter whether you garden with others or on your own, you can use these suggestions. Take what you have learned here, and help your family enjoy horticulture, get together with your friends or just have fun by yourself.