One great way to improve your diet and give yourself a fun an interesting hobby is to plant an organic garden. Taking care of a garden does require effort in order to make things grow. You may be curious as to how to start the organic horticulture process.
Check the nutrients in the soil before you plant your garden. Many nurseries offer a soil analysis service, which will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking and what you can do about it. Cooperative Extension departments often offer this testing service. It is a worthwhile effort so a garden can be productive on the first year of planting.
Try growing some cat grass or wheat grass in the vicinity of the plants that your cat likes to eat. It may also work to add citrus peelings or mothballs to the soil of the plants, because the odor is unpleasant to cats.
Make sure to lay the sod properly. You want to prepare the soil before you lay down the sod. Weeds should be removed, and you should break up the soil into a tilth. Lightly, but firmly compact the soil, making sure it is flat. Be sure the soil is thoroughly moist. Lay the sod down in alternated rows, keeping the joints set off from one another. Pat down the sod and fill any gaps with soil. Water the sod for two weeks and then you can safely walk on it as it will have had time to properly root.
Don't mow your grass too short. Higher grass has deeper roots, meaning a healthier lawn that will be less likely to dry out. If you have short grass, you will have short roots and you will dry out your grass.
Coffee Grounds
For areas with high alkaline, mix coffee grounds into the soil. Using coffee grounds is a less expensive way to make your soil more acidic than trying to replace your topsoil. You will notice that your vegetables and greens will have a stronger taste.
When winter arrives, transfer some plants into the house to save them. It's a good idea to save any expensive plants or those that will thrive in indoor heat. Carefully dig up the plants, using caution not to disturb the roots, then transfer into a pot.
Use horticulture to relax. There are a wide variety of things you can do to release stress and relax. One of the greatest such methods is the art of gardening. You will not need to spend a lot of money to grow your garden, and it provides many benefits. The biggest dividend is the emotional satisfaction of planting and growing greens on your own.
Mixing a variety of plants at different heights is how you can make a very interesting English garden. If you use plants of similar heights, the result will be pretty boring and uniform.
Aspirin water has disease-prevention properties that can protect plants. Crush and dissolve one and one-half 325mg tablets in two full gallons of plain water. Spray this mixture onto your plants. Plants should be sprayed once every two to three weeks.
When you are tending your garden in the fall, be on the alert for stink bugs. These destructive pests enjoy many kinds of fruit, as well as beans, peppers and tomatoes. If not taken care of, these pests can damage the garden, so take steps to cut down their population.
Indoor Plants
Indoor plants have been bred over time to thrive in temperatures that are characteristic of a home. Most indoor plants like to be in about 70 degree temperatures, plus or minus 5 degrees. Warm temperatures encourage plant growth. If this is a little too warm for your house, grow your organic plants under a heat lamp.
You can grow a great organic garden if you decide to dedicate your time and efforts to it. For the best results, you need to be dedicated to the work. By keeping in mind the above tips, you're on the right track towards being successful in your organic garden.
Make sure to protect your tender shrubs from the elements. If the temperature drops below 50 degrees, you should consider protecting them, especially if they do best in warm environments. With a sheet or blanket, you want to loosely cover the wigwam after you tie the tops of the canes together. This is better than using plastic to wrap the plant, as more air can circulate.