Learning about horticulture can be very overwhelming, but just like anything else, it can also be very easily researched, taught, and learned. We truly hope that these tips will get you started on a lifetime of successful, happy, gardening and learning.
Clay Won
Clay soil is hard and will also stick to a shovel, making it difficult to work with. Simplify the process by putting a bit of wax onto the shovel. The clay won't stick then. The clay won't stick to it, and the end will not rust as an added bonus.
Use pots to start your plants, then transfer them to a garden when they become seedlings. This boosts the chance that the plants can survive to adulthood. This will also allow you to stick to a tighter, cleaner planting schedule. As soon as you harvest the mature plants in your garden, your new seedlings will be large enough to plant outside!
Choose plant strains that will give you the best harvest with the biggest yield. A plant that is resistant to disease, or one that is tolerant of extreme weather, will deliver a higher yield.
Make sure your soil is healthy enough before you start planting anything. Have a soil report done. It is cost effective and you can make necessary adjustments, based on the report, to your soil so it is correctly enriched to encourage plant growth. It can avoid ruined vegetables and flowers, so check with places, such as a cooperative extension department to see where you can obtain the analysis.
Before you start planting your garden, plan it out. It will be a while before things start to sprout and visually remind you of what was planted where, so a written record can be helpful. You are also less likely to lose smaller members of the larger garden in the overall mix.
Make garden tools do double duty as handy makeshift rulers. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, shovels or hoes can work as great measuring sticks. Simply lay the handles out on the floor and run a measuring tape next to them. Label the distances onto them using a permanent marker pen. Now, every time you work in your garden, you are going to have a powerful ruler at the touch of your fingertips.
Make sure you protect any tender deciduous shrubs. If the temperature drops below 50 degrees, you should consider protecting them, especially if they do best in warm environments. You want to then tie the tops of the canes together, and cover them with a sheet or blanket. This is better than using plastic to wrap the plant, as more air can circulate.
Knee Pads
To save your knees from the wear and tear of horticulture, invest in some knee pads if your garden includes a lot of low-growth plants. Kneeling on the ground as you garden will eventually cause serious discomfort for your knees. Using a pair of quality knee pads designed for gardening can provide your knees with cushioning and support, preventing any discomfort.
Vegetables should be planted in an area where they will get a minimum of six hours of daily sunlight. Many of the vegetables need a lot of sun, so they can grow right and at a faster pace. Some flowers also need six hours of daily direct sun in order to grow and blossom well.
Not as difficult as you thought, right? There is, of course, a vast amount of information out there on horticulture. All you need is an indication of where to begin. Hopefully, this article has provided you with just that.