Shoots, Sprouts And Stems: Horticulture Advice And Ideas

In the world of organic horticulture, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced organic gardeners alike. There are many e-guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This set of tips contains some of the best advice for helping a good organic gardener become a great organic gardener.

Use slug-proof varieties of perennials wherever possible. Snails and slugs are garden nightmares, and only need a single evening to obliterate a plant. These pests gravitate to young perennials with smooth, tender, thin leaves. Perennials that have tough or hairy leaves are often times unappetizing to snails and slugs. These varieties include achillea, helleborus, heuchera, euphorbia, and campanula.

Plants will respond with maximum growth if they have the amount of CO2 they require. Plants are more likely to thrive in environments where high levels of CO2 are present. A greenhouse will provide plants with an environment rich in carbon dioxide. The levels need to be kept high for optimum greenery growth.

Learn how to properly lay sod. Be sure to get your soil prepared before you start laying the new sod. Weed the soil well, and till the entire lawn area. Make sure your soil is flat and compacted. The soil should be adequately moistened. The sod should be laid in staggered rows, with the joints offset from one another. You want the sod to end up as a flat and even surface. If there are any gaps in between the sod pieces, then you can fill these in with some soil. Once it is in place, the sod requires frequent watering for at least two weeks. This is usually the amount of time it takes for the sod to grow roots, making it ready to grow seamlessly into place.

Grow some plants that cats like to eat – try catnip or wheat grass. Another option is to place offensively smelling objects on the topsoil near and around the plants you want to protect. Citrus peels or mothballs are a couple of examples.

If you are a first time gardener, it is important that you follow all of the instructions on all of your tools and chemicals. Some of the chemicals in these products can cause skin irritation, or worse, if you fail to take this simple precaution. Keep your health intact and follow the directions to the letter.

If you want your garden to be off-limits to your dog, spray a scented perimeter around it using things like old perfumes or aftershave. These scents overpower the garden's scents, which causes your dog to lose interest.

Plant seeds in pots that have a rich soil to give them a strong start. Doing this will increase the survival rate of all your outdoor plants. In addition, you can shorten the intervals between your plantings. After you remove the mature plants from your garden, you can immediately replace them with the seedlings and start the cycle over again.

Vegetables are softer in the heat of the hottest part of the day; even gently picking them at that time can damage them. Cut them with a tool rather than pulling or twisting, otherwise you could damage the plant itself.

Organic Garden

Include your kids in growing an organic garden. An organic garden will help your child learn more about plants and insects, and it's a wonderful bonding time while growing healthy produce.

When winter arrives, you could save some plants by placing them inside your house. You might want to transplant your most valuable varieties. Carefully dig around the rootball and replant in an appropriate pot.

If sustainability and organic horticulture are appealing to you, leave a portion of the property you own undeveloped to give wildlife a place to thrive. You will see many of the birds and insects that are present will assist in pollination and plant production, helping to create a much better garden.

Becoming a skilled gardener isn't going to happen overnight, but if you can use the information you have learned here, you can certainly work toward becoming a great gardener. There is a lot of information to be had and you need to know how to apply it. If you remember these tips, you can make the most of organic gardening methods.