While some people believe gardening takes too much hard work to be worth it, the truth is that a little knowledge goes a long way to making it easy, fun and fruitful. With the correct knowledge, anyone can be an expert gardener. This article provides valuable guidance that can help you on your road to becoming a master gardener.
The quick and drastic change in the weather conditions can shock your plants and cause them to die. It's important that you gradually change temperate conditions over time, so that your plants can adjust. Put them outdoors in the sun for no more than two hours the first day. Throughout the week, gradually increase the time they are spent outside. At week's end, the plants should be welcoming of their new home.
Select plants that produce a relatively high yield. Normally, hybrid plants that are disease-resistant and cold-tolerant have a greater yield than traditional varieties.
Sod should be laid properly. Start by preparing your soil with care. Remove any weeds, and break the soil up into a fine tilth. Lightly, but firmly compress the soil, making certain it is flat. Thoroughly water the soil. Sod should be staggered in rows, the joints offsetting from each other. 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. Sod must be watered every day for about two weeks, and then it will have rooted and be completely ready to be walked on.
You can use the wooden handles of your tools as measurement sticks. Tools that can be used for more than one task are quite handy to own. On the floor, simply lay out the handles, then take a tape measure and run it next to them. Then, transfer the measurements to the handle using a permanent marker. This will allow you to have a ruler at your fingertips when you are working out in the garden.
Flower Garden
Plant a variety of flowers to keep your flower garden colorful and interesting. Annuals and biennials can add excitement and interest to your flower garden every season. These types of flowers grow at high speed, which gives you more flexibility in changing the look of your flower beds as the seasons change. In addition, you might need something to fill empty spaces in your flower garden. Fill gaps with annuals or biennials. Just make sure the flowers will get enough sun to thrive. Some excellent choices include rudbeckia, hollyhock, sunflower, cosmos, petunia and marigold.
Annuals and biennials are an excellent way to add a splash of bright color to your flower gardens. Biennials and annuals that grow quickly can add color to a flower bed, plus they permit you to modify the way the flower bed looks each season and each year. They can be used to fill in gaps in your garden between the perennials or shrubs so your garden looks fuller. Notable biennials and annuals include marigold, sunflowers, hollyhock, petunia, and cosmos.
Transfer your favorite plants inside so they survive the winter. Try to save plants that are expensive or that are resistant enough to handle the transition. Dig around the roots carefully and transfer the plant to a pot.
Carefully plan your garden first. This will help you to remember where you planted the different plants when sprouts begin to shoot up from the ground. You can also avoid losing the smaller plants, or in larger gardens, the small plant groups.
If your landscape includes low-growing plants, you should invest in a set of knee pads specifically designed for gardening. If you spend a large portion of your horticulture session on your knees, it could create pain over time. Cushion your knees with a pair of horticulture knee pads.
Cover any wall or fence with climbers. Plants that climb are extraordinarily versatile, and can help hide an unsightly wall or fence, usually within one season. They can cover an arbor, or grow through trees and shrubs. Some varieties will climb and attach using their tendrils or branches, but some will need to be trained or supported with ties. You can be sure that varieties such as climbing roses, wisteria, jasmine, clematis and honeysuckle will grow very well.
Know when to harvest your vegetables at precisely the right time. Individual vegetables have distinct windows of time to pick for getting the greatest flavors. For instance, zucchini and baby peas have the best taste when you pick them early. By contrast, it's best to wait until tomatoes are fully ripe before picking them. Take some time to learn about the best harvest time for the vegetables that you have growing.
Like you were told you at the beginning, horticulture isn't hard to do if you understand what it is you are doing. Creating a beautiful garden will be a cinch for you after reading this article and following the tips provided.