Holistic lifestyles are starting to become more popular, and people are starting to live more organically. People who want to develop a more environmentally friendly attitude may not know where to start to reap the benefits of organic gardening. Focus on the fantastic organic gardening tips laid out below.
When you are organic gardening, ask your children to lend a hand. Growing a garden is a great way to teach your children about nature while allowing you to have time to bond with them.
A great way to ensure that your organic garden will do well is to keep a section of your land unspoiled. The natural wildlife will spring up and make for a perfect organic habitat. This will also benefit your cultivated gardens as it will attract more bugs and birds to pollinate your other plants.
To keep your houseplants happy during the day, your thermostat should be set anywhere between 65 and 75 degrees. Plants require a warmer climate to grow. If you wish to keep your house cooler than that, you may want to use a heat lamp just for the plants.
Preparing a plot for planting a perennial garden can be done quickly and without difficulty. It isn’t as hard as it may seem; you basically just slice down under the turf, flip it over, and spread wood chips four to three inches. Wait two weeks, then dig in and plant the new perennials.
Before planting any perennials, you have to make the ground ready. Simply slice into the ground with a spade, flip the top layer of soil, and then cover it with several inches of wood chips. Wait for a few weeks and plant new perennials in this area.
Have your tools for gardening nearby in order to maximize your efficiency with gardening. You can wear an apron or pants that have a lot of pockets, or use a big bucket or can. Have gloves, shears, a trowel and anything else you need handy for quick use.
Add used coffee grounds to your soil. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, an essential nutrient for plant growth. The more nitrogen you have in the soil, the greater the growth of your plants will be, so adding grounds or compost will ensure your plants grow large very quickly.
You should work efficiently, instead of working hard in your garden, to simplify things. Don’t waste thirty minutes looking around for a tool. You can prepare what you need beforehand, keep it all handy in a toolbox or a shed, and you will be ready to work in your garden at a moment’s notice. You can keep your garden tools in a tool belt, or in your pockets. Another good idea is to keep them all in a bucket that you carry around with you.
Pine Needles
Using organic produce from organic gardens which are free of pesticides is a great benefit. Organic gardening is wonderful for your family and their health, but you also need to be vigilant about pests.
For some plants, pine needles makes an ideal mulch. Many types of plants thrive in soil that has high acid levels. Use pine needles to increase the acid level in your soil if you have plants that require higher acid. Cover the surface of the ground with a two-inch layer of the pine needles; as the needles break down, they will release acid into the soil and nourish your plants.
Be aware of spacing considerations when you are first planting your organic garden. You can underestimate how much space you need when they are growing. You need to take into account the plant’s size when it is fully grown, as well as allowing space for air circulation between each plant. Therefore, ensure that you allow for ample spaces between your seedlings.
When you are organically growing tomatoes, try planting only some seeds at once; then go back and plant an additional set of seeds in three weeks. You will not have to harvest the tomatoes at the same time. Additionally, should something happen to during one of your harvests, your tomatoes will not all be ruined.
Stay on top of your organic gardening to-do list, and don’t let the work pile up. Even if you end up being too busy to do garden chores every day, do small tasks that will help you avoid having to do large tasks when you finally do have time. For example, pull a few weeds if you’re outside and waiting for your dog to finish his business.
Laundry Basket
Spread three inches of organic material on your garden for mulch. Doing this will nourish the soil in your garden and improve its ability to retain moisture. It will also prevent weeds from growing, which will make your garden look neater and more attractive.
When the time comes to harvest your produce, collect it using an old laundry basket. This will be like a strainer for all your produce. When you put your produce in a basket, you can then rinse it off and let it strain any excess water through the laundry basket holes.
Use a beer trap to get rid of unwanted pests, like slugs. Get a clean, empty glass jar to use as a trap. Bury it with its mouth facing upwards. Keep putting dirt over the jar until the mouth is at the surface of your garden. Next, fill up the jar with beer until there is around one inch between the liquid level and the jar top. The beer attracts these slugs, but traps them in the jar.
An organic shade garden is a lovely idea. These types of gardens are incredibly low maintenance, which many people will be relieved to hear. They require less watering too, so they save a lot of time and work. You might not get as fast of a growth as normal, but you will not have to work as hard either.
Treated Wood
Create a raised bed for your garden out of stone, bricks or untreated wood. If you choose to use wood, make sure it is naturally rot resistant and untreated. The most popular options for this type of project are cypress, locust and cedar woods. Do not use treated wood in your vegetable garden. If you have placed treated wood in your garden, line it with a coat of plastic.
When it comes to an organic garden, the types of plants able to grow naturally are virtually endless. Most acid-loving plants like mulch. These plants must be mulched with thick layers of pine needles every year in the fall. The needles will decompose and transfer their acidity to the soil.
Use these tips and think about some ideas of your own. Organic gardening can become a part of your life. Keep in mind that the tips you have read are just the beginning point.