Sod should be laid properly. You want to prepare the soil before you lay down the sod. Take out any weeds, then mix up the soil into a tilth that is fine. Lightly, but firmly compress the soil, making certain it is flat. The soil should always receive adequate moisture. Stagger your sod so that each joint offsets from joints in adjacent rows. Compact the sod down so you form a flat and even surface, then fill in any crevices within the sod by using some soil. Water the sod everyday for the first two weeks until the roots grow enough.
If you’re looking to have a healthier diet, think about starting an organic garden. However, organic horticulture does require a commitment. This probably has you wondering where to start your own garden.
Before you even place the first plant in your garden, you need to check the composition of your soil. You can actually get an analysis of soil for a little fee, and with the report you get back you can figure out how to create a vibrant garden by enriching it properly. A lot of Cooperative Extension locations offer this service, and you can prevent ruining a few crops by identifying the specific steps to take.
A handy trick is to turn the handle on a tool that you use often into a makeshift ruler. Tools with substantial handles, like rakes, hoes and large shovels are great for taking measurements. Lay your handles on the floor, and put measuring tape right next to them. Label the distances on the handle with a marker pen that will not smear or fade away. Now you will always possess a large ruler ready for your use in the garden.
Whether you have been gardening for a few days or a few decades, you must never deviate from the instructions on the labeling of all implements and chemicals. You might end up damaging your plants or getting a skin irritation. Be careful when it comes to your body, and always follow directions.
Consider planting slug-proof perennials. Snails and slugs can destroy plants in just one night. These pests gravitate to young perennials with smooth, tender, thin leaves. Slugs and snails will leave some perennials alone, particularly those with a bad taste or tough, hairy leaves. Selecting an unappetizing perennial, such as campanula or heuchera, will help stop them from being eaten.
Bring your young ones into the garden with you so they will learn about organic methods. They will enjoy learning about nature and bonding with you.
When winter arrives, you could save some plants by placing them inside your house. Perhaps save the most resistant or expensive plants. Dig carefully around the roots, then transfer the plant into a pot.
For some plants, pine needles makes an ideal mulch. Many types of plants thrive in soil that has high acid levels. If this is the case, use pine needles to mulch your beds. Using several inches of needles to cover your beds provides acid for the soil as they begin to decompose.
You can plant wheat grass or cat grass near the plants that the cat eats. You could also place something that will cause your cat to go away from your plants, such as citrus peels or mothballs.
When the time has come to gather up the produce, you need to use an old laundry basket. Most laundry baskets are designed with a multitude of holes. This makes them a perfect strainer for washing your vegetables. Rinse your crops while in the laundry basket to strain the excess water.
Vegetables should be planted in an area where they will get a minimum of six hours of daily sunlight. Most vegetables require this amount of sun in order to grow properly and at a quicker pace. Many flowers also require adequate sunlight to flourish.
In order to construct your raised beds, make use of untreated brick, stone, wood and other materials. Make sure the wood you use is untreated and rot resistant. Examples of good woods include cedar, cypress, and locust. Treated wood can leach chemicals into any soil it rests against, so don’t use it in a garden with vegetables. If you already have treated lumber in use, line it with some plastic and replace the soil near it.
You can keep pests away from your garden by using other plants or natural materials. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your vegetable garden will help repel slugs. Wood ash can be used as mulch, and if put on the base of shrub and tree seedlings, will keep insects away. When done naturally, there is no need for pesticides with harsh, and sometimes dangerous, chemicals
Whenever you plant tomatoes in your garden, plant multiple sets about three weeks apart. The reason for this is because it helps to prevent the entire harvest from producing all at once. If there’s an issue with one of your harvests, you’ll still have a batch of tomatoes that are safe.
Think about adding some berry-producing evergreens to your landscaping. The evergreens will add some color to your garden or yard, especially during the winter, when other plants have died or lost color. Some examples of evergreens that produce berries and color in the wintertime are the American Holly, Cranberrybush, the Winterberry and the Common Snowberry.
You have likely heard about the positive benefits of a compost bin for your organic garden, but you may not have a clue what to put in a bin like this. Many people build their compost bins out of leaves and grass, scraps of food, hay and wood chips. Use compost instead of fertilizer that you buy at the store.
Gardening can be very relaxing. Many hobbies can help you to relax and attain inner peace. Many find that horticulture is a great method for achieving this. Gardening does not require a lot of dollars to start, and yields tremendous benefits. You will feel great satisfaction by creating your own garden of tranquility.
You can get fertilizer by making compost from scratch. An easy way to start creating compost is to start a small worm bin for composting. Take scraps from the dinner table and some bits of newspaper, and put them in a bin with some wiggler worms.
As the seeds sprout, they’ll need less warmth. As your plants grow, you will want to put a little distance between them and heat. Plastic films should be removed on the containers, as that helps to keep out humidity and warmth. You need to read the seeds to know the best time to do this.
Make new plants by using root cuttings. Cut the plant roots during winter, while they go dormant. Cut off the thickest, longest roots of the plant with a sharp knife. Then, cut the root to about two inches. Fill a tray of seeds with grit and moist peat and put the cuttings of the roots on it. Cover the roots with an additional layer of grit and peat. Leave it in a cold place, and you’ll have new seedlings in a month. Plant the seedlings separately in small containers until they are large enough to be planted outdoors.
Be efficient when working in your garden. Don’t waste your time looking for missing tools. Prepare them all ahead of time and have them handy before you need to garden, and then put them back in their place when done. If you use lots of tools, consider using a tool belt or even just some pants that have lots of pockets.
Some annuals do much better during the cold winter months. For great looking plants, try pruning them if they get too leggy. These plants will bloom again after several weeks and be beautiful against the brown winter foliage. Annuals that look pretty in cold weather are petunias, snapdragons and dianthus.
Pine Needles
One of the most interesting organic gardening tricks is to use companion plants. Certain varieties of plants can actually help other plants grow when they are planted nearby. Chemically-based products can be avoided if you let the plants deal with insects and naturally fertilize each other. An example of this is herbs that have a strong scent. These will discourage pests from attacking your vegetables.
Believe it or not, pine makes great mulch. Some plants need acidic soil to grow properly, because of their own acid content. When you have any plants like this, it’s very simple to just collect pine needles to use in your bed. Cover the plots with pine needles. As the pine needles decay, they’ll raise the soil’s acidity.
As should be obvious by now, organic gardening requires a bit of forethought and planning before implementation. In addition, it’s true that you must be consistent if you want to see results. Use the tips presented here, along with some ideas of your own, and you can be a thriving organic gardener in no time.