Organic gardening is as old as human cultivation but many people are just discovering the benefits. Read this article to find out what you need to do to get started. Just put these tips to work in your own garden to yield delicious and nutritious results.
When you are organic gardening, ask your children to lend a hand. Children will benefit from the fresh air while bonding with you in your efforts to provide healthier food alternatives for them.
Ward off certain diseases that plague plants with the use of aspirin. An aspirin and a half, dissolved in about two gallons of fresh water, is great for your plants. Help your plants to fight disease by spraying them with the aspirin water. Use this solution once in every three-week period.
To be as efficient as possible in the garden, always have your tools handy. For example, you could use an over-sized tote bag or an apron with multiple pockets. If you have your pruning shears, spade, trowel and gloves handy, you will be able to get your gardening chores done much more quickly.
Use about two to three inches of organic material as mulch in all of your flower beds. This will help to inhibit weed growth, helps to lock in moisture, and adds needed nutrients to your organic garden. Mulch will also improve the general appearance of your flower beds.
Organic material piled three inches deep is an effective mulch in your flower gardens. Not only will you be adding nutrients, but weeds will be less likely to grow and moisture will be retained more easily. Your flower beds should also look beautiful all year long.
Organize your gardening so that you can work efficiently. Don’t waste your time by searching high and low for that packet of seeds or spade. Get all of your tools together before you go into your garden, then place them in a safe spot when you are finished with them. If you need to use a tool belt, try using some pants with pockets in them.
Coffee grounds work great mixed in with your soil. Coffee grounds will add nitrogen to your soil which will make them helpful for some of your plants. Coffee grounds as a source of nitrogen for plants are usually limited to acid-loving plants because coffee is acidic. Your plants will really bloom if they get the nitrogen they need from coffee grounds or compost or diluted urea.
You can stop mud from being tracked into your house by covering your dirty gardening shoes with plastic bags. This allows you to work steadily and without distractions, making you a happier and more productive gardener.
Pine Needles
Want to get rid of weeds naturally? A good thick layer of newspaper can be laid down to control weeds. It is a fact that weeds cannot thrive without light from the sun. When you put newspaper on top of weeds they will suffocate because they are not getting enough light. Old newspapers are a valuable addition to your compost heap. One way to enhance the appearance of your garden if you are using newspapers is to add an additional layer of mulch.
Do not overlook the benefits of pine mulch for your garden. Some plants like acidic soil because they have high acidity. If you have acid loving plants, use pine needles as a mulch. Cover soil beds with a few inches of pine needles, and they will disperse acidity to the soil below as they decompose.
You just have to be patient if you want to get your organic garden into tip top shape. Start using these tips to direct your efforts in the right direction. Regardless of which organic crops you choose to grow, these tips will help you enjoy a bountiful harvest.
Take care not to overwater your plants, as this can prevent the roots from drawing the proper amount of nutrients out of the soil. Check the weather forecast before you water any of your outdoor plants to see if rain is expected that day. Skip watering your plants for a couple of days if a heavy rainstorm has descended; natural rainwater can be particularly good for your plants as well.