When you analyze all of the individual components of gardening, it can be somewhat complex. If you want to try your hand at organic gardening, then be prepared to learn about concepts like pH balance. Growing organic can be a little on the difficult side for a rookie. Read on to find some tips to make gardening in a clean, organic fashion a little easier and more fun to do!
Get your children interested in helping with your organic garden. A garden can provide a wonderful learning experience for children, and will give you an opportunity to bond with them while you produce healthy food.
Be sure you plant strawberries in your garden for your children, you want to make sure you especially plant everbearing strawberries as well. Kids really enjoy plucking snacks directly from the ground, and may have greater enthusiasm for the work if they see the results of their labor right away.
If you choose to use organic methods to care for your houseplants, you should bear in mind that certain plants require more sunlight than others. If the room you wish to grow them in faces in a direction that gets little light, choose varieties of plants which can accept this type of environment. If this is not an option, or you have your heart set on a particular type of plant, consider adding additional growing lights instead.
It can be extremely fast and easy to plant perennials into your garden. Turn over the soil in your garden so it will be soft and easy to plant before spreading wood chips around your garden. You want to then give the area about a couple of weeks, then you want your new perennials planted by digging into it.
Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. You can keep them in a good sized bucket, or wear utility pants that have plenty of large pockets. Have gloves, shears, a trowel and anything else you need handy for quick use.
Make sure you work in your garden every day. Don’t spend 30 minutes searching 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
Do not underestimate pine as great mulch. Some garden plants have a high acidity, and prefer acidic soil. There is no better, or easier, way to make your acid-loving plants happy then to use pine needles you already have on your beds. Covering your plant beds with a layer of pine needles will allow the pine needles to disperse their acidic nutrients into the soil for your plants.
Tend your organic garden on a regular schedule. You may not have a lot of time to exclusively devote to your gardening hobby, but you can make the most of the time you do have. If you are outside with your dog, pluck a few weeds while your dog is taking care of his business.
It is possible to control weeds with natural methods. Take layers of newspapers and use them for weed control. Weeds cannot grow without light. When you pile up layers of newspapers right on top of the weeds, they will suffocate and die. Newspapers break down nicely over time to become part of the compost. Add a layer of mulch on top to make it look more attractive!
While it’s harder to grow organically than chemically, the rewards are much better. Though the use of chemicals has its own benefits, organic farming is a rewarding experience that ends with natural, healthy produce.
A great thing about organic foods produced by organic gardens is their lack of pesticides. Though this is certainly a great thing for the health of your loved ones, it is important to watch for additional pests and insects that may be present.
Grow garlic in your organic garden. Plant organic cloves in spring or fall and use moist, drained soil. Put them an inch or two down into the soil with the pointed end up placed about four inches apart. Green garlic shoots can be cut as they grow, and used in place of chives or scallions. You know your bulbs are ready when they turn brown on their tops. To harden the bulbs’ skin, dry them for several days in the sun. Store the dried bulbs loosely or in bunches in a dark, cool area.
Always give your garden the benefit of looking beneath the upper portions of a plant. If you’re buying some tomato seedlings to use in your garden, keep a look out for starts that are lush and green, but have poor root systems. Starts like these can remain on the seedlings. This will inhibit their growth because they will not be able to grow until they are gone.
Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.
