Understanding all there is to know concerning gardening can be extremely mind-blowing. However, like other things in life, it can be thoroughly researched, learned, and taught to others. Read on to learn some helpful tips to help educate you on the subject of gardening, allowing you to become a more proficient gardener.
Make sure your soil is healthy enough before you start planting anything. 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. Several Cooperative Extension locations offer this service, and it’s advantageous for you to know what type of soil you have, in order to avoid growing faulty crops.
Stinkbugs can be a nuisance in the garden. These bugs are known to be proliferate in the cooler fall months. Stinkbugs are most prevalent on tomatoes, beans and peppers. If not taken care of, these pests can damage the garden, so take steps to cut down their population.
For flowers throughout the spring and the summer, be sure to plant some bulbs. Since bulbs are easy to grow and resistant to poor weather conditions, they will grow without fail year after year. Different bulbs bloom at various times, so choosing appropriately, you may have blooms early spring to later summer.
Consider growing wheat grass or cat grass near the plants your cat enjoys eating. You can put something over the soil which surrounds the plants which has a bad smell to cats to deter them.
Coffee Grounds
If the soil in your garden has a high concentration of alkaline, try mixing some coffee grounds into your garden’s soil. Coffee grounds contain plenty of acid to get the soil back to a good balance. Balanced soil will produce more flavorful, crisp vegetables and greens.
As the weather turns colder, it is important to prepare your sensitive shrubs for the change. If you have a few potted shrubs, they should be shielded from the wintry weather. Tie these canes at the top, and place a blanket over it. In contrast to wrapping the plant with plastic, this method promotes air circulation, which stops the plant from rotting.
Knee Pads
A set of knee pads are a life saver if you’re an avid gardener and a lot of your plants sit close to the ground. When you spend a lot of time kneeling while gardening, your knees can be very achy by the end of the day Wear knee pads meant for gardeners so that you’ll be more comfortable when kneeling in your garden.
Make sure that you divide your irises! You can divide those overgrown clumps and increase the amount of irises you have. After foliage is no longer alive, remove the flowers with bulbs. The bulbs, when harvested, should easily split by hand – allowing you to replant them for even more blooms next spring. Use a knife to carefully divide rhizomes. New pieces should be cut from the outside, then the old center you want to discard. There needs to be a minimum of one healthy offshoot on each of the new sprout sections. Replant the new shoots right away.
Do you now see how gardening can be easier and even fun? Just like any number of topics, much has been written on the subject of horticulture, and therefore a great deal of advice is available. Sometimes, you need a starting place. So, hopefully, with the tips you learned you now have that ability.