If you have visions of a healthy, lush, green garden, there are things you should consider on your way to that goal. While horticulture is lots of work, it is also enjoyable! Try these hints to bring the fun out in gardening.
Clay soil makes working with a shovel difficult. The clay is hard and sticks to the shovel. To ease the digging, apply some car wax or floor wax to the head of the shovel and buff. By waxing the shovel head, the clay will not be able to adhere to the surface.
Baking Soda
Don’t bother with expensive chemicals if your plants start to sport powdery mildew. Mix a little liquid soap and baking soda in water. Spray this mixture on your plants weekly until the mildew is gone. No damage will occur to your plants, and the baking soda is mild and efficient.
Your soil needs to be of good quality before you start a garden. You can obtain a soil analysis for a nominal fee. Using that report, you can amend your soil as needed for a thriving garden. Cooperative Extension departments often offer this testing service. It is a worthwhile effort so a garden can be productive on the first year of planting.
Grow wheat or cat grass around the plants your cat likes nibbling. Another option is to place something smelly, like citrus peels or mothballs, on the soil surrounding the plants that have previously been eaten.
Knee pads are a gardener’s friend when caring for plants low to the ground. Spending lots of time on your knees while horticulture can injure them and create lasting pain. A set of quality knee pads designed for horticulture can be a world of relief for your central leg joints.
Take the time to spread around five centimeters of organic mulch near your vegetable plants. Mulching helps keep moisture in the soil. This method will also prevent weeds. Your plants will receive extra water and nutrients, and you’ll spend less time dealing with weeds.
Garden Pests
If you have a vegetable garden, one of your main enemies is garden pests. Avoid spraying harsh chemicals on fruits and vegetables destined for your table. One way that you can help control garden pests is to remain vigilant. If you discover the pests when they first infest your plants, the best way to remove them is to pick them off manually.
To create a unique English garden, use a variety of plant types and lengths in the same flower bed. If you use plants of similar heights, the result will be pretty boring and uniform.
If you want to get children in on the fun, plant a few strawberries, everbearing if possible. Children love to pick their own fruit right out of the garden, and will be more willing to help with the process if they get something out of it.
With these tips, you’re better equipped to grow the most beautiful garden you can imagine. In learning how to create your dream garden, you’ll also be growing as a person. That’s because learning how to nurture your plants will not only help you reach the goal of having a great garden, but it will help you learn to nurture yourself.