Organic horticulture isn’t as easy as it seems. If you decide to go the natural route, you may have to know about things like the pH balance of soil and natural bug-fighting concoctions. If you are just getting started, growing organic may be trying. By reading the tricks in this article, you will find yourself better prepared to grow your food organically.

Utilize your garden tool handles as convenient makeshift rulers. Tools with long handles, such as shovels, hoes and rakes can be made into measuring sticks. Put the handles down and measure them with a measuring tape. Label the distances on the handle with a marker pen that will not smear or fade away. When you are gardening next, you’ll have a ruler beside you at all times.

Plants need ample amounts of CO2 to reach their maximum growth. Plants are more likely to thrive in environments where high levels of CO2 are present. A greenhouse has the best levels available. A greenhouse will help maintain a high level of CO2 and cause the plants to grow faster.

You should divide irises. Splitting up overgrown groups of irises will allow you to easily increase the number of irises in your garden. Pick up bulbous irises after the foliage dies. The bulbs will naturally split in your hands, and after you replant them, will flower about a year later. Use a knife to carefully divide rhizomes. Cut new outside pieces and dispose of the center. There needs to be a minimum of one healthy offshoot on each of the new sprout sections. Replant them immediately.

The best gardens start with seeds, as opposed to plants. The most “green” way to create a new garden is starting from seeds. Plastic used in nurseries normally end up in landfills. For an garden that helps the environment, plant seeds directly in the garden’s soil or purchase plants grown in organic packaging.

It is important to follow the instructions on your chemicals and tools closely, especially if you are new to gardening. You might end up damaging your plants or getting a skin irritation. Keep yourself safe and always follow instructions.

Avoid using broad-spectrum pesticides in your garden. These pesticides will also kill any beneficial insects that consume the pests you are trying to get rid of. Good bugs are often more sensitive to pesticides than their bad counterparts, so if the population of good bugs goes down, the pest problem can grow. You will need even more pesticides to deal with the problem, and it will never really go away.

Heather is a magnet for friendly insects. Bees are drawn to heather, as heather is an early provider of spring nectar. Spiders, ground beetles and other insects helpful to your garden tend to live in a heather bed, because heather beds are generally undisturbed. Keep this in mind and remember to always wear appropriate gardening gloves.

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.

Keep your plants in a warm, moist environment, if possible. In order to encourage proper growth, they will need that warmth. These temperatures may not be comfortable for you, however. As an alternative to keeping your entire home that warm, consider getting heat lamps for your organic plants.

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.