Organic Gardening : Organic Gardening And You - Let's Get Started!

Organic Gardening And You - Let's Get Started!

Organic gardening and holistic lifestyles go hand in hand. Home grown vegetables, fruits and herbs are in much demand for their more pristine health benefits. Focus on the fantastic organic gardening tips laid out below.

For an easy, organic garden option, try a shade garden. These gardens are low maintenance, which will make many happy. They don't require as much watering, and that can save you a lot of time and effort. They do grow slower, but you have less weeds to get rid of.

Want to get rid of weeds naturally? You can place newspaper in several layers, and it will help control your weeds. Weeds cannot grow without light. When you put newspaper over them, they suffocate from lack of sunlight. In time, the newspaper will decompose into the soil. It can look more attractive by adding a mulch layer.

Easily and quickly prepare your ground for a garden of perennials. You just need to use your garden spade for slicing underneath the turf, then flip it, and finally spread about three or four inch deep piles of wood chips. Give this area at least a few weeks, then you can dig into the area and plant the new perennials.

Seeds that have sprouted don't require the extra warmth that was needed before they sprouted. Move your plants away from the heat as they grow. You must also take away plastic films from your containers in order to keep the warmth and humidity out. Watch your seeds closely to find the right time to do this.

You must consider how much light is available when starting your plants indoors. If your windows are small or receive little light due to their positioning, a plant that requires little sunlight will be more comfortable and healthy. If you simply must have a plant that has higher requirements for sunlight, you can use indoor UV lamps.

Your children will enjoy the experience of working with you in the organic garden. Growing a garden offers a unique learning experience, and you and your child can grow closer while growing healthy food for your family.

When you want to harvest the produce in your organic garden, always have an old laundry basket to hand. This will be like a strainer for all your produce. The produce can be rinsed off as it sits in the laundry basket, and extra water will drain out through the sides.

Garlic is an excellent choice to grow organically. It's best to plant garlic cloves in either spring or fall. Make sure the soil is drained well. Plant each bulb at least four inches from each other. Bury them about two inches in the soil with their pointed end facing up. While they are growing and still green, the shoots can be used like scallions or chives. When the tops of the bulbs become brown, it is time to harvest them. Dry the bulbs well in the sun for several days to harden the skin. Store the bulbs separately or tied in loose bunches in a cool place.

Put an organic material, such as mulch two or three inches deep, in your flower beds. Mulch will minimize weed growth and maximize nutrients and moisture. It will also increase the visual appeal of the flower beds.

Adding a lot of mulch to your garden is a great tip to implement in order to keep your garden healthy. A couple of inches of mulch will protect what lies beneath it. The soil will stay cool in high heat, preventing damage to the roots. It also keeps soil moist longer by preventing water evaporation. It also is helpful in keeping weeds under control.

If aphids become an issue in your garden, then good old soapy water may do the trick and solve your problem. Simply spray the plant with a mixture of soap and water in its entirety, including its leaves, buds and stems, and then rinse with clean water.

Plant ever-bearing strawberries for your children in the organic garden. Strawberries are a favorite of children due to their sweetness. And since they're so easy and fun to pick, it's also a healthy, productive, safe activity that children can assist adults with.

Increase the biodiversity in your organic garden. The more plant varieties you have, the more animal varieties you will attract. Make your garden naturally inviting by planting many different kinds of plants. By doing this, your garden will have a nice appeal to it, and you can relax knowing you've done something good for the earth.

Working in the garden doesn't have to be grueling; learn to work more efficiently. Do not spend half an hour looking everywhere for a tool. Have all of tools you will need for the day before you head out your garden. When you are finished, put them away neatly for the next time. 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.

Think about the shades trees will cast before planting them. Doing so will reduce your energy usage and save you money, since the trees will shade your home and cool it naturally.

Garlic is an easy deterrent for bugs in an organic garden. The pungent aroma will repel many of those pesky insects. Plant garlic around the edge of your garden or right near plants that often have bugs on them. An added benefit to planting garlic for pest control is that the pesticide is edible.

Using a soaker hose to water your organic garden is the best method. You can regulate the hose so that the water seeps very slowly into the soil, going directly to the roots, which avoids the leaves. These are more efficient than sprinklers, which use more water, and can save you the trouble of hand watering.

Gather together as many tips and tricks for improving your organic garden as possible. The more you have, the more knowledge you can potentially gain. Don't forget that this advice is just the beginning.