If you want that green, lush garden, there are many things to do in order to get there. The hard work involved in gardening is usually offset by the fun and enjoyment it can offer. This article has some advice for having more fun and less work in your garden.
Do not improperly lay your new sod. Prior to laying the sod, prepare your soil. Pull any weeds and break up any clods of soil. When the soil is clean, pack it tightly and create a flat surface. The soil should be adequately moistened. The sod should be laid in staggered rows, with the joints offset from one another. Pat down the sod and fill any gaps with soil. The sod needs to be watered daily for two weeks, by which time it will be rooted and ready to walk on.
Turn the handles of tools you have on hand into rulers to make measurements in your garden. You can use shovels or rakes as measuring sticks. Lay your handles on the floor, and put measuring tape right next to them. Next, use a Sharpie to accurately label the distance between each one. When the need arises to measure something while in your garden, the measuring tool you need will literally be “on hand,” sketched into the handles of your tools.
Baking Soda
If you notice powdery mildew on your plants, do not buy an expensive chemical. Combine baking soda with a small dollop of liquid soap and add it to water. Once a week, spray this on plants to eliminate the mildew. No damage will occur to your plants, and the baking soda is mild and efficient.
When winter comes around, save some plants by putting them in the house. Perhaps you can save your most expensive or resistant plants. Carefully dig near the roots and transfer those plants into a flower pot.
The correct soil can make a big difference in how your garden grows. Different types of plants require different soils, so check soil requirements for the ones you choose. It’s also possible to make a fabricated area that contains only one type of soil.
Your soil needs to be of good quality before you start a garden. Many nurseries offer a soil analysis service, which will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking and what you can do about it. 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.
While caring for your garden in the fall, you will want to keep a lookout for stinkbugs. They like beans, peppers, tomatoes and many fruits. If not taken care of, these pests can damage the garden, so take steps to cut down their population.
Divide your irises. The more you divide clusters of irises, the more your irises will multiply. Lift the dead bulbous irises. If you split the bulbs that you pull up, and replant them, they will bloom the following year. Rhizomes should be divided using a knife. Cut healthy pieces from the root stalk and throw out the dead center. Be sure to retain a sturdy offshoot on every piece that you intend to plant. Do this cutting beside your garden bed, so that you can place your new groupings into the ground immediately.
An excellent garden shouldn’t begin from plants. They should begin from seeds. When opening a garden, the most green method of beginning is from seed. Seeds eliminate the waste of plastic containers from nurseries which rarely get recycled. There are some nurseries, however, that send their plants out in organic potting materials.
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.
Originally posted 2014-02-13 21:08:56.
