Horticulture is more than decorating your yard. They are not only a simple hobby either. Gardening can have a very calming effect, and can really slow life down a bit, allowing you to find your inner peace. Once you develop some skill, you can make a profound effect.
Choose plant strains that will give you the best harvest with the biggest yield. A disease-resistant hybrid plant can be a good option to consider over a more traditional variety due to its tendency to produce higher yields.
It is important to choose the right type of soil if you want to achieve the best results. Depending on the types of plants you would like to grow, your garden’s soil might need to be amended with different substances to alter drainage, acidity and other characteristics that make plants happy. It is also possible to set aside a portion of your garden to include just one type of soil.
Analyze the soil before you even get started with working in a garden. Soil analysis costs a little money, but the report can inform you how to enrich your soil and open the door to a lush garden. A Cooperative Extension office can provide you with this service, saving you learning on your own by trial and error.
When you decide to add vegetables into your garden space, be aware that they must be placed where they will receive direct sunlight for a minimum of six hours daily. Most vegetables need at least that much sun for optimal growth speed. Many flowers also require adequate sunlight to flourish.
Coffee Grounds
If your soil has a problem with high alkaline levels, mixing in some coffee grounds that have been used is a great solution. The coffee grounds are a very inexpensive way to add acid back into the dirt. Improving the pH of your soil will make your vegetables and greens taste even better!
Your plants need to be kept dry, but sill receiving a good amount of air. Moisture on the surfaces of your plants is an invitation to pests and illness. An example of a common plant parasite is fungi. Proactively treat fungi through the use of fungicidal sprays and treatments.
Do you like mint, but not how they ruin your garden? You should plant the mint in a rather large garden container or pot instead so you can monitor growth. If you would like, go ahead and plant the container and the plant right in the ground to prevent root overtake.
Good tools for the gardener include a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool. Working on the ground for long periods of time can be painful on the knees, so a small garden stool can really allow you to work in comfort. There is also a lot of heavy lifting involved with horticulture, so a good wheelbarrow is a great tool to have around.
During the hottest hours of each day, your vegetables become too soft, and even gentle harvesting will cause damage and bruising. Twisting off vegetables causes damage to the plant; always snip them at the base of the vine.
Heather Beds
If you plant heather in your garden, you will attract insects that are beneficial. Bees like heather, and they get their nectar from it early in the spring. Heather beds are common grounds for helpful insects such as spiders and ground beetles, because they don’t usually get bothered by human activity. Because of this, don’t forget to protect your hands when pruning heather beds.
Use the tips you’ve learned here to turn your garden into an oasis. The joy of watching your plants grow and blossom will make you happy to have tried. If you give gardening a chance and see it through, it can be a life changing experience, so hop to it!
Originally posted 2014-01-08 00:13:17.