Horticulture is a very affordable and relaxing hobby. A backyard garden can mean hours of quality time together for families, or a peaceful and productive outing for friends. It can be a fun way to teach children how things grow from a seed to something they can eat. In short, horticulture is a good way to get in touch with nature and spend more time outside. This article will make it simpler for you to love horticulture, so that you may even have others help you.
Shoveling clay is very difficult and lots of work because the clay is hard and sticks to the shovel, making it tough to handle. To make the clay soft so you aren’t working as hard, take floor or car wax and rub a light coat on the surface of the shovel using a clean cloth, then buff the surface. This will keep the soil from sticking, and prevent rusting of the tool.
Bulbs are a great option for people who want to enjoy spring and summer flowers. Bulbs are one of the easiest plants to grow and are hardy perennials that return each year. Various bulbs do not all bloom at the same time, and if you employ this knowledge wisely, your garden can provide freshly blooming flowers for half the year.
Do not mow your lawn close to the bottom. If you leave some of the grass when you mow, the roots grow further into the ground, which makes the grass less prone to drying and other hazards. Leaving the grass short makes it more prone to drying out, which leaves your lawn look really brown and yucky.
If you are growing vegetables in your garden, it is important that you have them in a spot where they can get at least six hours of sun a day. Most members of the vegetable family need this minimum of light for proper growth. Some flowers also have the same needs.
Make sure that your deciduous shrubs are protected. If you have a few potted shrubs, they should be shielded from the wintry weather. Tie the tops of the canes together; then take a sheet and cover the wigwam loosely. This is a much better method, instead of putting the plastic wrap around the plant. It allows proper air circulation that can prevent rotting.
Knee Pads
A set of comfortable knee pads makes a great investment if your garden is full of plant material that stays low to the ground. Weeding, watering and picking through your vegetation can cause a lot of damage to your knees if left unprotected. A set of quality knee pads designed for gardening can be a world of relief for your central leg joints.
Place at least an inch of mulch that is organic in with your veggies! When you place mulch around your plants, it keeps the ground more moist. This is also efficient in preventing weeds from growing. Every gardener can appreciate pulling fewer weeds.
Look for evergreen variants that produce berries. These plants will look good year-round, even during the winter, when your other plants have lost their bloom. Some examples include Holly, Snowberry trees, Winterberry and similar plants.
Pest Control
If you have a vegetable garden, it can be quite difficult to decide what to do about pest control. While chemicals can help with pest control, you should avoid using overly harsh ones, as veggies you grow in your garden are meant for eating. Research the methods available for eliminating garden pests organically. When you are vigilant, you can simply remove the pests from your plants manually as soon as you notice them. Early detection is the best solution to ridding your garden of pests.
In conclusion, no matter what you reason for gardening is, whether you do it alone or with others, these tips will be of assistance. Take what you have learned here, and help your family enjoy horticulture, get together with your friends or just have fun by yourself.
Originally posted 2014-12-30 14:54:04.