Consider gardening as a hobby with many benefits and rewards. Whether veggies or flowers are your passion, the very act of creating a garden is immensely rewarding. Learn how much water your vegetables and flowers need and be sure you plant them in the right kind of soil. Follow some of the advice contained in this article for further ideas of things you should know.
Slug-proof your garden with smart perennial choices. These creatures can wreak havoc on a garden in a short time. These garden vermin prefer plants with tender, herbaceous stems and leaves, particularly seedlings and young plants. Slugs and snails will leave some perennials alone, particularly those with a bad taste or tough, hairy leaves. Examples of these include euphorbia, hellebourus and achillea. Others you may want to consider are campanula and heuchera.
Always make sure to mow your lawn to the appropriate length, always making sure that the cut is not too close. Higher grass sends roots further down, increasing lawn strength and viability. Short grass on the other hand is more susceptible to drying out.
Mint Leaves
Do you enjoy fresh mint leaves though hate how they grow so fast and take over your entire garden? You can control the growth of the mint leaves by growing them in a large container rather than in your garden. Plant the container in the ground, but its walls will hold those roots captive, and will prevent the plant from engulfing your garden!
In order to start the best garden possible, remember that you should always start with the seeds and not pre-purchased plants. Not only is this more of an effective method for horticulture, but it’s also more environmentally-friendly. It is common for commercial plants to be packaged in plastic that is not commonly recycled, and therefore, it is better to use seeds or purchase plantings only from merchants who make use of organic packaging.
All of your vegetable plants should have approximately two inches, just outside the stem, of organic mulch placed around them. When you place mulch around your plants, it keeps the ground more moist. It can also prevent weeds from growing. You will benefit by not having to spend so much time fighting weed growth.
Know when to harvest your vegetables at precisely the right time. Each veggie has its own prime time for harvesting. For instance, peas and zucchinis are tastiest when picked young. Tomatoes, in contrast, taste better the longer they are allowed to ripen on the vine. Research the best time to pick your produce.
While you garden, it’s important that you wear the right clothing to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Sunglasses, a nice shady hat, and sunscreen are very helpful. Protecting yourself from the sun will lower the possibility of sunburn and skin cancer.
Mixing a variety of plants at different heights is how you can make a very interesting English garden. You should avoid using plants of the same height so that your flower bed doesn’t look flat and uniform.
Let your children be involved in your organic gardening efforts. Children will benefit from the fresh air while bonding with you in your efforts to provide healthier food alternatives for them.
While gardening you must make sure your knees are protected. It’s difficult for most people to bend while standing, especially at the waist. Kneeling allows you to reach your plants easily and is healthier for your back and legs. You can purchase an inexpensive kneeling pad for gardening in order to protect your knees.
As aforementioned, horticulture can become a very rewarding pastime. The fruits of your time and labors fail to stop yielding, regardless of the dividends are vibrant color outside your windows or fresh foods on your kitchen table. If you heed these suggestions, you can enjoy horticulture more than ever.
Originally posted 2013-09-23 10:38:47.
