Many people are under the impression that gardening is difficult, but it’s actually quite simple if you know exactly what to do. The right information can help anyone become a master gardener. This article provides valuable guidance that can help you on your road to becoming a master gardener.
Plant slug-proof perennials. Your plants can be destroyed by slugs and snails overnight. They’re particularly fond of perennials with smooth and thin leaves, especially if the plants are young. There are perennials that slugs do not want to eat, the ones that they hate have hairy leaves, or are unappealing to their taste. These varieties include achillea, helleborus, heuchera, euphorbia, and campanula.
Check your soil before you begin planting your garden. Pay a small fee to have your soil analyzed, and you’ll be glad that you did when you understand what nutrients your soil is lacking. Save yourself the trouble of a failed crop by contacting your local Cooperative Extension to preform the soil test.
When mowing the lawn, don’t mow the grass all the way down to the root. By leaving your grass a little taller, you are allowing it to become stronger, as the roots grow stronger and deeper. The shorter the grass, the shallower the roots, which makes the lawn more likely to develop brown patches.
As the weather turns colder, it is important to prepare your sensitive shrubs for the change. When these tender shrubs are kept in pots, cold weather can be very damaging. Tie these canes at the top, and place a blanket over it. This tactic is better than utilizing plastic, because it will allow air to circulate.
Keeping pests out of a vegetable garden can be difficult. It is important not to use harmful chemical agents, because you are growing produce that is intended to be eaten. One way to keep pests at bay is to remain diligent about your garden. If you catch pests right away, the easiest way to eradicate them is to pick them off plants by hand.
Vegetables get softer as the temperature goes up, so you could damage your vegetables if you pick them during the hottest hours. Cut vegetables to remove them from vines rather than twisting and pulling them. Twisting vegetables off vines damages them.
While horticulture you must make sure your knees are protected. Bending for extended time periods causes pain for many people. Kneeling is much easier on your body, and helps you tend to your plants without hurting your back. A knee pad can be placed under your knees to protect them from damage and strain while you are working.
Before you start any gardening, make sure that you do not have any open wounds on your hands. If you do, you need to wear protection from dirt and chemicals so that they do not get into your cut. A cut will likely become infected if it is exposed to dirt when gardening. However, there are bandages available that will seal the cut completely. Using these should protect the cut from any infection while horticulture.
Stay on top of your organic horticulture to-do list, and don’t let the work pile up. While you may not be able to spend time in the garden on a daily basis, there are still many things you can do to keep things from snowballing out of control. Grab a handful of weeds, throw down some mulch, or toss some water on it anytime you walk by.
More Gardening Ideas & Resources
As was stated in the beginning of the article, horticulture is not hard to accomplish if you know what you are doing. After you take the time to educate yourself about all the ins and outs of what it takes to be a great gardener, you will can look forward to success in all your gardening endeavors.
