Organic gardening can be a majorly relaxing hobby, or a major headache. These tips should help you to become a better organic gardener.
Gradually acclimate plants to temperature changes and conditions, if you want to avoid shocking them. You need to give them about an hour of sunlight during the first day. Then over a weeks time, slightly increase their time outside. Hopefully, after about a week or so, your plants should have adjusted to the change. Now you can transplant them without any worries.
Digging in hard clay soil is made even more difficult because it sticks to the shovel. Use a thin coat of floor or car wax on your shovel, then buff it with a nice clean cloth to make dealing with clay soil easier. You will be able to work with the clay more easily, and it will not stick to your shovel.
Make sure you protect any tender deciduous shrubs. If you have a few potted shrubs, they should be shielded from the wintry weather. Tie the tops tightly together, and cover the wigwam with a sheet or blanket draped loosely over it. This is better than using plastic to wrap the plant, as more air can circulate.
Ensure that your plants are kept dry, and aerated daily. Moisture on your plants is a sure way to attract parasites and disease. Fungi is a common problem in the world of plants. There are many effective fungicide products that will prevent fungi growth and clear up any existing problems as well.
Peas have a better chance of survival when their seeds are started indoors as opposed to outside, exposed to the elements. If you plant them inside, they might germinate more effectively. Seeds grown indoors are much more resistant to diseases and damage done by pests. You will be able to transfer the seedlings outdoors after they become better established.
Surround your vegetable plants with organic mulch, a few inches worth. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch. It will also prevent the growth of weeds. You’ll save a ton of time if you don’t have to constantly pull out weeds.
Plant with fall season color in mind. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be. The foliage in the fall probably exudes more color than any other season. Maple trees produce yellow and red leaves, just like Beech and Dogwood trees. Some very good shrubs to choose are barberry, hydrangea, and cotoneaster, which is a member of the rose family.
Young children will love it if you plant strawberries that bear continually, and organic gardens are the perfect place to do it. Children love to pick their own fruit right out of the garden, and will be more willing to help with the process if they get something out of it.
More Gardening Ideas & Resources
As this article stated, there’s quite a lot involved in successful organic gardening. It requires a lot of work and patience, but it will be worth it in the end to have a beautiful organic garden. The groundwork of information contained in this article should get you off to a good start.