Tuesday, 18 December 2012

Useful Tips On Organic Gardening

It goes without saying that taking care of an organic garden is critical for its success. To do so, your smart organic gardening skills are going to come in handy. Educating yourself on this topic will help you create a garden that offers healthy and tasty produce. Use the following tips to create a flourishing and very rewarding organic garden.

If you're really serious about environmentally-friendly gardening practices, refrain from developing some of your land and use it as an animal habitat. Doing this will allow creatures that help plants to produce and pollinate to continue their actions, which will have a positive effect on the garden you develop.

A soaker hose is the best choice for watering an organic garden. Because the water in these hoses seeps out slowly, it goes directly to the roots of the places and leaves the leaves dry. These hoses don't use as much water as a sprinkler does and are much more convenient than watering plants by hand.

A good way to get fertilizer is by making compost yourself. You can do this easily by setting up a worm composting bin. Take a few red wiggler worms and place them in a bin with some soil, newspaper shreds, and kitchen scraps.

You can get fertilizer by making compost from scratch. An effective technique is to start a worm compost container. Try using red wiggler worms inside the bin with some dirt, newspaper shreds, and kitchen scraps.

When you start planting your organic tomatoes, stagger your planting time by planting two groups of plants, three weeks apart. This way, all of the tomatoes will not be ready to harvest at once. If something ruins one batch of tomatoes, the ones you planted before or afterward may not suffer the same fate.

Include both green and dry plant refuse in your compost. Your green material can be made up of produce waste, used floral arrangements, lawn cuttings, leaves, and other yard waste. Dried plant matter, on the other hand, includes shredded paper, used wood chips and straw. Never put meat in your compost or even the waste from your family pets. These can harbor diseases that won't be killed by the composting process.

After you plant tomatoes in your garden, plant another set three weeks later. Doing this will keep your whole harvest from popping up at the same time. Additionally, if weather or something else ruins one harvest, you still get a second chance to get a good tomato crop.

When it's time to dig a hole for a shrub or a tree in an organic garden, make the hole super ugly-looking. If you create holes that have "glazed" sides created by shovels, it's possible that one of those holes will restrict any root from getting into the soil nearby.

It is more rewarding to have an organic garden even though it is often more work. While chemical-based gardening products make bold claims, it is hard to dispute that organic gardening consistently produces superior results.

If you are interested in sustainable organic gardening, consider keeping part of your property undeveloped so that wildlife can flourish there. Your cultivated garden spaces will benefit from the various insects and wildlife that will inhabit and pollinate the undeveloped space.

Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. Use a large bucket, or wear rugged pants with several pockets. Keep your gloves, pruning shears, a hand spade and your other tools handy to quickly and easily do your garden maintenance.

Take a look at how and where your trees are planted, in order to provide shade. This can generate greater savings on your electric bill, as the shade provided by the trees offers a natural cooling method that will reduce your consumption of energy.

One way to create a great organic garden is to allow for a portion of your yard to be undeveloped for wildlife. You will then find that the wildlife that can help you create a garden that can flourish become present; from birds to insects, they'll be around your garden and help your produce grow better.

A soaker hose is the best choice for watering an organic garden. The water slowly seeps from these hoses and is positioned so the roots get the water, and the leaves remain dry. Instead of hand watering the plants, which can be tiresome, go with a soaker hose that uses less water.

Over-watering your plants is not healthy because too much water may inhibit the roots from getting nutrients out of the soil. Check the weather for the next couple of days to see if you actually need to water your plants. If rain is in the forecast, it is best not to water that day.

Don't let the chores for your organic garden pile up. If you can't get out in your garden every day, there are still a number of things you can do to keep things from falling into disarray during your absence. For instance, pluck weeds while you take your dog outside or before getting in your car.

There are a variety of plants that are possible to be grown in organic gardens. Mulch is a must-have for plants that require acidic conditions. Pine needles are an excellent choice for mulch material for these plants. As the needles decompose, their acid will deposit into the soil and nourish the plants.

An organic shade garden is a good choice for any beginner. Shade gardens are designed to be hardy and low maintenance. They don't require as much watering, and that can save you a lot of time and effort. Growth is sustained, but weeds will be less of a problem.

Rotate the plants that you grow each year by switching up where you plant them. If the types of plants that you grow are consistent from one year to the next, they may be more prone to diseases and plant fungus. Those things can wait silently in the soil and attack plants the next year. Rotating the types of plants that you grow will help to keep the fungi and diseases from gaining a foothold.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

Use the advice here to start your own organic garden. It is an interesting hobby and one that can improve your health. Your foods will taste better and not contain the heavy chemicals of store bought produce. You will also see more animals in your garden, because organic gardens are more attuned to nature

Saturday, 15 December 2012

A Healthy Start: How To Grow An Organic Garden

It goes without saying that taking care of an organic garden is critical for its success. To do so, your smart organic gardening skills are going to come in handy. Educating yourself on this topic will help you create a garden that offers healthy and tasty produce. Use the following tips to create a flourishing and very rewarding organic garden.

Having a garden of perennials can be an easy and quick process. Using a garden spade, dig underneath the turf and flip it. Then, create a layer of wood chips at least three inches deep over the area you just flipped. Wait two weeks or so, and then you are ready to jump right in with digging and planting.

Find out more about botanical insecticides to get rid of the pest. In some cases natural insecticides are actually more effective than the synthetic pesticides that are engineered in a lab. Keep in mind, however, that these insecticides have very short half lives. Since they are made out of all natural ingredients, they may decay and disappear soon after you use them.

Mulch your garden with no less than 3" of organic bedding material. This strategy is highly effective because it benefits both your wallet and your planet. Water conservation is a major environmental concern that accompanies other, non-organic gardening practices. It can also look great.

Plant trees strategically to maximize the amount of natural share over your home. Trees that throw shade on your home during the hot summer months can be an important ally in reducing energy costs.

You can use materials found in most homes to put up a tent in your organic garden during winter. Insert tall gardening stakes, such as bean poles, into the soil at the corners of your beds. Drape the poles with a tarp or sheet and then weight the bottom down with bricks. This is a cheap method of building a tent to ensure that you save your crops during the winter.

Include both green and dry plant refuse in your compost. Your green material can be made up of produce waste, used floral arrangements, lawn cuttings, leaves, and other yard waste. Dried plant matter, on the other hand, includes shredded paper, used wood chips and straw. Never put meat in your compost or even the waste from your family pets. These can harbor diseases that won't be killed by the composting process.

After you plant tomatoes in your garden, plant another set three weeks later. Doing this will keep your whole harvest from popping up at the same time. Additionally, if weather or something else ruins one harvest, you still get a second chance to get a good tomato crop.

Involve the whole family in your gardening hobby; children find growing things to be very interesting. Gardens are a wonderful place for kids to learn, and working side by side with them can strengthen the bond that you have.

Plant a variety of foliage native to your region for the best garden. Variety in your garden has more potential to attract wildlife. You want to have a diver garden so do your best to plant a bunch of different plants. A diverse garden is incredibly attractive. It's also very rewarding and relaxing.

Use this simple tip to get your perennial garden ready in a flash. Simple slice into the soil with a spade, flip the turf, and mulch the area with 3 to 4 inches of wood chips. You want to then give the area about a couple of weeks, then you want your new perennials planted by digging into it.

A beer trap can help to eradicate slugs. Bury a jar in the garden with it's mouth open and level to the ground. Fill the jar with beer within one inch of the top. The beer attracts these slugs, but traps them in the jar.

If slugs are disrupting the balance of your garden, you can diminish their population by using a beer trap. Place a container in the ground so that the lip is even with the soil surface. Next, add beer to the jar until it's about nearly full, with somewhere around an inch of space remaining. The slugs will be attracted to the beer and will end up being trapped within the confines of the jar.

One odd but apparently useful tip for growing organic plants, is to lightly brush your plants with your fingers or a piece of cardboard 1-2 times a day. While this appears strange, research shows it can help plants grow larger, versus not petting them at all.

When you water your organic garden, choose a soaker hose for the best results. The water oozes out of the hoses, and it goes directly to the roots of the plants without watering everything around them, including the leaves. They don't waste water like sprinklers and get the job done much faster than hand-watering does.

One of the best things about composting is that the ingredients for success are simple and affordable, such as fruit peels. These pieces will create an all natural compost that is well suited for your garden by providing nutrients at almost no cost.

When preparing a home-cooked meal, save your excess vegetable trimmings and mix them in with the soil in your garden. Vegetables break down within a few days and feed the soil with nutrients. You may of course still choose to use some of these leftover vegetables for composting, but making immediate use of them is also beneficial.

Try using botanical insecticides to help rid your garden of pests, without using chemicals. Under certain conditions, organic pesticides can outperform chemical products in effectiveness and safety. But, because they are made of natural materials, these types of insecticides frequently fade much faster.

Learn to work efficiently. Keep all of your tools together; do not waste time looking for them! Before you make a trip to your garden, you should gather all tools and items in advance. Afterwards, be sure to return them to their original storage place. If you need to use a tool belt, try using some pants with pockets in them.

Consider adding mulch for healthier soil. Mulch can help protect your soil. It prevents soil temperature from getting too warm on hot, sunny days, which protects your plants' roots. It greatly reduces water loss, keeping the soil moist with fewer waterings. It also keeps the weeds under control.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

This article should give you a good idea why organic gardening is a great activity. Gardening is not only a beautiful art but also a rewarding and relaxing way to spend your time. By using the tips in this article, you will soon be enjoying the fruits of your labor

Thursday, 13 December 2012

Great Gardening Advice On Great Organic Gardening

Although organic gardening holds great appeal to most people, many never really try it out for themselves. To many people, it seems too complicated and unfamiliar, so they don't know how to start. The following article will give you some techniques that can be used to help you start growing your own organic garden.

The ambient temperate of a room with live plants should be kept between sixty-five and seventy-five degrees throughout the day. The plants need this temperature in order to effectively grow. If you wish to keep your house cooler than that, you may want to use a heat lamp just for the plants.

Adjust your watering according to season and current climate. How much you water depends on the time of day, the quality of your water and the type of soil you have. An example would be that if you live in a humid and warm climate, then you'll want to avoid watering the plant's leaves as this will cause fungus to grow on your plants. Make sure that your root system is well-watered.

Strawberries are a great plant to grow in any organic garden, especially if you happen to have kids or any strawberry lover in your home. Children find it fun to pick strawberries and love to assist with the harvest if they get some yummy treats as they work.

Before planting anything in the organic garden, decide exactly what you want to grow. There are a variety of environments that certain vegetables and flowers thrive in to grow. Certain types of roses, for example, vary greatly from one another. So you want to make sure you find ones that are suited for your organic environment.

Weeds can plague all types of gardens. This organic weed killer is safe for both your garden and you.

Rotate the plants that you grow each year by switching up where you plant them. If you keep planting the same thing in a particular area every year, it can cause a buildup of disease in the soil. These plant enemies can become stored in the ground, ready to attack your plants the following year. Different plants have different immunities and vulnerabilities. Changing what you plant where will naturally stave off fungus and disease.

Don't waste or discard that precious rainwater. Use rain barrels or alternate containers to trap and store rainwater for an organic way to hydrate your garden. You'll save money on your water bill because you won't waste it always turning on the water. Rainwater is abundant and free. Rainwater is also really beneficial for plants.

Involve the whole family in your gardening hobby; children find growing things to be very interesting. Gardens are a wonderful place for kids to learn, and working side by side with them can strengthen the bond that you have.

Making beds is one of the most important skills you need to acquire. To begin, slice with a space under the turf. Flip it over and cover it with a three inch layer of wood chips. Wait a few weeks before planting in it.

To be as efficient as possible in the garden, always have your tools handy. Large pockets or a sturdy bucket can be used to store tools. If you have your pruning shears, spade, trowel and gloves handy, you will be able to get your gardening chores done much more quickly.

A beer trap can help to eradicate slugs. Bury a jar in the garden with it's mouth open and level to the ground. Fill the jar with beer within one inch of the top. The beer attracts these slugs, but traps them in the jar.

Within your composting heap, ensure that there is an equal split of dried and green plant materials. Green plant material includes grass clippings, spent flowers, vegetable and fruit waste, weeds and leaves. For the dry end of the spectrum, think of things like paper and cardboard, sawdust, hay, etc. Avoid ashes, meat, charcoal and diseased plants in your compost.

You can conserve more water by mulching your garden. Covering the ground with mulch cuts back on the need for watering your plants. Mulch can consist of commercial products or even wood and twigs from your trees and old plants. It doesn't matter as long as you have enough.

Always give your garden the benefit of looking beneath the upper portions of a plant. After planting tomatoes, for example, you must closely monitor the soil for the first signs of green shoots. Don't get attached--these hints of green are hiding an underdeveloped root system below the surface of the soil. The lush starts remain on the baby plants for several weeks, crippling their growth until the starts are gone.

When you water too much, then you can actually harm your plants due to the fact that the roots can't get the nutrients they need. Check the weather for the next couple of days to see if you actually need to water your plants. Depending on the weather, you might want to skip watering for the day.

Coffee grounds are good for your soil. Coffee has a lot of essential nutrients that plants need. It is best for your plants to use coffee grounds that are part of a blend of ingredients in the compost or soil you are using for your plants, rather than directly adding coffee grounds to your garden plants.

There are a variety of plants that are possible to be grown in organic gardens. Mulch is a must-have for plants that require acidic conditions. Pine needles are an excellent choice for mulch material for these plants. As the needles decompose, their acid will deposit into the soil and nourish the plants.

Using coffee grounds as part of your soil mixture in your garden is often advised for healthy plants. Coffee grounds have a lot of nutrients that plants can use. Generally, nitrogen is the limiting nutrient with any plant and having a good nitrogen source either by coffee grounds, compost, or even diluted urea, will make your plants bloom faster and grow taller.

Clean off your vegetables in fresh water outside, and then save the runoff for the garden. What you wash off of your fruit and veggies can be used again in the garden to enhance the nourishment of your plants. In addition, never use any type of cleaning agent or anything other than your hands when you are cleaning your garden veggies. This ensures the best results.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

By obtaining a greater number of organic gardening ideas, you will soon find the process to be increasingly effortless. Keep in mind that this advice is the beginning of your organic gardening knowledge

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Organic Gardening Tips For Beginners

Holistic lifestyles are starting to become more popular, and people are starting to live more organically. People living this type of lifestyle typically need to grow herbs and other plants to experience the health benefits, and they have to be grown organically. The following advice below helps to improve organic gardening skills.

If organic gardening is something you desire to do, it's critical that you are aware of the proper method to make beds. To begin this process, cut under the turf and leave a space open. Flip the turf upside down, then cover the area with wood chips. Once these have set for about two or three weeks you can plant in it.

You must be sure to mulch your garden or flowerbed with about three inches of materials that are organic. Mulch adds nutrients to the soil, keeps the soil moist, reduces weed growth, and makes beds look tidier.

You should add a two to three inch layer of organic mulch to your flower bed. This practice is an easy way to discourage weeds, retain moisture, and add valuable nutrients to your garden. Mulch also completes your garden, giving it a finished appearance.

Cultivating a truly organic garden requires you to pay careful attention to the things that you use to maintain it. There are many organic fertilizers and pesticides available which are much better options than chemicals. A great example is to use compost. Compared with chemical-based approaches, organic methods are safer for both the people and the planet.

Pine needles make a great organic mulch. Some garden plants have a high acidity, and prefer acidic soil. If you are growing these types of plants, simply gather up fallen pine needles for use in your garden. Cover your beds with the needles, as they will decompose and disperse their acid throughout the soil.

Adjust your watering according to season and current climate. You should consider water quality and soil type when watering your plants. Try to water your plants at the same time every day, as time of day also affects how much water they need. For instance, in warm and balmy locations, it is important not to water leaves, as doing so tends to foster fungus growth. Instead, the roots should be thoroughly watered.

Save your rainwater and use it to keep your plants happy. To collect rainwater, use rain barrels or buckets. It will save you money by not having to use extra water to keep your garden growing. Rainwater is always free, and there sometimes plenty of it. Water from natural rainfall is a great resource for your plants.

You should add mulch to your garden and flowerbed using at least three inches of organic material. Mulch adds nutrients to soil, maintains moisture and prevents weed growth.

You must consider how much light is available when starting your plants indoors. Almost every type of plant you grow requires ample sunlight, so think about how much natural light you home receives or if you perhaps need to supplement with UV lamps. If you simply must have a plant that has higher requirements for sunlight, you can use indoor UV lamps.

When you clean vegetables, do it outside and save the water. The dirt and nutrients that are washed from your fresh vegetables can be reused in the garden and add enhanced nourishment that tap water and rain water can not supply. Avoid using any cleaners when you wash your vegetables off.

Know how and when you must water the organic garden. Use a special hose designed to soak plants with water. A soaker hose can get water to the bottom of the plant and it will ensure you do not lose any moisture. Many experts advise that you water your plants early in the morning.

If slugs are disrupting the balance of your garden, you can diminish their population by using a beer trap. Place a container in the ground so that the lip is even with the soil surface. Next, add beer to the jar until it's about nearly full, with somewhere around an inch of space remaining. The slugs will be attracted to the beer and will end up being trapped within the confines of the jar.

Use strategic plantings of garlic throughout your garden to help keep insects at bay. The smell of garlic repels the majority of garden pests. Try to plant the garlic near other plants that attract the most garden pests. One of the benefits of planting this is it's edible.

Try to avoid over-watering your plants. Too much water will make it more difficult for the plants to absorb the nutrients they need from the soil. Prior to watering your outdoor plants, you should check with weather stations to see if it will be raining later in the day. If the weather forecast calls for rain, it's probably wise to not water your plants that day.

Over-watering your plants is not healthy because too much water may inhibit the roots from getting nutrients out of the soil. Always check to see if rain is in the forecast before watering your plants. If rain is predicted, you shouldn't bother to water any outdoor plants for that day..

When preparing a home-cooked meal, save your excess vegetable trimmings and mix them in with the soil in your garden. Vegetables break down within a few days and feed the soil with nutrients. You may of course still choose to use some of these leftover vegetables for composting, but making immediate use of them is also beneficial.

Try using botanical insecticides to help rid your garden of pests, without using chemicals. Under certain conditions, organic pesticides can outperform chemical products in effectiveness and safety. But, because they are made of natural materials, these types of insecticides frequently fade much faster.

Using coffee grounds as part of your soil mixture in your garden is often advised for healthy plants. Coffee grounds have a lot of nutrients that plants can use. Generally, nitrogen is the limiting nutrient with any plant and having a good nitrogen source either by coffee grounds, compost, or even diluted urea, will make your plants bloom faster and grow taller.

Consider adding mulch for healthier soil. Mulch can help protect your soil. It prevents soil temperature from getting too warm on hot, sunny days, which protects your plants' roots. It greatly reduces water loss, keeping the soil moist with fewer waterings. It also keeps the weeds under control.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

As these suggestions have shown you, anyone can have a successful organic garden. It takes tons of patience and work, but it's worth it for a great garden

Sunday, 9 December 2012

Sound Gardening Advice On Proper Organic Gardening

Holistic lifestyles are starting to become more popular, and people are starting to live more organically. People living this type of lifestyle typically need to grow herbs and other plants to experience the health benefits, and they have to be grown organically. The following advice below helps to improve organic gardening skills.

In order to claim your crops are legitimately organic and be credible, it is important to your customers that you become organic garden certified. This should improve sales and attract customers who are environmentally conscious. A certification will easily communicate to them that they are getting the best products possible.

You should know how to water your plants. One way to ensure this is to use a soaker hose. These are able to water the plant base directly, which would help slow down moisture loss due to evaporation. Try to do your watering early in the morning before the sun is at its strongest.

In your compost, use green and dried plants in equal parts. Green plant material consists of spent flowers, veggie and fruit waste, leaves, weeds, and grass clippings. Dried plant matter, on the other hand, includes shredded paper, used wood chips and straw. Avoid meat, ashes, charcoal, plants with diseases and manure from carnivores.

Organic material that is a minimum of three inches deep should be used as mulch within your garden. This can help you add nourishment to your soil, retain moisture and inhibit weed growth.

Go ahead and dig a hole so that you can plant a shrub or tree for your organic garden. If the hole has surfaces smoothed by the shovel, it may prove difficult for the roots to penetrate through the soil.

A terrific way to fertilize your plants in the garden is by creating compost of your own. To start a simple one try a little worm composting bin. Mix up some dirt, refuse from the kitchen, and newspaper clippings, then let the red wiggler worms go at it.

When planting seeds in containers, remember that the depth should be at least three times bigger than the seed. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried. Some typical examples are petunias and ageratum. When in doubt about whether a seed requires direct sun exposure, you can find lots of information online or on the seed packaging itself.

When organic gardening, know when and how much to water your plants. A soaker hose would be the best tool to use.. Water evaporation will be decreased as the plant receives moisture at its base. Watering the garden early in the morning is ideal.

Don't let all the little chores in your organic garden build up. If you're too busy to do all those little things each day, there are some small steps you can take to not have all that work build up on you. If you're outside with your pet, try to remove weeds when your pet is doing his business.

When you start planting your organic tomatoes, stagger your planting time by planting two groups of plants, three weeks apart. Doing this will cause your harvest to come in at differing times, allowing you to gather up the majority of them and cut your losses. If you only have one harvest and something goes wrong, this prevents all your tomatoes from getting ruined.

Use an old laundry basket to collect your produce. An old laundry basket makes an excellent strainer for cleaning your produce. Rinse the produce while it sits in the basket, the extra water will go through the holes in the basket.

When you clean vegetables, do it outside and save the water. Things that come off of the vegetables, like nutrients and dirt, can be put back into the garden and give it things that it can't get otherwise. Avoid using cleansers and utensils when you clean the vegetables.

Use fruit peelings and scraps of fruit and vegetable waste to create your own compost. By using these natural bits of food, you can make virtually cost-free organic compost that will leave your plants healthy and beautiful.

Always give your garden the benefit of looking beneath the upper portions of a plant. After planting tomatoes, for example, you must closely monitor the soil for the first signs of green shoots. Don't get attached--these hints of green are hiding an underdeveloped root system below the surface of the soil. The lush starts remain on the baby plants for several weeks, crippling their growth until the starts are gone.

Apply equal portions of dried plant material and green into your compost pile. You can use all types of green material in your compost pile, including cut grass, dead flowers, fruit peels and cores, and much more. Dried plant materials are things like shredded newspaper, cardboard, sawdust, straw, and any cut up wood materials. However, stay away from meats, manure from carnivores, charcoal and other potentially harmful substances.

For the best results when mulching, you should aim to create a bed of mulch two to three inches thick. This can help you add nourishment to your soil, retain moisture and inhibit weed growth.

Try using botanical insecticides to help rid your garden of pests, without using chemicals. Under certain conditions, organic pesticides can outperform chemical products in effectiveness and safety. But, because they are made of natural materials, these types of insecticides frequently fade much faster.

Learn to work efficiently. Keep all of your tools together; do not waste time looking for them! Before you make a trip to your garden, you should gather all tools and items in advance. Afterwards, be sure to return them to their original storage place. If you need to use a tool belt, try using some pants with pockets in them.

Consider adding mulch for healthier soil. Mulch can help protect your soil. It prevents soil temperature from getting too warm on hot, sunny days, which protects your plants' roots. It greatly reduces water loss, keeping the soil moist with fewer waterings. It also keeps the weeds under control.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

As you can see, there is a lot more to organic gardening than most people think. While it takes quite a bit of effort and lots of patience, your pay off in the end will be a fantastic organic garden. By applying the advice of the preceding paragraphs, you'll set sail for a beautiful organic gardening horizon

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

How To Grow A Bountiful Organic Garden

You are finally ready to try organic gardening. Well your timing could not be more perfect! Read the following article and you will get some great organic gardening information.

In order to claim your crops are legitimately organic and be credible, it is important to your customers that you become organic garden certified. This should improve sales and attract customers who are environmentally conscious. A certification will easily communicate to them that they are getting the best products possible.

Make sure you look at what lies beneath in order to start off on the right foot. For example, tomato seedlings can develop bad root systems that will result in failed plants. These green starts will prohibit the plants from growing. Lush green starts will remain on the seedlings and keep them from growing properly until they disappear.

One of the more rewarding hobbies is organic gardening. Organic gardening allows you learn the entire plant cycle, from the beginning to the end.

Plant trees strategically to maximize the amount of natural share over your home. Trees that throw shade on your home during the hot summer months can be an important ally in reducing energy costs.

You can use materials found in most homes to put up a tent in your organic garden during winter. Insert tall gardening stakes, such as bean poles, into the soil at the corners of your beds. Drape the poles with a tarp or sheet and then weight the bottom down with bricks. This is a cheap method of building a tent to ensure that you save your crops during the winter.

Keep the temperature in your home between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, if you are keeping or growing any kind of plant in your house. Your plants will not grow well if it is too cold. If you want to save money on gas bills in the winter, you can provide local heating for the plants with a heat lamp instead.

Use alcohol to help control the slugs in your garden by fashioning a beer trap. Take a glass jar and bury it in your garden, making sure that the lip of the jar is even with the soil. Next, fill the jar with beer until there is only one inch left below the mouth of the jar. Slugs will be attracted by the beer and fall into the jar.

Make sure you work in your garden every day. Don't waste your time by looking all over for your tools. By keeping your tools in a certain area, they will always be ready whenever you are. Even something like a carpenter's tool belt or some cargo jeans work well to keep tools organized.

Spacing is an important factor to consider when planting your garden. People often underestimate how much space plants will need when once they're grown. You will also need to ensure that you allow ample space around full-grown plants for air circulation. Plan your garden accordingly, and make sure the right distance is between the seeds.

For an all-natural pesticide that will not harm your garden, mix onion, garlic, or chives with plain water. This mixture can then be sprayed directly on the plants. Make some spray made of onions, chives, garlic, and a mix of around a half of a cup of water, strain the mixture and put it into a spray bottle.

A beer trap can help to eradicate slugs. Bury a jar in the garden with it's mouth open and level to the ground. Fill the jar with beer within one inch of the top. The beer attracts these slugs, but traps them in the jar.

When they are in healthy soil, plants can withstand diseases and handle insect damage much better. Even if the insects still remain, your plants will not be affected as much as before.

Use untreated wood, stone, or brick to build a raised bed. For best results, you should only use wood that has not been treated with chemicals or protective coating. Cypress, locust and cedar are all great examples of what woods to use when building a raised bed. Avoid using treated wood since they contain chemicals that could disperse into the soil or the crops. If you already have treated lumber in use, line it with some plastic and replace the soil near it.

Always give your garden the benefit of looking beneath the upper portions of a plant. After planting tomatoes, for example, you must closely monitor the soil for the first signs of green shoots. Don't get attached--these hints of green are hiding an underdeveloped root system below the surface of the soil. The lush starts remain on the baby plants for several weeks, crippling their growth until the starts are gone.

Ensure your soil is health by adding mulch. Mulch will protect and nourish the soil. Mulch will ensure your soil is kept cool on hot days and protect your roots. The layer of mulch will also minimize evaporation, reducing your need to water as frequently as you would a garden without mulch. Mulch is also excellent for keeping weeds at bay.

Use an old laundry basket to gather your vegetables and fruits. This laundry basket can be used as a type of strainer for all your produce. When you put your produce in a basket, you can then rinse it off and let it strain any excess water through the laundry basket holes.

There are a variety of plants that are possible to be grown in organic gardens. Mulch is a must-have for plants that require acidic conditions. Pine needles are an excellent choice for mulch material for these plants. As the needles decompose, their acid will deposit into the soil and nourish the plants.

You can use rainwater if you save it. Use barrels or buckets to trap rainwater to use in your organic garden. This will save you from paying money to water your garden. Rainwater is plentiful and free. Rainwater works just as well as water from other sources, so you might as well use it.

Gardening is a good way to connect with nature, but organic gardening remains the best way to observe natural cycles. When you grow organic, you will learn much more about the planting and growing process, from A to Z.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you're eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you've learned here and get started on your garden today

Monday, 3 December 2012

Tips And Techniques For A Great Organic Garden

If you want a healthy organic garden, you have many options. You just need to learn the methods and use them.

You must consider how much light is available when starting your plants indoors. If your home does not let in sufficient light, then consider getting plants that thrive in low-light situations. You can also get special lamps if you want a different kind of plants.

You can kill weeds naturally. Use a lot of layers of newspaper in order to achieve weed control. Weeds require sunlight to continue growing. If the weeds have already sprouted, you can place the newspapers over them and they will die due to lack of sunlight. Newspapers also break down over time, becoming part of your compost. You can add mulch on top for aesthetic reasons.

You should add a two to three inch layer of organic mulch to your flower bed. This practice is an easy way to discourage weeds, retain moisture, and add valuable nutrients to your garden. Mulch also completes your garden, giving it a finished appearance.

Most people favor organically grown fruits and vegetables for their cleanliness and the fact that they are not grown with harmful pesticides. This is great for your health, but you do want to check the produce for bugs prior to using it.

The space you leave in between your plants is an important measurement when it comes to gardening. Amateur gardeners often make the mistake of failing to leave enough space for fully matured plants. This will give you enough room to work around your garden without smashing any plants. Because of this, you should always take the time to ensure that there's enough distance between all your seeds.

If you are having problems with aphids in the organic garden then you should try using good "old fashioned" water that is soapy, which may be the trick you are looking for to solve the predicament you are in. Take the soapy water and spray it all over the plant. When you are finished, repeat the process with clean water.

Use companion plants in your garden. There are many kinds of plants that will help the plants near them to grow and thrive. Companion plants can help you get rid of bugs and help put beneficial nutrients in your soil. Therefore, you will use less fertilizer and pesticides. Fo example, vegetables and herbs that have strong scents can help neighboring vegetable plants stay pest-free.

Clean your vegetables outside in fresh water and save this for your garden. What you wash off of your fruit and veggies can be used again in the garden to enhance the nourishment of your plants. Avoid using chemicals when washing the items to prevent introducing chemicals into the soil.

You can grow a variety of different plants in your home organic garden. Mulch is a must-have for plants that require acidic conditions. These types of plants should be mulched with a thick layer of pine needles around fall every year. When the needles begin to decompose, they then begin to deposit natural acid.

To create your own low cost compost, use uneaten fruit peelings and flesh. This natural waste is full of nutrients to give your garden a healthy bloom at no cost when used as compost.

Growing high-value crops is something you may consider for your garden. Buy what crops you personally like in large quantity. If you grow veggie plants that cost a lot at the supermarket, you can save a lot of money. You should plant a garden that is full of the fruits and vegetables you love, so that you can enjoy the produce that is yielded through your efforts.

Keep the leaves you rake to use in your compost pile. Leaves quickly turn into organic compost rich in nutrients your plants need. This is a free way to get organic compost that will benefit your garden.

After your seeds sprout, the containers do not need to stay as warm as they once did. As your plants grow, you will want to put a little distance between them and heat. Also, remove plastic coverings from the tops of your growing containers to keep them from becoming too warm or humid. Observe your seeds carefully so that you can make these changes as soon as they start sprouting.

To be able to say you have legitimate organic and credible crops, you will need to be certified as having an organic garden. This attracts customers who are willing to drive a little farther and pay a little more for products that are safe and healthy.

For some plants, pine needles makes an ideal mulch. There are many types of plants with a high acidity, which means they thrive in acidic soil. If this is the case, use pine needles to mulch your beds. Go ahead and cover the beds you have with needles a couple of inches and while they decompose, they actually disperse some acid into the soil.

Use an old laundry basket to gather your vegetables and fruits. This laundry basket can be used as a type of strainer for all your produce. When you put your produce in a basket, you can then rinse it off and let it strain any excess water through the laundry basket holes.

Think about planting everbearing strawberries in your garden, especially if you have small children. A lot of children not only love to pick out their own fruit but they also love to learn about it as well.

An organic shade garden is a good choice for any beginner. Shade gardens are designed to be hardy and low maintenance. They don't require as much watering, and that can save you a lot of time and effort. Growth is sustained, but weeds will be less of a problem.

Gardening is a good way to connect with nature, but organic gardening remains the best way to observe natural cycles. When you grow organic, you will learn much more about the planting and growing process, from A to Z.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

As was mentioned earlier, perfecting your organic garden just takes some patience, and investment of time. These tips can be put to use so you can see how great growing a garden can be. Regardless of what specific insights you choose to apply, they'll help you successfully grow whatever you choose to plant

Thursday, 29 November 2012

Amazing Advice For A Thriving Organic Garden

One of the most sensible ways to improve your diet is through organic gardening. It does, however, require a great deal of effort to grow. This can leave you wondering where to start when it comes to organic gardening.

Find out the best time to water your garden. A soaker hose is an appropriate tool to use. These hoses direct water to the bases of your plants, which allows more of the water to stay in the soil, instead of evaporating. The early morning time is the best time to water your organic garden.

Leave plenty of growing space when you plant your garden. It's common to not think about how much space a plant will need once it's full grown, and you don't want to crowd your garden. You need to take into account the plant's size when it is fully grown, as well as allowing space for air circulation between each plant. Therefore, ensure that you allow for ample spaces between your seedlings.

In your compost, use green and dried plants in equal parts. Green plant material consists of spent flowers, veggie and fruit waste, leaves, weeds, and grass clippings. Dried plant matter, on the other hand, includes shredded paper, used wood chips and straw. Avoid meat, ashes, charcoal, plants with diseases and manure from carnivores.

Organic gardening just got easier! One of the best techniques is to plant native flowers, grasses and bushes to your landscape. Native plants will thrive in your soil type and climate, without the need for inorganic fertilizers or pesticides. Many native plants work quite well with compost composed of natural and native ingredients.

When a seed actually sprouts, it doesn't need to be in as warm an environment. Remove plants from the heated environment once they begin growing. You should also remove plastic films that you had on your containers to keep the humidity and warmth out. You should know when the right time is if you are keeping an eye on the seeds.

A terrific way to fertilize your plants in the garden is by creating compost of your own. To start a simple one try a little worm composting bin. Mix up some dirt, refuse from the kitchen, and newspaper clippings, then let the red wiggler worms go at it.

Know what you'd specifically like to grow within your organic garden. You will need to cultivate specific environments for various vegetables and plants. As an example, take the beautiful rose bush. There are hundreds of variances available and while some will do well in your garden, others won't. For this reason, make sure that the varieties of plants you choose will work in your environment.

If you plan to plant trees in your yard, you should arrange them in a way that they will provide the most shade for your house. You can get more savings on energy bills because the shade you get from the trees will cool your home naturally.

You can fertilize your organic garden with homemade compost. An easy way to start creating compost is to start a small worm bin for composting. Red worms, soil, kitchen scraps and shredded newspaper will be a good base for your compost bin.

A good tip for an organic garden with tomatoes, is to plant an additional set of tomatoes once three weeks have passed since you planted the original ones. This helps the entire harvest from being ready at the same time. Additionally, should something happen to during one of your harvests, your tomatoes will not all be ruined.

If you're having a problem with aphids in your garden, then soapy water could be your solution. Just spray the plant's stems, leaves and buds using a light soapy water solution and follow it up using another spray of fresh and clean water.

You can use the leaves out in your yard to mix and make an organic compost with when you combine it with your soil The leaves decompose, which means they become a nutrient rich, healthy compost that is also organic. This is a free way to boost the health of your garden's soil.

It will only take a few pieces of advice to help create a great perennial garden. Cut under the dirt with a spade and turn it over. Next, cover the area with three to four inches of organic wood chips. Wait a few weeks and then plant your perennials into the brand new bed.

Just as when outside, plants kept inside need varying degrees of sunlight, which can be harder to obtain from indoors. If you're living in a home that doesn't receive much sunlight, you should consider growing plants that thrive in environments with low to medium amounts of light. If you do and this does not help, consider investing in some grow-lights.

Increase the amount of mulch you use in your garden to conserve water. You will save on your water bills if you have a large amount of mulch in your landscape. Mulch can be purchased, or you can use leaves, tree bark or other organic material. It's important to use a good amount of it, no matter the type.

A diversity of materials can be used to construct raised beds. These include brick, stone, and wood. Any wood you use needs to be untreated and resistant to rot. Cypress, locust and cedar usually work best. Treated wood can leach chemicals into any soil it rests against, so don't use it in a garden with vegetables. If your existing garden structure contains treated wood, at least take the time to make a plastic lining beneath the soil.

The organic mulch around trees and flowers should be approximately three inches deep. This is a technique that provides benefits to the land itself, but that also minimizes water usage, allowing you to save money and the environment simultaneously. Don't worry about how your garden will look using this method. It'll look wonderful.

Learn to work efficiently. Keep all of your tools together; do not waste time looking for them! Before you make a trip to your garden, you should gather all tools and items in advance. Afterwards, be sure to return them to their original storage place. If you need to use a tool belt, try using some pants with pockets in them.

Clean off your vegetables in fresh water outside, and then save the runoff for the garden. What you wash off of your fruit and veggies can be used again in the garden to enhance the nourishment of your plants. In addition, never use any type of cleaning agent or anything other than your hands when you are cleaning your garden veggies. This ensures the best results.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

Now, you shouldn't get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you'll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Tips And Tricks To Success Organic Gardening

Many people get into organic gardening since they fear the toxic effects of commercial pesticides and fertilizers, both on the environment and their health. Organic gardening is a very cost-efficient way to grow fruits and vegetables. Here are some suggestions on helping you to become a organic gardening professional.

You can use materials found in most homes to put up a tent in your organic garden during winter. Start by placing bean poles at the sides of the garden bed. Position a bed sheet over the poles, and add bricks around the edges to hold down the sheet. Building a tent over your organic garden is extremely inexpensive, and it allows you to ensure your crops survive the winter.

Make a shade garden out of your organic garden. Shade gardens are designed to be hardy and low maintenance. They don't require much watering, which saves both work and time. While growth is a bit slower, there are also fewer weeds to remove.

Ward off certain diseases that plague plants with the use of aspirin. Dissolve aspirin (1.5 pills per 2 gallons of water) in a bucket and administer to your plants. The simple practice of spraying them with the mix will help them fight off diseases. Apply this solution to your plants every few weeks.

When chopping and preparing vegetables for your daily meals, take the excess scraps and spread them on your organic garden. They will improve the soil when they decay and add additional nutrients to the surrounding area. You may of course still choose to use some of these leftover vegetables for composting, but making immediate use of them is also beneficial.

Garlic is an excellent choice to grow organically. The best time to plant garlic is either early spring or in the fall. Plant garlic in moist soil with good drainage. Plant your garlic cloves around 1-2 inches into the ground, making sure the end is pointed up and they are four inches from each other. The green shoots can be used as they grow. Use them in place of scallions or chives. When the tops of the bulbs begin turning brown, they are ready for harvesting. Place the freshly picked bulbs in the sun, and let them dry and harden for a couple of days. Store the cloves in a cool area. They can be tied or left loose.

It is important to keep the temperature set between 65 and 75 degrees, if you wish to raise plants in the home. Your plants will not grow well if it is too cold. If you don't like keeping your home that temperature in the winter, you may wish to consider getting a heat lamp, instead, to keep your organic plants the correct temperature.

When the veggies are prepared fresh for meals, try taking time after eating for chopping extra pieces finely to use in the garden. These vegetable pieces will quickly begin to decay, leeching vital nutrients directly into your new growing plants. You can also use some for composting, but using a portion of this waste now can be beneficial.

Clean your vegetables outside in fresh water and save this for your garden. What you wash off of your fruit and veggies can be used again in the garden to enhance the nourishment of your plants. Avoid using chemicals when washing the items to prevent introducing chemicals into the soil.

If you are wanting to start your own organic garden, it is crucial that you know how to properly make beds. Begin by slicing beneath the turf using a spade. Once it is sliced, flip the turf up exposing the soil underneath. Now cover this exposed area with wood chips, about 3 or 4 inches. Once these have set for about two or three weeks you can plant in it.

Rotate your garden at least once a year. Fungus and disease are more likely to affect plants if they stay in the same location for long periods of time, especially if they belong to the same family. These kind of enemies to plants can stay underground ready for the next year to cause harm to your plants. By changing up varieties and locations, you are reducing the chances of damaging your plants.

Be sure you have information about what to look for when buying plants to add to your organic garden. When it comes to perennials and annuals, this is particularly important. In this case, you want plants that are budding, but not those that are blooming. This is important because before the plants have bloomed, they can grow a root system that is much stronger.

Grow items that are high in value, either in terms of money or in terms of your love for them. Buy what crops you personally like in large quantity. If you grow vegetables which are expensive to buy, you will save on food costs by producing them yourself. You should plant a garden that is full of the fruits and vegetables you love, so that you can enjoy the produce that is yielded through your efforts.

Looking for a natural way to kill weeds in your garden? You will need many layers of newspapers. Without light, there can be no weeds. With layers of newspaper on them, the weeds are not going to have light, and therefore will not grow. Newspaper decompose quickly and integrate into the compost. You can add mulch on top for aesthetic reasons.

Always give your garden the benefit of looking beneath the upper portions of a plant. After planting tomatoes, for example, you must closely monitor the soil for the first signs of green shoots. Don't get attached--these hints of green are hiding an underdeveloped root system below the surface of the soil. The lush starts remain on the baby plants for several weeks, crippling their growth until the starts are gone.

If your organic garden is infested with aphids, break out the soapy water to get rid of them for good. Make sure to spray the whole plant including leaves, buds and stems with the soapy water mixture and rinse by spraying with clean water.

Plant your organic garden in the shade. These gardens are low maintenance, which is very appealing to people. You will not have to water them as often, which will save you a lot of time. While the plants in shade gardens grow slower, so do the weeds.

Grow items that are high in value, either in terms of money or in terms of your love for them. Buy what crops you personally like in large quantity. Growing expensive plants in your home will save you money at the market. Plant vegetable plants that you love to eat.

One of the most interesting organic gardening tricks is to use companion plants. Some plants help their neighboring plants to grow. Companion plants can help you get rid of bugs and help put beneficial nutrients in your soil. Therefore, you will use less fertilizer and pesticides. For example, any plant that has a heavy smell will help repel pests.

Consider adding mulch for healthier soil. Mulch can help protect your soil. It prevents soil temperature from getting too warm on hot, sunny days, which protects your plants' roots. It greatly reduces water loss, keeping the soil moist with fewer waterings. It also keeps the weeds under control.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

When you remember these suggestions from this article, you will not be as afraid to go about organic gardening. Apply the wisdom you have learned here to your home and yard, and you can enjoy pure wholesome foods in your kitchen in not time at all

Sunday, 25 November 2012

Experts Advice On Organic Gardening

You will need a great deal worth of patience, and you will also need a green thumb to get into gardening. It is an enjoyable way to grow your own nutritious foods that are free of pesticides and other harsh chemicals. Are you intimidated? Read on for suggestions on what you will need to start gardening like a pro.

A good way to plant seeds is in containers. Plant them three times as deep as their overall size. However, you should always know that some seeds cannot be covered, even the slightest bit, because they need to be in direct sunlight. Examples of these are petunias and ageratum. If you are wondering whether or not the seeds require direct sunlight, you can usually find helpful information online that will answer your question.

You can kill weeds naturally. Use a lot of layers of newspaper in order to achieve weed control. Weeds require sunlight to continue growing. If the weeds have already sprouted, you can place the newspapers over them and they will die due to lack of sunlight. Newspapers also break down over time, becoming part of your compost. You can add mulch on top for aesthetic reasons.

Strawberries are a great plant to grow in any organic garden, especially if you happen to have kids or any strawberry lover in your home. Children find it fun to pick strawberries and love to assist with the harvest if they get some yummy treats as they work.

Plant trees strategically to maximize the amount of natural share over your home. Trees that throw shade on your home during the hot summer months can be an important ally in reducing energy costs.

Many different sorts of plants will grown in an organic garden. Mulch is a must-have for plants that require acidic conditions. Use pine needles or decomposed leaves to mulch around these plants in the fall. When the pine needles are decomposing, they release natural acid onto the ground beneath them.

You should teach your children how to garden alongside you. Gardening is a great way for children to learn, and it gives you two a chance to spend some quality time together and produce healthy food.

The ideal temperature to set your thermostat for indoor plants is between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit during the daylight hours. Plants need to be in an environment that is neither too warm nor too cool for them to grow. If you don't want you house to be really warm during the cold season, you could use a heat lamp on organic plants instead.

When organic gardening, know when and how much to water your plants. A soaker hose would be the best tool to use.. Water evaporation will be decreased as the plant receives moisture at its base. Watering the garden early in the morning is ideal.

Build a garden full of diversity. Increasing your plant variety will draw further variety in the wildlife around. Plant things that are well-suited for the environment you live in. If you can accomplish this, your garden will be a pleasant place where you can relax, and you will have the satisfaction that comes from doing your bit for the environment.

Be specific about the things you desire to grow when it comes to your organic garden. Many garden plants come in a wide range of varieties, and these varieties can often have quite different care requirements. Even with roses, the varieties available will mean that you may not be successful with any one type. So you want to make sure you find ones that are suited for your organic environment.

If you are mulching your plants, you should use a layer of approximately three inches deep. Doing this will benefit the environment, as well as reduce your water bills. You will also find the mulch attractive.

Grow items that are high in value, either in terms of money or in terms of your love for them. Buy what crops you personally like in large quantity. If you grow vegetables which are expensive to buy, you will save on food costs by producing them yourself. You should plant a garden that is full of the fruits and vegetables you love, so that you can enjoy the produce that is yielded through your efforts.

You can conserve more water by mulching your garden. Covering the ground with mulch cuts back on the need for watering your plants. Mulch can consist of commercial products or even wood and twigs from your trees and old plants. It doesn't matter as long as you have enough.

You need to avoid chores in your organic garden stacking up. If you're too busy to do all those little things each day, there are some small steps you can take to not have all that work build up on you. While you are with your pet outside, pull some weeds while the pet does its business.

For some plants, pine needles makes an ideal mulch. There are many types of plants with a high acidity, which means they thrive in acidic soil. If this is the case, use pine needles to mulch your beds. Go ahead and cover the beds you have with needles a couple of inches and while they decompose, they actually disperse some acid into the soil.

Plant your organic garden in the shade. These gardens are low maintenance, which is very appealing to people. You will not have to water them as often, which will save you a lot of time. While the plants in shade gardens grow slower, so do the weeds.

Pine needles should not be overlooked as a great source for mulch. Some plants are highly acidic, and like soil that is acidic too. If your garden contains plants like this, there are few things simpler than spreading some pine needles across your beds. Cover your beds with two inches of needles; acid will be dispersed into the soil as they decompose.

Mixing garlic, chives, and onions with the water to make an organic spray can really help discourage unwanted pests in your beautiful garden. Add chopped garlic, the chives or onions sliced finely, and one half cup of water in a container. Strain this concoction into a spray bottle.

Gardening is a good way to connect with nature, but organic gardening remains the best way to observe natural cycles. When you grow organic, you will learn much more about the planting and growing process, from A to Z.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

A successful organic garden is the result of hard work and a good understanding of the principles involved. It is also true that in order to see results, that you have to keep at it. Use the tips presented here, along with some ideas of your own, and you can be a thriving organic gardener in no time

Thursday, 22 November 2012

Organic Gardening The Right Way For The Future

Organic gardening can either be a wonderful hobby, or a nuisance nightmare. The following advice will show you how to grow an organic garden successfully.

If organic gardening is something you desire to do, it's critical that you are aware of the proper method to make beds. To begin this process, cut under the turf and leave a space open. Flip the turf upside down, then cover the area with wood chips. Once these have set for about two or three weeks you can plant in it.

A soaker hose is the best choice for watering an organic garden. Because the water in these hoses seeps out slowly, it goes directly to the roots of the places and leaves the leaves dry. These hoses don't use as much water as a sprinkler does and are much more convenient than watering plants by hand.

One of the biggest benefits from eating food that is organically grown is the absence of pesticides. This is great for your health, but you do want to check the produce for bugs prior to using it.

When chopping and preparing vegetables for your daily meals, take the excess scraps and spread them on your organic garden. They will improve the soil when they decay and add additional nutrients to the surrounding area. You may of course still choose to use some of these leftover vegetables for composting, but making immediate use of them is also beneficial.

You can stop mud from being tracked into your house by covering your dirty gardening shoes with plastic bags. This keeps your flow going, so you can get back out to the garden quickly and finish your work.

It is possible to quickly and easily prepare your garden for new perennials. Cut into your turf using a spade and then cover the exposed portion with lots of wood chips. Wait a few weeks before planting perennials in the new bed.

Have biodiversity in your organic garden. The more plants you have, the more wildlife that will come. Try planting many different groups of plants in the garden so you are able to recreate a more natural environment. If you can manage this, the garden will be the perfect place to relax, and you'll have done a little something for the environment.

When it's time to dig a hole for a shrub or a tree in an organic garden, make the hole super ugly-looking. If you create holes that have "glazed" sides created by shovels, it's possible that one of those holes will restrict any root from getting into the soil nearby.

Gardening is by far one of the most beloved hobbies among men and women from all over the world, but organic gardening takes it a step further by using earth-friendly methods. Approaching gardening in this way will enlighten you in the entire process from beginning to end.

Garlic is a great deterrent to keep bugs out of your organic garden. The garlic scent repels many different types of insects. Be sure to plant the garlic around the perimeter of the garden and near pest-attracting plants. A bonus to using garlic in this manner is that you can eat it when you are finished gardening for the season.

Use approximately two or three inches of natural, organic material as some mulch in every single flower bed. Mulching helps to hold moisture in the soil, enhance the soil quality, and slow down the growth of weeds. It also adds a uniform and cohesive look to the garden.

When you clean vegetables, do it outside and save the water. Things that come off of the vegetables, like nutrients and dirt, can be put back into the garden and give it things that it can't get otherwise. Avoid using cleansers and utensils when you clean the vegetables.

After your seeds sprout, the containers do not need to stay as warm as they once did. As your plants grow, you will want to put a little distance between them and heat. Also, remove plastic coverings from the tops of your growing containers to keep them from becoming too warm or humid. Observe your seeds carefully so that you can make these changes as soon as they start sprouting.

Try to keep plastic bags on hand to cover shoes that are muddy. This way, you can maintain your momentum and head right back to your garden so that you can finish what you were doing.

If you're planning on gardening inside, the first thing you should consider is an adequate light source. If your dwelling does not enjoy a great deal of natural sunlight, it makes sense to grow only those varieties meant to thrive in such environments. If you want to grow a plant which requires more light, you can invest in grow-lights.

If you're trying to decide how to water the plants in your organic garden, consider a soaker hose. As the water slowly seeps out of the hose, it is directed right to the plant roots so the leaves do not get wet. They're easier than hand watering and don't use as much water as sprinklers.

An organic garden is a suitable home for practically any kind of plant. The diversity of what is available is almost overwhelming. Most acid-loving plants enjoy mulch. Pine needles are an excellent choice for mulch material for these plants. When the needles begin to decompose, their natural acid will begin to deposit into the soil.

You can create a tent with some material from home during winter for your organic garden. Use old bean poles and stick them into the ends of your beds. Drape the poles with a tarp or sheet and then weight the bottom down with bricks. Even though it is cheap and simple, it is also an effective way of saving your crops during the cold season.

Gardening is a good way to connect with nature, but organic gardening remains the best way to observe natural cycles. When you grow organic, you will learn much more about the planting and growing process, from A to Z.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

As stated, organic gardening, and understanding the choices you have in terms of plants, can greatly affect your present and future dietary choices. Apply the tips you just read to start your garden to save money and eat healthier foods

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Tips That All Organic Garderers Should Know

You will need a great deal worth of patience, and you will also need a green thumb to get into gardening. It is an enjoyable way to grow your own nutritious foods that are free of pesticides and other harsh chemicals. Are you intimidated? Read on for suggestions on what you will need to start gardening like a pro.

When you are maintaining your organic garden, think about adding small trenches between the rows of plants. Water will flow downward into the valley, where it can be absorbed more quickly by the plants' root systems. Doing this will save water, which in turn will save you money.

When adding a new tree or shrub to your garden, remember that a ragged planting hole is best. If the sides of the hole you dug is packed hard by the shovel, the roots of your plant may have difficulty penetrating the surrounding soil.

You should add a two to three inch layer of organic mulch to your flower bed. This practice is an easy way to discourage weeds, retain moisture, and add valuable nutrients to your garden. Mulch also completes your garden, giving it a finished appearance.

Make sure that your garden is diverse. Variety in your garden has more potential to attract wildlife. If you are interested in creating an untamed, natural look for your garden, you should include many varieties of plants. Different varieties can give you a pleasant garden to relax in, while doing good things for the environment.

With healthy soil, plants remain healthier, therefore can withstand more disease and even damage caused by insects. This won't get rid of insects, but it does make them less harmful, which should make most people happy.

Be aware of the location you are in, and the seasonal and climate changes that occur. Make sure that you adjust your watering cycles to match these changes. Knowing how much to water your plants can be a difficult task. You will want to look into various things, such as time of day, quality of water and type of soil. Gardeners in warm, moist climates should avoid watering leafy plants as this makes them more vulnerable to fungal growths. Make sure that your root system is well-watered.

Know what you'd specifically like to grow within your organic garden. You will need to cultivate specific environments for various vegetables and plants. As an example, take the beautiful rose bush. There are hundreds of variances available and while some will do well in your garden, others won't. For this reason, make sure that the varieties of plants you choose will work in your environment.

Plant twice- three weeks after planting tomatoes in the organic garden, plant more seeds. This allows your harvest to grow in stages. If you have something go wrong during a single harvest, it will prevent all of your tomatoes from being ruined.

Don't let all the little chores in your organic garden build up. If you're too busy to do all those little things each day, there are some small steps you can take to not have all that work build up on you. If you're outside with your pet, try to remove weeds when your pet is doing his business.

Be specific about the things you desire to grow when it comes to your organic garden. Many garden plants come in a wide range of varieties, and these varieties can often have quite different care requirements. Even with roses, the varieties available will mean that you may not be successful with any one type. So you want to make sure you find ones that are suited for your organic environment.

If you are mulching your plants, you should use a layer of approximately three inches deep. Doing this will benefit the environment, as well as reduce your water bills. You will also find the mulch attractive.

Keep the soil healthy by adding mulch. Protection is provided by placing the layer of mulch upon the soil. On hot days, mulch will offer protection to a plant's root system by cooling the soil. Evaporation will be reduced and the soil will remain moist for longer when you water. It will also serve as a method of controlling unwanted weeds.

One way to create a great organic garden is to allow for a portion of your yard to be undeveloped for wildlife. You will then find that the wildlife that can help you create a garden that can flourish become present; from birds to insects, they'll be around your garden and help your produce grow better.

No matter what kind of garden you have, weeds are a pain. This method is much safer for your other plants.

Over-watering your plants is not healthy because too much water may inhibit the roots from getting nutrients out of the soil. Check the weather for the next couple of days to see if you actually need to water your plants. If rain is in the forecast, it is best not to water that day.

Coffee grounds are good for your soil. Coffee has a lot of essential nutrients that plants need. It is best for your plants to use coffee grounds that are part of a blend of ingredients in the compost or soil you are using for your plants, rather than directly adding coffee grounds to your garden plants.

Learn to work efficiently. Don't waste your time by looking all over for your tools. Prepare your equipment before you go into the garden and put everything away afterwards. It may be necessary to don a tool belt or cargo pants with extra pockets.

Know exactly what varieties of plants you want to put in your garden. Many garden plants come in a wide range of varieties, and these varieties can often have quite different care requirements. Each type of rose may need different types of environments, for example. Know your specific surroundings and what will thrive there.

Clean off your vegetables in fresh water outside, and then save the runoff for the garden. What you wash off of your fruit and veggies can be used again in the garden to enhance the nourishment of your plants. In addition, never use any type of cleaning agent or anything other than your hands when you are cleaning your garden veggies. This ensures the best results.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

Gardening is within everybody's reach, but you will only make the most of your gardening experience with knowledge. It is important to put these organic tips to good use

Saturday, 17 November 2012

Organic Gardening To A Healthy Living

When you have the option, organically grown produce is almost always far superior to the other choices in the grocery store. Rather than eating store-bought fruits and veggies, you should try growing your own. Keep reading to learn how to get started with organic gardening.

If you're really serious about environmentally-friendly gardening practices, refrain from developing some of your land and use it as an animal habitat. Doing this will allow creatures that help plants to produce and pollinate to continue their actions, which will have a positive effect on the garden you develop.

Try to keep plastic bags on hand to cover shoes that are muddy. You will save time and be back in the garden much more quickly by doing this.

It is easy to quickly prepare your perennial garden ground. Use your spade to slice chunks of turf up, then flip each piece over, and spread wood chips on top to a depth of four inches. Wait for a few weeks and plant new perennials in this area.

When chopping and preparing vegetables for your daily meals, take the excess scraps and spread them on your organic garden. They will improve the soil when they decay and add additional nutrients to the surrounding area. You may of course still choose to use some of these leftover vegetables for composting, but making immediate use of them is also beneficial.

You can stop mud from being tracked into your house by covering your dirty gardening shoes with plastic bags. This keeps your flow going, so you can get back out to the garden quickly and finish your work.

If you would like to create a garden that is organic, it is vital you understand how to correctly make beds. The first step is to dig under the soil with a spade. After doing this, flip the dirt upside down, then cover the area with several inches of wood cihps. Once a few weeks have passed, you can create cut-ins for the plants.

Use alcohol to help control the slugs in your garden by fashioning a beer trap. Take a glass jar and bury it in your garden, making sure that the lip of the jar is even with the soil. Next, fill the jar with beer until there is only one inch left below the mouth of the jar. Slugs will be attracted by the beer and fall into the jar.

A great thing about organic foods produced by organic gardens is their lack of pesticides. While organic foods are healthy for your family, you will still need to check closely for bugs or worms.

Gardening is by far one of the most beloved hobbies among men and women from all over the world, but organic gardening takes it a step further by using earth-friendly methods. Approaching gardening in this way will enlighten you in the entire process from beginning to end.

Use this simple tip to get your perennial garden ready in a flash. Simple slice into the soil with a spade, flip the turf, and mulch the area with 3 to 4 inches of wood chips. You want to then give the area about a couple of weeks, then you want your new perennials planted by digging into it.

Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. Use a large bucket, or wear rugged pants with several pockets. Keep your gloves, pruning shears, a hand spade and your other tools handy to quickly and easily do your garden maintenance.

You can use the leaves out in your yard to mix and make an organic compost with when you combine it with your soil The leaves decompose, which means they become a nutrient rich, healthy compost that is also organic. This is a free way to boost the health of your garden's soil.

Growing plants that carry a high value are your best bet for the garden. That being said, a plant that is valuable to one person may be of no value to another. Growing crops that are expensive at the grocery store will offset some of the money spent growing them. Therefore, grow what you most enjoy and reap the benefits.

Use six parts water with one part milk to spray the leaves of your garden plants regularly. Doing so will help keep dangerous powdery mildew at bay. This mixture can easily be kept in the fridge for around three weeks. You can spray your plants with this mixture once a day. Stop when the mildew disappears.

When you are growing an organic garden, try digging some ditches in between rows of plants. This will help the water flow right toward the plants, so they will not need to be watered as often. This way, you will save water and money from your water bills.

Coffee grounds are good for your soil. Coffee has a lot of essential nutrients that plants need. It is best for your plants to use coffee grounds that are part of a blend of ingredients in the compost or soil you are using for your plants, rather than directly adding coffee grounds to your garden plants.

The organic mulch around trees and flowers should be approximately three inches deep. This is a technique that provides benefits to the land itself, but that also minimizes water usage, allowing you to save money and the environment simultaneously. Don't worry about how your garden will look using this method. It'll look wonderful.

An excellent organic spray which can get rid of the pests in your organic garden is one that mixes garlic, chives, or onions with water. Chop the garlic, chives and onions up into very fine pieces, and then mix with half a cup of water and strain into a spray bottle.

Gardening is a good way to connect with nature, but organic gardening remains the best way to observe natural cycles. When you grow organic, you will learn much more about the planting and growing process, from A to Z.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

You should now feel better about your organic gardening knowledge. If you thought that you were ready before, well you should now be an expert! Remember to apply these tips as you plan and take care of your garden

Wednesday, 14 November 2012

Tips That Will Help You With Organic Gardening

Many people are beginning to enjoy growing an organic garden. The aim of this article is to help the would-be organic gardener get off to a great start. Using the right tactics, like the ones listed below, will guide you on your quest to becoming a great gardener. Check out what the experts have to say about organic gardening.

Use a ton of mulch to save on water in your garden. If you have ample mulch, you will not need to water so often. You can use any kind of mulch, whether it's store bought or plant compost from your yard. Make sure to use a large amount, though.

Use an old laundry basket to bring your fresh produce in from the garden. It makes a great strainer for your vegetables. The produce can be rinsed off as it sits in the laundry basket, and extra water will drain out through the sides.

Ward off certain diseases that plague plants with the use of aspirin. Dissolve aspirin (1.5 pills per 2 gallons of water) in a bucket and administer to your plants. The simple practice of spraying them with the mix will help them fight off diseases. Apply this solution to your plants every few weeks.

Before planting anything in the organic garden, decide exactly what you want to grow. There are a variety of environments that certain vegetables and flowers thrive in to grow. Certain types of roses, for example, vary greatly from one another. So you want to make sure you find ones that are suited for your organic environment.

Pine needles make a great organic mulch. Some garden plants have a high acidity, and prefer acidic soil. If you are growing these types of plants, simply gather up fallen pine needles for use in your garden. Cover your beds with the needles, as they will decompose and disperse their acid throughout the soil.

Is there a natural way to kill weeds? You can easily control weeds by using layered sheets of newspaper. Without light, there can be no weeds. With layers of newspaper on them, the weeds are not going to have light, and therefore will not grow. You can use newspapers because of how nicely they break down, they can be added into compost. One way to enhance the appearance of your garden if you are using newspapers is to add an additional layer of mulch.

Have biodiversity in your organic garden. The more plants you have, the more wildlife that will come. Try planting many different groups of plants in the garden so you are able to recreate a more natural environment. If you can manage this, the garden will be the perfect place to relax, and you'll have done a little something for the environment.

You can add richness to your compost heap by mixing in the dead leaves that you have raked in your yard. The leaves decompose, which means they become a nutrient rich, healthy compost that is also organic. This is a cheap and sustainable way to get compost.

Gardening is by far one of the most beloved hobbies among men and women from all over the world, but organic gardening takes it a step further by using earth-friendly methods. Approaching gardening in this way will enlighten you in the entire process from beginning to end.

Weeds are pesky for any type of garden, whether or not it is organic. This organic weed killer is safe for both your garden and you.

Mulch your garden rather heavily. Remember, the mulch will compact and break down over time. Your garden will look more professional, have fewer weeds, and benefit from the moisture control and additional nutrients.

Keep the leaves you rake to use in your compost pile. Leaves quickly turn into organic compost rich in nutrients your plants need. This is a free way to get organic compost that will benefit your garden.

While organic gardening takes a little extra work, it is healthier and more gratifying than regular gardening. Even though the claims of the chemicals may be astounding, the organic way is always going to provide the best reward to you and whoever is eating your crops.

No matter what kind of garden you have, weeds are a pain. This method is much safer for your other plants.

Over-watering your plants is not healthy because too much water may inhibit the roots from getting nutrients out of the soil. Always check to see if rain is in the forecast before watering your plants. If rain is predicted, you shouldn't bother to water any outdoor plants for that day..

If you're trying to decide how to water the plants in your organic garden, consider a soaker hose. As the water slowly seeps out of the hose, it is directed right to the plant roots so the leaves do not get wet. They're easier than hand watering and don't use as much water as sprinklers.

For an all-natural insect deterrent, try planting garlic. The smell is unpleasant for many kinds of insects. Try to plant the garlic near other plants that attract the most garden pests. A great benefit to planting garlic is you can use it for yourself because it is edible.

Using coffee grounds as part of your soil mixture in your garden is often advised for healthy plants. Coffee grounds have a lot of nutrients that plants can use. Generally, nitrogen is the limiting nutrient with any plant and having a good nitrogen source either by coffee grounds, compost, or even diluted urea, will make your plants bloom faster and grow taller.

Rotate the plants that you grow each year by switching up where you plant them. If the types of plants that you grow are consistent from one year to the next, they may be more prone to diseases and plant fungus. Those things can wait silently in the soil and attack plants the next year. Rotating the types of plants that you grow will help to keep the fungi and diseases from gaining a foothold.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

Don't buy produce that aren't up to snuff. Use these suggestions listed here to produce fruit and veggies

Saturday, 10 November 2012

Need Advice On Organic Gardening? Look No Further Than This Article!

Growing an organic garden is a very pleasant and rewarding activity. Newcomers to organic gardening, however, can easily find themselves overwhelmed. So, how can you best prepare yourself as a novice organic gardener? Well, reading through the tips in this article is a start.

Find out the best time to water your garden. A soaker hose is an appropriate tool to use. These hoses direct water to the bases of your plants, which allows more of the water to stay in the soil, instead of evaporating. The early morning time is the best time to water your organic garden.

Take the season and weather conditions into account when determining how much water to give your plants. The amount of water a plant needs depends on the soil type, time of day and the water's quality. Overzealous watering in an already humid climate can lead to leaf fungus. Water the plants root system thoroughly instead.

When checking out tomatoes to buy, do a bit of poking in the soil. When you are buying seedlings for tomatoes, look at the roots as well as the green parts. These starts can stay on the tomato seedlings for a long time, and the seedling won't start to grow until these starts have gone.

When you are looking for a very low cost and fun method of creating your own compost, utilize those fruit peelings and left over bits of fruit. Each of these ingredients makes for rich, organic compost that nourishes your flowers and vegetables and costs next to nothing.

Spray your plants regularly with a mix of six parts water and one part milk. This will help prevent powdery mildew that could potentially ruin your plants. You can store this in your fridge for about three weeks. You can safely apply the mixture every day until you have eradicated any remaining mildew.

Include both green and dry plant refuse in your compost. Your green material can be made up of produce waste, used floral arrangements, lawn cuttings, leaves, and other yard waste. Dried plant matter, on the other hand, includes shredded paper, used wood chips and straw. Never put meat in your compost or even the waste from your family pets. These can harbor diseases that won't be killed by the composting process.

Have biodiversity in your organic garden. The more plants you have, the more wildlife that will come. Try planting many different groups of plants in the garden so you are able to recreate a more natural environment. If you can manage this, the garden will be the perfect place to relax, and you'll have done a little something for the environment.

You will garden more efficiently if you keep your tools close by. You can keep them in a good sized bucket, or wear utility pants that have plenty of large pockets. Keep all of the tools you use and your gloves handy and will help you work more efficiently.

Don't let all the little chores in your organic garden build up. If you're too busy to do all those little things each day, there are some small steps you can take to not have all that work build up on you. If you're outside with your pet, try to remove weeds when your pet is doing his business.

For an all-natural pesticide that will not harm your garden, mix onion, garlic, or chives with plain water. This mixture can then be sprayed directly on the plants. Make some spray made of onions, chives, garlic, and a mix of around a half of a cup of water, strain the mixture and put it into a spray bottle.

Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. Use a large bucket, or wear rugged pants with several pockets. Keep your gloves, pruning shears, a hand spade and your other tools handy to quickly and easily do your garden maintenance.

Ruffle the seedlings carefully with a piece of soft cardboard or your hands twice a day. It may sound a little odd to do this, but there is actually proven research that shows this helps the plants grow.

One way to create a great organic garden is to allow for a portion of your yard to be undeveloped for wildlife. You will then find that the wildlife that can help you create a garden that can flourish become present; from birds to insects, they'll be around your garden and help your produce grow better.

A soaker hose is the best choice for watering an organic garden. The water slowly seeps from these hoses and is positioned so the roots get the water, and the leaves remain dry. Instead of hand watering the plants, which can be tiresome, go with a soaker hose that uses less water.

For some plants, pine needles makes an ideal mulch. There are many types of plants with a high acidity, which means they thrive in acidic soil. If this is the case, use pine needles to mulch your beds. Go ahead and cover the beds you have with needles a couple of inches and while they decompose, they actually disperse some acid into the soil.

Use companion plants in your garden. Plants that grow in close proximity to each other can help growth for both. By repelling pests and making the soil healthier, they reduce the need for fertilizers or pesticides. For example, any plant that has a heavy smell will help repel pests.

Be cautious of what you are using on your garden. Try using natural alternatives instead of the chemicals you normally use. For example, consider creating your own compost heap. If you choose to go organic, you have less of a chance that there will be chemical, toxic buildups in your soil and water.

Using coffee grounds as part of your soil mixture in your garden is often advised for healthy plants. Coffee grounds have a lot of nutrients that plants can use. Generally, nitrogen is the limiting nutrient with any plant and having a good nitrogen source either by coffee grounds, compost, or even diluted urea, will make your plants bloom faster and grow taller.

Rotate the plants that you grow each year by switching up where you plant them. If the types of plants that you grow are consistent from one year to the next, they may be more prone to diseases and plant fungus. Those things can wait silently in the soil and attack plants the next year. Rotating the types of plants that you grow will help to keep the fungi and diseases from gaining a foothold.

Organic gardening is not a fad: this method has been around for centuries and has made its proofs. The Indians taught pilgrims to plant their crops by putting a fish along with the seeds into the ground. It is possible to make organic fertilizer simply by beginning a compost heap. This will lower the amount of trash you put out to the curb while also bolstering the health of your garden plants.

As these suggestions have shown you, anyone can have a successful organic garden. It takes tons of patience and work, but it's worth it for a great garden