Organic gardening isn’t as easy as it seems. You will need to research techniques for chemical-free pest control and healthy ways to make sure your plants continue to thrive. Organic gardening is way harder than traditional gardening for beginners. Keep reading to find out how the professionals do it.
Use slug-proof varieties of perennials wherever possible. Snails and slugs can quickly wreak havoc on a garden. They tend to enjoy perennials that have thin, smooth, tender leaves, especially those of young plants. There are, however, certain types of perennials that slugs and snails hate. Most of these varieties either have tough leaves or taste unappealing. A few great choices are achillea, campanula, and heuchera. Other options from which you can choose are hellebourus and euphorbia.
If powdery mildew appears on your plants, don’t purchase expensive chemical solutions. Plain water with a bit of liquid soap and baking soda will do the trick. Once every week, you should spray the mixture on your plants; the mildew will disappear shortly thereafter. This mixture will not hurt your plants and it will eliminate the mildew slowly but efficiently.
When gardening, be sure to look closely for stink bug infestation, especially during Autumn. Stink bugs like to reside in tomatoes, beans, and pepper plants, as well as many fruits. Decrease their presence as much as possible to avoid them wreaking havoc in your garden.
When you grow veggies in a garden, you need to ensure they get at least six hours of good sunlight each day. Most members of the vegetable family need this minimum of light for proper growth. Some flowers also need six hours of daily direct sun in order to grow and blossom well.
The best way to start a garden is from first principles: seeds. The most “green” way to create a new garden is starting from seeds. The plastics used in nurseries are rarely recycled and ends up in landfills, so it is best to start with the seeds or buy from nurseries who use organic materials in packaging their plants.
Start your peas in a protected indoors environment rather than outside. Seeds are more likely to sprout when started indoors. The seedling may also be hardier, which means that they can better resist disease and attacks from pests. You will be able to transfer the seedlings outdoors after they become better established.
Apply organic mulch generously around your vegetable plants. The mulch will help keep the dirt around the plants more moist. It will also prevent weeds from popping up around your plants. This can save you a lot of time and effort in pulling out the weeds.
Try to relax with gardening. Countless methods of unwinding from the stresses of life exist. Gardening is a great way to just kick back, chill out, and enjoy your time with nature. Gardening only requires a small investment and you will get so much more out of it. The best thing you will get out of it is peace and happiness knowing that you can grow your own garden.
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.