In order for you to have a successful organic garden, you will need to take really good care of it. This can be achieved by using smart, eco-savvy gardening techniques. You have the ability to produce healthy, delicious produce on your own property. Read on to learn the basics of managing your organic garden.
The healthiest soil produces the healthiest plants, resisting more insect damage and diseases. Even with insects present, you can avoid the damage they cause, so you and the bugs are happy.
Plant your landscaping trees in places that will provide shade for your home. 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.
Use a soaker hose to water your garden. The water comes out very slowly and evenly, and the hose can be placed exactly where water is needed, such as at the roots. These are more efficient than sprinklers, which use more water, and can save you the trouble of hand watering.
Spacing is one important factor in gardening. When the garden is bare, it is sometimes hard to envision how much space a mature plant actually needs. This will give you enough room to work around your garden without smashing any plants. Try to plan your garden and place sufficient distance in between your seedlings.
You can make a raised bed with untreated wood, brick, or stone. If using wood, make sure it’s naturally rot resistant and untreated. Good choices are cypress, cedar and locust. It is particular important that you don’t use treated wood for vegetable beds, as the chemicals and toxins on the wood could leach into the soil and be absorbed by food plants. If the ground cover you’ve used already contained treated lumber, line it with a barrier of some form.
Root System
Try to save any rainwater. It’s a great way to supply water to your organic garden. Trap the rainwater in barrels, buckets or any other receptacles. This way, you don’t need to spend money on water for your garden. Rainwater is not only free, but it is abundant, too. Rainwater works just as well as water from other sources, so you might as well use it.
To get your garden off to a great start check below the surface! For example, you want to avoid tomato seedlings that have several green starts and a weak root system. If starts don’t have a good root system, they’ll remain attached to the seedlings for a long time. The seedlings won’t be able to thrive until the starts have been removed.
Pine is a mulch that is great. Some plants have a naturally high acidic level, and therefore like acidic soil. Pine needles are an excellent form of mulch for these types of plants. Cover the beds with a couple inches of needles and as they decompose, they will disperse acid to the soil.
One of the defining aspects of organic gardening methods is a willingness to look for non-chemical solutions to common problems. For example, mix up a plant spray with a 1:6 mixture of milk and water. This mixture protects your plants from being destroyed by a powdery type of mildew. The mixture is easy to keep in your refrigerator for up to three weeks. You can safely apply the mixture every day until you have eradicated any remaining mildew.
Calibrate how much you water based upon the time of the year and the weather conditions. Other factors that influence how much you need to water include time of day, soil factors and how hard your water is. For instance, if you live in a warm, humid climate watering the leaves can cause leaf fungus. Rather, see to it that you water the root system well.
Pine Needles
An organic garden is a suitable home for practically any kind of plant. The diversity of what is available is almost overwhelming. Acid-loving plants tend to love mulch. Use pine needles or decomposed leaves to mulch around these plants in the fall. Pine needles in particular produce a lot of acid as they begin to decompose. Your plants will love this.
Companion plants are a great way to garden. Some plants help neighboring plants grow, and are beneficial in other ways. 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.
One way to help maintain healthy soil is to incorporate mulch into your landscape. Mulch acts as a protective covering for the soil. It helps keep your soil cooler on warmer days, which protects the roots underneath. This helps soil keep its moisture by reducing the rate of evaporation. It also keeps the weeds under control.
Having an organic garden means that you can enjoy fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables whenever you want. It takes tons of patience and work, but it’s worth it for a great garden.
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