Grow Your Best Garden Ever

If you use these principles of organic horticulture, you will produce notably positive effects for your plants and your planet. It shows that you care about taking care of your plants and that you want them to grow up healthy. This is a valuable attitude. As with anything, there is always room for improvement. The following tips are given to help you with this.

Clay soil can be a real pain to work with as it often sticks to the end of the shovel. Simplify the process by putting a bit of wax onto the shovel. The clay won't stick then. The clay will slide off of its surface and it will prevent rust.

Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. Large handled tools such as shovels, rakes, and hoes can be used as measuring sticks. Measure the handles with a tape measure laid out in the floor. Label the distances using a permanent marker. When you decide to work in the garden again, you will now have a ruler at your disposal.

Give your flower beds a boost by introducing annuals and biennials. Fast growing biennials and annuals will brighten a garden and permit you to change looks from one season to another. They can make a handy, gap-filler between shrubs and perennials located in sunny areas. Notable varieties include cosmos, rudbeckia, petunia, hollyhock, marigold and sunflower.

Cover fences and walls with climbing plants. Climbing plants are great for hiding hideous fences and walls, and they usually grow within a season. You can direct them over certain branches or boards, or you can send them through plants you already have. Some of these plants must have support, and some can attach themselves to something using their stems and tendrils. Plants such as clematis, wisteria, climbing roses, or honeysuckle are always great choices.

Consider growing wheat grass or cat grass near the plants your cat enjoys eating. You could also place something that will cause your cat to go away from your plants, such as citrus peels or mothballs.

Fresh mint is a wonderful addition to a herb garden, but it can quickly take over your entire yard. Control their expansion by confining them to a large pot. You can plant the container into the soil if you want to, but the container will restrict the roots, and make sure that the plant doesn't run rampant in your garden.

Irises can be easily divided. If you split up clumps of them, you will eventually have more of this flower. When the foliage dies it's time to lift the bulbous irises out of the ground. The iris bulbs should easily split apart in your hand. Once you replant them, they will have a good flower show the following year. If you have a rhizome you will need to split it with a knife. Cut the center out of each rhizome but save the pieces. Each piece must have a minimum of one strong offshoot. Immediately replant all your selected cuttings.

Protect the soil around your vegetable plants with an inch or two of organic mulch. The mulch will help keep the soil moist for longer periods of time. It also prevents weed growth. Time and effort will be saved pulling out all the weeds.

You now have your garden tools, seeds and supplies needed to skillfully grow an organic garden, using the tips given here. You've come to the right place! The basic tips provided here will give you a good start in building your own body of knowledge as you work. You have likely, however, learned at least one thing that will be well put to use in your garden.

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