Growing an organic garden can be an important addition to your life. You need to do all of your research, so that you don’t waste money on tools that you don’t know how to use or even cause your plants to die. There are some tips listed below to help you begin.
Care for your compost. Cover your compost pile with a lid, tarp or black plastic. Sunlight will kill the bacteria that do the composting, so the outer layers of a compost pile that is exposed to the sun will not break down. Water the compost pile regularly, keeping it evenly moist. Do not over-water, as a soggy compost pile will rot. Turn the pile every two to five days to aerate and provide oxygen to the bacteria. If necessary, add a composting activator to speed up the process.
There’s an easier way to get rid of low-growing weeds than plucking them out one at a time. When weeds like chickweed become matted, just slice under them with a sharp spade and flip them over to bury their leaves. As the weeds die and decompose, they will also help nourish your soil.
For the best organic garden, choose plants that do best in your type of soil and climate. Plants that have adapted to a specific type of environment have a better chance to thrive without much fuss in that environment. These plants will also save you time in maintenance because they are naturally hardy.
When planting your tomato seedlings in your organic garden, you should plant them up to the first true leaves, which will bury the stem. The reason is because new roots will sprout on these buried stems. The more roots there are in a seedling, the more fruit it will produce.
Do your homework. Gardening and organic gardening in particular depends on a lot of variables including crop, climate, weather, soil, and pests. To be successful requires a lot of trial and error. To be as informed as possible, read as many books, articles, and blogs on organic gardening as you can. Those written about your state can be especially informative.
Collecting rainwater is the natural way to supply yourself with water for all your organic gardening needs. You can simply build your own system of rain barrels or buy them ready made. That way, you won’t have to pay for water for your garden or lawn maintenance. Caution is needed! Covers are suggested to cut down on mosquitoes and other pests that can be attracted to standing water.
If you have an organic garden, you are certain to want a reliable method to deal with slugs. One of the most effective ways to do this is by sprinkling diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your garden. Most effective when dry, this product dehydrates soft-bodied pests. Be careful not to inhale or get on your skin.
Aerate your compost pile with PVC pipes. An ideal compost pile should be about 3 to 4 feet high, but it needs aeration throughout the pile. By installing a perforated pipe you can avoid the routine of constantly turning the pile over. If you add a perforated pipe in the centre of the compost pile, air will flow freely, helping decomposition.
Recycle your drink cups to start tomatoes for your organic garden. Grow the tomato plants from seed in the cups. When the seedlings are ready to transplant, cut the bottom inch off the cup and put it right in the ground as is. This will help to prevent cutworms from getting at your newly transplanted tomatoes.
If you plan to begin your organic garden from seed, be sure to start well in advance of the gardening season. Start seeds indoors so that you will have established seedlings ready to put in the ground after the last frost. Follow the instructions found on the back of your seed packets to determine the appropriate time to start the seeds for your climate.
Stay shallow in the soil when you are working it. You do not need to break your back digging deep in your organic garden. Keep your depth to an average of six inches. Nearly eighty-five percent of all plant roots only require the top six inches of soil. That should make your work easier.
Use a raised garden bed when planting your plants. Not only does it provide a minor defence against the common vegetable pests, raised garden beds are also warmer during the spring. The planter becomes warmer because it isn’t surrounded by several inches of isolating ground-soil. The warmer climate will result you being able to plant earlier.
Carefully consider the location you choose to plant trees. Remember that your trees will likely get huge. Make sure trees are not planted too close to any structure or foundation. The costs involved, to remove a tree and roots that have gotten into your structures, can be astronomical. This will be easy to avoid with proper planning.
Get rid of nematodes such as roundworm or eelworm. These pests can cause malformed plants with stunted, yellowing leaves. In the worst cases, leaves will wilt in a single day and the roots will become infected. The best option is to plant resistant varieties of apple, bean, carrot, celery, cucumber or onion. Otherwise, increase the organic matter in your soil. Compost contains predacious fungi and fatty acids that are toxic to nematodes. Remember to disinfect any tools that you have used in infected soil.
Often times, in order to get rid of certain caterpillars or worms, you have to use a special netting that will hide them from your leafy green plants such as broccoli. This net will keep the pests out and away from damaging your crops, while maintaining the organic essence of your garden.
Growing an organic garden can be very rewarding, but it can also be a lot of work. Regardless, if you know what to do and how to grow smarter, you can get the organic garden you want. So do yourself a favour and apply the above tips to growing your organic garden.