Gardening is a most enjoyable and relaxing hobby that will not drain your savings away in the process. If you plant a garden together it is a great activity for you and your family to do together to get some bonding time in. Children in particular love to learn exactly how a seed develops into a flower or vegetable. Gardening also provides its’ caretaker with an introspective appreciation for mother nature, unlike any other. This article gives you hints that will make it easier for you to enjoy your garden, and if you are enjoying it, you will be more likely to include others.
If this is your first time planting a garden, you should purchase seeds and plant them in seed trays to allow them to grow some before planting them outside. By doing this, your plant will be stronger and much more likely to survive once you plant it in the soil outside.
Put compost down on the soil in your garden about two weeks to a month before you plan to plant. This allows the compost enough time to integrate with the soil. Giving the compost time to stabilize means that your soil pH will be steady enough to test, and your plants will be ready to thrive when you plant them.
New gardeners should keep things simple. The tendency of new gardeners is to plant a garden that is just way too big and end up with a giant mess in the backyard. Keep it simple and small to start, and work up from there. A small garden will lead to a more positive experience and is less work for a new gardener.
To help your plants grow faster, pre-heat the soil in your garden before you begin planting. Most plants love warm soil, and this will allow them to grow quickly. One of the easiest ways to pre-heat your soil is to cover it with black plastic, such as garbage bags or a tarp.
Plant with fall season color in mind. However, you can still maintain your gardening hobby throughout the fall months. In the fall, the foliage displays every color of the rainbow. For example, maple, beech, and dogwood trees all change from their usual green to a vibrant spectrum of yellow, orange, and red. Add even more color to your garden by planting shrubs such as hydrangea, barberry or cotoneaster.
When starting your organic garden, a great tip is to make sure you have the right timing when sowing your seeds. If your timing is off when planting a particular plant, you will have very disappointing results. If you make sure you have your timing correct, you will likely be pleased with your results.
Sometimes when you are growing vegetables or fruits, it can be helpful to cut off newly formed buds or other non-fruit bearing areas. This will stimulate the growth of heavier fruit because the plant re-routes nutrients to where its growth should be navigating. When taking care your garden, it’s important to make the distinction between harvesting the plant, or encouraging its growth.
Don’t use pesticides – kill your weeds naturally! You need to have many layers of newspapers in order to provide proper weed control. Weeds can only grow in sunlight. With layers of newspaper on them, the weeds are not going to have light, and therefore will not grow. It’s easy for newspapers to break down over an extended period of time, making them great for compost. Of course, you may wish to cover the paper with mulch to make it appear more attractive.
Gardening is a wonderful hobby that can be enjoyed either alone, or with others. If you use this information, you will find yourself enjoying gardening as a very rewarding pastime.
