Tips to Avoid Infestation

One of the most important factors you’ll want to watch for as your garden begins to take off is insect infestation. Regardless of where you happen to live, this can be a problem. The good news is that there are a number of steps you can take to keep insect infestation from becoming too much of a headache.

The first step is to be quite vigilant in paying attention to your plants and notice infestation as soon as it begins. This will help to keep the problem from expanding into devastating blight on your entire garden. Do your best to identify the type of insect that is causing damage as quickly as possibly. Certain kinds of insecticides are manufactured to fight back against specific types of insects, so it is important that you understand what kind of enemy you are battling.

At this point; however, it should be pointed out that not all insects in gardens are dangerous, so while you should be concerned if you see insects on your plants, realize that it may not be necessary to launch an all out war—at least not until you identify the type of insect you’re dealing with and understand whether it is an insect that will cause damage to your plants or whether it might be a beneficial insect.

Beneficial insects provide a number of advantages to your garden, including feeding off other types of insects and insect larvae. If you aren’t sure which types of insects in your area may be beneficial, do take the time to find out. You may discover that you’re battling the wrong insect.

If you are growing an organic garden, you will not wish to use any type of chemical or insecticide; of course, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot take steps to eliminate insects, either. Many garden supply stores now stock organic pest control solutions that can be safely used on your organic plants.

You can also make your own herbal or organic insecticide at home by combining garlic or hot pepper spray with water, blending the solution well and then straining out any pulp that may be present. Some gardeners have found success by also mixing in a few drops of common soap; which can be toxic to many types of insects.

Regardless of whether you are growing an organic garden or not, there are also other measures you can use to keep insects at bay. Some of these steps should be undertaken as soon as you begin putting your plants into the ground. For example, proper spacing of your plants can play an important role in preventing infestation as can routine weeding and good fertilization.

Transplanting Tips

Whether you have decided to grow seeds at home in order to propagate your own plants or you have purchased transplants from a garden supply store, it is important to understand how to properly transplant young plants so that they have the best chances of survival. These vulnerable plants should be handled with extreme care so that the tender root systems are not damage during the transplant.

It is also important to keep in mind that ideally, the best time to undertake transplanting is before the weather actually begins to grow warmer. In most locales, autumn is the best time to transplant; however, you can also transplant as far as into the spring, provided that you do so before the plants begin to leaf out for the new season.

A small gardening implement or even an eating utensil can be ideal in removing the young plants from their initial containers. Be careful not to force the plants out but work with them gently and carefully until they are freed from the container.

When placing the transplants into the ground, be sure to allow sufficient space for them to grow. One of the most common mistakes of many new gardeners is to crowd transplants too closely to one another because they want their garden to look fuller. While spacing them out from one another further at first will give your garden a bare look, it will provide plenty of room for the young plants to grow and will also assist in proper air circulation. The latter is extremely important in keeping disease at bay.

Once the plants are in the ground, you should also make it a point to place some type of mulch around the young plants. This will help the soil to retain moisture and will also prevent a large portion of weeds from growing around the young transplants. Just be sure to pull back the mulching during watering, otherwise the water might not reach the root system of the plants.

With that said, it is imperative to note that transplants should not be allowed to dry out. These young plants are very susceptible to shock at this point and will continue to be susceptible until they have become established in their new homes. Follow the same watering schedule as you did when you were seeding the plants. Water every day or every other day.

When transplanting young seedlings, make sure that you add in a sufficient amount of fertilizer so that the young plants receive the nourishment they need in order to continue growing.

Finally, don’t forget to pinch off stem tips as the plants begin to mature. This will assist the plants in side branching.

Tips on Seed Gardening

Starting your garden from seeds may seem easy at first; however, if you have ever attempted this feat you may know that it is not quite as easy as one might believe. Growing plants from seeds requires an infinite amount of patience and an understanding of what plants need in order to grow from mere seeds.

To begin growing your plants from seeds you will need containers with adequate drainage as well as a good quality planting medium. You can easily obtain commercial quality containers at any garden supply store; however, if you plant to start a large number of seeds this can be an expensive undertaking. Items you have at home can be just as easily used, such as soda bottles, milk containers, plastic food containers, etc. If you elect to use these kinds of homemade containers be sure to wash them out well with a mild soap and warm water. Then clean them once again using a solution of one part bleach to two parts water. This latter solution will help to prevent your vulnerable seeds from picking up any diseases. The containers can be given good draining by drilling or cutting holes in the bottoms of the containers.

When choosing your planting medium, be sure not to use dirt from your own garden. Ideally, you should obtain a commercial grade of growing medium that is sterile and contains the nutrients necessary to promote good growth. Begin by adding some gravel or some other similar material to the bottom of your containers to assist in drainage. It is important that your plants not be allowed to sit in water because they will rot if they do so. Adding gravel or a similar material will prevent this from occurring.

If there are directions provided on your seed packets, be sure to follow them in regards to the depth at which you should plant each individual variety of seeds. If, for some reason, there are no directions, provided; you can usually plant most seeds at a depth that is twice the diameter of the seed. For very small seeds, simply sow them on the surface of the soil.

You will find that your seeds will germinate better and quicker if they are provided with some type of heat source. This should preferably be provided from the bottom of the surface rather than from over head. If you live in a warm climate, the provision of heat won’t be necessary, but in cooler climates it is quite necessary.

The germinating seeds must also be kept moist in order to flourish, but keep in mind they should not be over watered. It can be quite convenient to keep a spray bottle nearby and simply give your growing plants a fine mist of water each day or every other day as you see is necessary. Make sure they do not dry out. You will know that it is time to transplant your young plants when they have developed the first two true leaves. Be aware that this is not the first two leaves to sprout; these are merely the seed leaves. The next batch of leaves is the one to look for before transplanting.

Tips on Taking Root Cuttings

Taking root cuttings is an important part of keeping your garden healthy as well as propagating new plants; however, it is important that you know how to go about this task the correct way. The most important factors in cutting back the roots of your plants is the time of year in which you do it, as well as the time in the life of the plant.

Ideally, you should cut back the roots of your plants during late winter. This is when the maximum amounts of carbohydrates are stored in your plants for the coming spring growth period. It is also imperative that you cut back the roots of your plants when they are still relatively young; preferably around one year of age. With plants this young, you should focus on cutting back as close as possible to the crown of the plant.

Once the roots have been cut, you should make a special effort to then wash them free of any remaining soil before you begin to divide them and cut them into further lengths. The manner in which you regenerate them at this point will depend largely on the type of plant that you are working with.

For example, plants that tend to regenerate quite easily can simply be placed in a good quality of nutritious soil and covered. Plants; however, that find it more difficult to regenerate may need a more protected environment, such as an area that can be kept warm for several weeks at a time.

Some types of plants can take as long as four months in cooler environments to regenerate; however, when they are placed in a warmer environment, the regeneration time is significantly reduced. In some cases, plants can regenerate in as little as a month to six weeks when allowed to do so in a warm setting.

Be aware, when taking root cuttings, that one of the most common problems that many gardeners run into is rot. The most frequent cause of this problem is a lack of moisture in the root cuttings. It is imperative that they be kept damp, but not overly wet. Ideally, they should be only moist. Also, be aware of the fact that top growth will generally start before you see any activities in the roots; therefore, it is important that patience is exercised and you avoid transplanting the cuttings before the new root growth is well established.

Of course, you may also choose to propagate your roots outdoors, but you will need to take care that they are kept covered for at least six weeks, preferably up to eight weeks. Moisture must be maintained and it is best if the roots are placed in soil that has been well cultivated and allows for good drainage.

Tips on Fertilizing your Garden

In order for your garden to be healthy and thrive, your plants will need a wide variety of nutrients available from the soil. While there are more than a dozen essential nutrients needed by plants, the three most important nutrients are potassium, phosphorous and nitrogen.

As you shop the aisles of garden supply stores, you’ll quickly note that these three numbers are displayed prominently on fertilizer bags along with corresponding numbers. In some cases, these numbers will be displayed as N, P and K. The numbers indicate the percentage of these nutrients contained in the bags by weight. If you note a bag has 10-10-10 on it, this is to indicate that there equal amounts of each nutrient in that particular brand of fertilizer.

So, what kind of fertilizer is right for your garden and which of these nutrients does your soil need, if it needs any at all? The best way to find out is to conduct what is known as a soil test. You can find a wide variety of soil testing kits available both online as well as garden supply stores. These kits will allow you determine the pH level of your soil and make adjustments as necessary based on the results of your soil test.

The results of the test will provide information such as the exact levels of your soil in terms of nitrogen, potassium and potash; elements important to the success of any garden. Be sure not to overlook this important step. It’s relatively easy and usually inexpensive and it can make a huge difference in whether your garden thrives or merely struggles to survive. Usually, soil test kits will direct you to take soil samples from several different locations of your garden because the nutrient level at one location may be slightly different that the level at another location. Once the samples are taken, they are usually then mixed together to obtain a representative overall reading.

Most soils will need, or at least will benefit, from the addition of a variety of soil nutrition. The type of nutrition that you add into your soil will depend somewhat on the results of your soil test, but at a minimum, you should plan to mix some fertilizer into your soil before your plants ever go into the ground. One of the most common types of fertilizers used in gardening is, of course, manure; particularly for those individuals who wish to organic garden. It should be noted; however, that only well rotted manure should be used as an added supplement to your garden.

If, for some reason, you are unable or choose not to use manure on your garden, there are also a wide variety of good quality commercial fertilizers available for purchase. Be sure to select a brand that is a slow release, because this will provide a continual supply of nutritious food to your soil and plants. You may note that slow release fertilizers are a bit more expensive than other brands; however, it is much better in the end for your garden and as a terrific side benefit, they do not need to be applied as often.

Tips on Year Around Gardening Chores

Gardening is a year around chore. Garden maintenance duties do not end when summer has finally faded away. In order for your garden to be in good condition for the following year, it is imperative that you take precautionary steps to winterize it for cooler temperatures to come, regardless of where you live.

The first step in preparing your garden for winter is to rake up all dead leaves that have fallen to the ground. If you have decided to construct your own compost pile, be sure to save these leaves for your first layer, because autumn is the best time to get started on your compost pile for next year’s garden.

At this point you should also clean up any dead plants and vegetation. This can be placed in with the other material for your compost pile, provided that none of the plants are diseased. Adding diseased material and plants to your compost pile could contaminate it, which will only cause further problems down the road. If you notice any diseased weeds or foliage, be sure to throw it in the trash instead of the compost bin.

The next step in winterizing your garden is to cut back any stems that are dry and remove any diseased leaves and stems from plants. Remember that these should be tossed directly into the trash. Roses should be trimmed or pruned back by about six inches. Any stems that cross one another should be completely removed. In order to protect the roots of these delicate plants, be sure to add some mulch; but only do so after the ground has frozen. This will keep small animals and rodents from burrowing down inside the mulch in an effort to stay warm. Although mulch is widely available at garden and supply stores, materials you have around your home, such as straw and dried bark will work equally as well for mulching material. Follow the same steps for your bulb and perennial beds.

Now, spend some time concentrating on your bushes and trees. Any dead areas should be cut away from trees, shrubs and vines. Make sure you cut all stems at an angle. This pruning will ensure healthy blooming when spring arrives again.

Once your garden area has been cleaned up, it is time to devote some attention to your gardening tools so that they will be protected during the cooler months to come and ready for service when spring arrives. This is a good time to have your tools sharpened and take care of any nicks that may have occurred during the spring and summer gardening seasons. Make sure that you take the time as well to clean your tools properly.

This is especially important if you used your gardening tools to handle any diseased plants. You can easily spread disease from this year’s plants to next year’s vulnerable plants by failing to clean your tools properly. Once they are cleaned, store them in a safe and dry location for next year.

Tips to Nourish your Garden with Compost

Adding compost to your garden is a great way to increase the nutrition of your soil without much effort at all. This is also a very inexpensive option and will add tremendous value to your garden. Compost is simply a mixture of organic materials such as grass clippings, leaves, straw, etc. Other items, such as vegetable peelings, may also be added to provide even more nutrition to the compost.

You can easily start your own compost pile at home. Keep in mind that a compost pile will be beneficial to any kind of garden you cultivate at home; whether it is vegetable or flower or even if you simply want to cultivate ornamental trees.

In order for your compost pile to be ready for use in your spring garden, you should start it no later than the fall of the previous year. If you live in an urban area, it’s a good idea to check your local ordinances to make sure there are no restrictions against having a compost pile at home. Once you have clarified this you can begin building your compost pile by selecting a location that is not too near your home. Many people like to actually locate their compost pile in or near their garden to make the process of broadcasting the compost to the garden easier.

The first layer of your compost pile should be composed of whatever waste materials you happen to have available to you. This may be grass clippings, leaves, straw, etc. You may choose to add household garbage, such as food scraps, as the next layer of the compost pile, but do keep in mind that any food materials that are added to the compost pile should be buried deeply inside and then covered with the next layer of compost; preferably more leaves, straw, etc. This is to keep animals away from the compost pile.

To reduce the smell of your compost pile and aid in aeration, which assists with decomposition, you may also wish to push some sticks between the various layers of the compost as the pile begins to grow in height.

Beyond proper aeration, your compost pile will also need plenty of moisture in order to break down properly and form a rich humus which you can add to your garden. Periodically, you will need to turn your compost pile over so that all the layers have an opportunity to blend as they break down. When you turn over the compost pile, be sure to check the moisture of the middle layer. If you find that the middle layer is dry, you’ll need to add some water. Make sure you do this each time you turn over the pile.

You’ll notice that as the weeks go by the compost will have begun to break down to a rich matter that no longer has a bad smell. In fact, it should smell just like soil. You will know that your compost is ready to add to your garden when there are no visible signs of the individual layers which were added to the compost pile. There should instead be a uniform mixture of humus.

Tips to Get your Garden Started

Winter is a great time to spend pondering which plants you would possibly like to plant in your garden when spring arrives. It’s also a good opportunity to read and research as much as you can regarding the proper care of your plants.

You can also actually begin to get started preparing your beds for your future plants in late winter as well, although if you need to do so, you can also wait until late spring for this task as well. If you have had a garden in your chosen location previously, you’ll need to make sure that you replenish your mulch and begin to work on weed elimination in preparation for your coming plants. Any clumps of plant material that are left over from prior gardens should be removed at this time, in order to aid in the soil preparation process.

You will probably note as you begin to prepare your garden beds that weeds have already begun to make an appearance, even if it is still late winter. It is especially important that you be vigilant about wiping away any traces of weeds as you go about the business of preparing your garden beds. Not only are they quite unsightly, but they also have a nasty tendency to steal both nutrients and water that your future plants will need to survive. By making a strong effort to eradicate weeds now, before you place your seeds and plants in the ground, you will find that the task of managing weeds will be much simpler later on.

It is important to note that some techniques work fine on certain types of weeds prone to grow in some locales, while they are quite ineffective on other species of weeds. The most important aspect of weed control is to catch them early and remove them as quickly as possible. Ideally, weeds should be removed before they begin to sprout, so that they never have an opportunity to release seeds and cultivate even more weeds. As surprising as it may seem, some species of weeds can contain as many as hundreds of thousands of seeds on one weed plant. So, get started early handpulling those weeds to keep effective control of them.

Gardens depend on a wide variety of factors in order to flourish and thrive. One of these factors is soil nutrition. Beginning in late winter, or early spring, at the latest; you should take the opportunity to perform a soil test in order to determine which nutrients your soil might lack or which factors it may be overabundant in. Some types of soil are found to be overly acidic while other types of soil may need the alkaline level adjusted somewhat.

You can make some determinations regarding the quality of your soil simply by examining it yourself. Many types of plants find it difficult to grow in soil that is not of the right consistency and texture, so be sure to pay attention to this for the success of your garden.

Easy Tips to Plan your Garden

Gardening is easily one of the most popular hobbies and it is easy to see why. Not only is it relaxing, but you are also able to produce beautiful and edible plants from your labor. If you’ve been considering starting a home garden, but aren’t sure where or how to get started, the best place is to begin by considering whether you want to plant a vegetable garden, flower garden or perhaps a mixture of both. The world of gardening is so broad it can be quite easy to quickly become overwhelmed.

Once you have decided whether your main interest lies in vegetable or flower gardening, or a mixture, consider the amount of space available to you to garden. Ideally, it’s best if you start off small, especially if have not had much previous experience in gardening. After you’ve worked with gardening for awhile, you can always expand your horizons, and your garden space. A 20x20 plot should be a sufficient enough space for you to get started gardening and allow plenty of room to experiment with different plants.

The location of your garden spot is also of extreme importance. Ideally, you should choose a location that receives as much sun as possible. Try not to locate your garden next to any tall trees or buildings which might shade the garden and prohibit plant growth. If possible, it’s a good idea to locate the garden in close proximity to a watering source in order to aid irrigation.

The next step is in deciding the specific types of plants that you want to grow. One of the biggest mistakes most novice gardeners make is to choose plants that are simply too difficult to grow or that are not suited for their particular region. If you choose to purchase your seeds and plants from a local supply, you should be able to receive some great advice as to which types of plants would be best suited for your particular region as well as which plants are relatively easy to grow. Once your skills have advanced, you can always begin to work with plants that are somewhat more exotic, if you wish.

You can also obtain a wide variety of seeds from any number of catalogs and online supply stores; however, it is important that you do be sure you are selecting plants which are suitable for your area, especially if you are ordering from a source that might not be located in your region. If necessary, take the time to conduct some research to find out which plants are able to withstand your climate.

If you elect to purchase seedlings from a local garden supply store, it is important that you inspect the plants thoroughly before purchasing them to bring home for your garden. Be sure to select only those plants which show no signs of early infestation or disease. By paying attention to this important task you can help to eliminate problems later avoid and possibly avoid many kinds of infestation and disease in your garden all together.