One great way to improve your diet and give yourself a fun an interesting hobby is to plant an organic garden. You do have to put in some effort, though. Perhaps you are unsure of the benefits of organic gardening, or you are unsure how to get your garden started.
Organic gardening is a safe hobby to share with your children. An organic garden will help your child learn more about plants and insects, and it's a wonderful bonding time while growing healthy produce.
Indoor Plants
Indoor plants have been bred over time to thrive in temperatures that are characteristic of a home. Most indoor plants like to be in about 70 degree temperatures, plus or minus 5 degrees. The plants need this temperature in order to effectively grow. If you aren't wanting your house to be this warm in the winter, you can use a heat lamp on the plants.
If you plan to raise organic plants inside, you need to think about how much light they will get. If your home does not let in sufficient light, then consider getting plants that thrive in low-light situations. If this is not an option, or you have your heart set on a particular type of plant, consider adding additional growing lights instead.
Use about two to three inches of organic material as mulch in all of your flower beds. By doing this, you can lock in moisture, discourage weed growth, and nourish your plants. It will also increase the visual appeal of the flower beds.
Plastic bags can be kept on hand and reused to slip over your dirty gardening shoes. This helps you stay in the zone so that you can continue gardening when you have completed your tasks in the house.
Lightly ruffle your seeds by hand or with cardboard, twice daily in your organic garden. This will sound a bit strange. However, it has been proven to cause plants to grow larger.
Untreated Wood
You can make a raised bed with untreated wood, brick, or stone. If you choose wood, ensure that it has not been treated with a sealant or other chemicals. Some great choices to choose from are cedar, locust and cypress. Using untreated wood is especially important for veggie gardens, because chemicals from treated wood could leach into the soil, affecting your food. If you must use treated wood, create a barrier, such as with plastic sheet.
One way to help maintain healthy soil is to incorporate mulch into your landscape. The soil can be greatly enhanced by adding a good layer of mulch to it. On hot days, mulch will offer protection to a plant's root system by cooling the soil. Since it decreases the rate at which moisture evaporates, the soil also stays more moist. It also is helpful in keeping weeds under control.
Most people favor organically grown fruits and vegetables for their cleanliness and the fact that they are not grown with harmful pesticides. While this is great for your loved ones' health, still check for pests and bugs.
Any type of gardening can be a fun hobby because it brings you closer to the earth, but creating an organic garden is really good at this. This kind of gardening shows you the entire progression of planting from beginning to end.
Think about using all-natural botanical insecticides in your organic garden; they are very handy when it comes to getting rid of harmful pests. In some cases natural insecticides are actually more effective than the synthetic pesticides that are engineered in a lab. Keep in mind, however, that natural pesticides frequently deteriorate more quickly than those with a man-made base.
With just a small amount of steps, you can add a new garden just for any of your perennials. Use a spade to cut beneath the turf, and cover the entire area with wood chips after flipping it over. In about 2 weeks, you will be able to plant flowers in your new bed.
You need to make a bed that is efficient for your plants. To begin your bed, slice under the grass with a spade. Once this is accomplished, flip it over and cover the affected area with wood chips a few inches in depth. After a few weeks, you can cut in it and plant.
Think about what you need to use while getting ready to garden. Always look into natural solutions before turning to chemicals. Using compost is a great example. Inorganic materials, such as those found in commercial fertilizers, are responsible for toxic chemical buildup in both soil and drinking water. This can be avoided by using eco-friendly organic methods.
When it's time to dig a hole for a shrub or a tree in an organic garden, make the hole super ugly-looking. If, after digging a hole, you notice the sides look "glazed" from the action of the shovel, this could restrict plant roots from growing through to the surrounding soil.
You can grow a great organic garden if you decide to dedicate your time and efforts to it. You are also aware now that dedication and consistency will go a long way toward success. The next time you are in your garden, think of the tips from this article. If you can use that knowledge, you will be more capable of using organic gardening techniques to your advantage.