Do you feel that chill in the air? Finally? When you analyze all of the individual components of gardening, it can be somewhat complex. If you want to try your hand at backyard gardening, then be prepared to learn about concepts like pH balance. However, growing healthful food can be difficult for those who have not done it before. Use the tips below to grow like a pro and make sure you’re preparing your garden for winter the easy way.
Keep an Eye on Your Soil Chemistry
Sometimes the soil you want to use for your garden has a high alkaline or salt content. Outside of using Native Soil, combine coffee grounds with the soil to reduce this. Basically, the grounds resupply the soil with acid. This is one of the most inexpensive ways to achieve this result. When you can eliminate excess alkaline from the soil, it makes what you are growing much healthier. This means your veggies will taste better, and your flowers will be more vibrant than ever.
If you would love to have access to fresh and healthy mint leaves from your own back yard, but dread the way the plant spreads so quickly, worry not. Try to keep your mint in a container in your garden to stop their rampage. 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.
New Pests, No Problems
Natural materials or some other plants can be used in your garden for keeping away pests. A border of onions or marigolds around a vegetable garden can repel slug. You can also mulch around trees and shrubs with wood ash, which drives away insects. These methods prevent use of harsh chemicals.
Read instructions on new gardening chemicals and tools before you use them. Some of the chemicals in these products can cause skin irritation, or worse, if you fail to take this simple precaution. Protect your plants and yourself by knowing how to correctly use all of your gardening implements.
Be Sure to Watch Your Health
Put money into a quality wheelbarrow and kneeling stool if you plan to do garden work often. Using a large portion of your time near or on the ground working on your garden puts a huge strain on your knees; therefore, having a portable, lightweight garden stool will greatly assist you in making gardening easier on them. It is also normal to move heavy objects and dirt around the garden, so a wheelbarrow is something you should have. Especially when the soil is getting harder and the air colder, it is important to make sure you ready yourself and your garden for winter.
Get Creative in the Kitchen
An easy, inexpensive way to give them nutrients is to pour the leftover water from your steamed vegetables into the soil. Some plants, such as gardenias, azaleas and rhododendrons need acidic soil for proper growth. Increase the acidity of your soil by adding coffee grounds and unused tea bags. Chamomile tea is a good remedy against fungus.
Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.