Storified by Henderson83Brad ·
Sat, Feb 17 2018 23:39:28
Whether it is basic lawn care or meticulous focus on a flower collection, everyone wants to have an appealing lawn and garden. This desire is often not fulfilled, not because of a lack of effort, but because certain small things can be overlooked. A few special tips for your home garden can make sure you get what you want.
Plant crops compatible with each other in order to add even more efficiency to your garden. Plant crops that take longer to mature next to faster growing varieties. You can also get ahead of the season by planting cooler climate crops in the shade of larger summer crops. Greens such as lettuce do great in the shade of a large tomato plant.
When you need to control weed growth, choose your weed killer carefully, and always follow the directions. Many weed killers have chemicals that are harmful to people if they are not applied properly. They are especially harmful to young children if the children play around an area that has recently been treated.
If you learn that your soil has a high amount of alkaline, mix some used coffee grounds into it. This is a great and cheap way to increase the acid levels in your dirt. By amending your soils, you will help your plants grow and flourish.
Use biennials and annuals to add color to your flower beds. The annuals and biennials are usually fast growing because they only last one season, and this will let you change the garden every season for a nice change of pace. You can use them between the gaps in shrubs and perennials where there is plenty of sun. There are many flowers you can plant in these gaps. Try marigolds, petunias or sunflowers for a brighter garden.
If you are gardening in containers, be sure each container has a drainage system to prevent water from pooling. Lining the bottom of a container with small rocks or pebbles can also help with water drainage for container gardening. Allowing water to sit for extended periods can rot the root system of your plants.
If you order roses and they arrive in the mail, be sure to get them in the ground as soon as possible. If you can't, be sure to keep them in a damp container and cool. They will be fine if you stick them in a bucket of water for a few days before planting. Just be sure not to let them dry out because that can kill the plant.
Make sure that you are familiar with the level of humidity that your garden plants require. Some plants simply cannot survive without proper levels of humidity. Some plants require high humidity or tropical conditions, while others require arid or desert levels of humidity. Educating yourself will help you to avoid poor plant choices.
Use scale, color and texture in your garden to improve interest. Use plants of different heights, putting small ones in front and tall ones in the back. Add a few plants that have deep maroon leaves, which looks great next to greenery. Plant a tree or shrub that changes to oranges and golds in autumn, and mix small-leafed plants with larger-leafed or spiky plants, such as agave.
You should check your gardening tools on a regular basis to make sure that they are still in good condition. Sheers, pruners and lawn mower blades all become dull after many uses. You can easily sharpen the blades yourself or have a professional sharpen them. By sharpening the blades you will not have to replace the tools altogether.
You should wait to buy your indoor gardening supplies until summer is over. All stores will want to make room for their winter inventory. That means that you should be able to find great deals on everything that you will need to start and maintain your indoor garden. It is important to stock up when the prices are low.
Try using ladybugs rather than pesticides to protect your plants from insects. You can order large quantities of ladybugs from gardening supply stores for very little money. If you release them near your garden, they will eat pests such as aphids, leaf hoppers, mites and other soft bodied insects, helping to protect your plants from these unwanted critters in the process.
If tomato plants are a part of your organic garden, you need to water them properly to ensure maximum productivity. Tomatoes gather all the water they require from their roots; you do not need to water the stems and leaves. Soak tomato beds with water thoroughly about once a week to provide the moisture the plants need.
As stated before, many people have gardens in their homes. Some gardens are floral based and some are food based. You can easily grow a garden at your home using the tips from this article. Soon you'll be able to smell fresh flowers and eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
