Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Four Ways To Prepare Your Garden For Winter

A lot of people think tending a garden is totally beyond them, but that's true only for people who don't do their research. The right information can help anyone become a master gardener. This article's tips and advice will help you become an amazing gardener.

Propagate additional plants by carefully taking cuttings from the roots of your best specimens. Ideally, cut roots during the winter season when the roots are dormant. Cut off the thickest, longest roots of the plant with a sharp knife. Then, cut the root to about two inches. Fill up a tray with seeds with dirt and grit and put your roots on the surface of that. Cover it with a small layer of grit and peat. Leave in a cool place, and in about a month you will have new seedlings. Plant each seedling in its own small pot until it is developed enough to be transplanted outdoors.

Be sure to do some weeding on a regular basis. Weeds and gardens do not mix; they will destroy your garden. You might want to think about using white vinegar to do this. Weeds can be killed by white vinegar! Load up your spray bottle with some white vinegar, and spray the weeds away instead of breaking your back removing them by hand.

When winter comes, you can save a few plants by transferring them inside the house. You should probably save the most resistant or expensive plants. Dig around roots carefully before transferring to a pot.

When planting seeds, it is wise to take your time. First, you should loosen the soil, and ensure that it is sufficiently moist. Take the seeds and place them evenly across the gardening area, giving them plenty of space to grow. The depth at which you bury them should be three times their size. Make sure you are not burying the seeds that need light to grow.

If you want to effectively weed out young plants, you can try "boiling" away the weeds. Boiling water can be considered as an herbicide, and it is a safe one. Literally pour the water on the weeds, avoiding any wanted plants near them, and watch the weeds die over time. Boiling water is not good for the weed roots and will stunt further growth.

Place a two inch layer of organic mulch at the base of your tall vegetable plants. Mulch will retain water so that you won't have to water your plants as often. This also helps reduce the appearance of weeds. You will save time by not pulling weeds.

Sometimes the soil you want to use for your garden has a high alkaline content. Combine coffee grounds with the soil to reduce this. This is a great and cheap way to increase the acid levels in your dirt. The plants will be healthier, leading to more delicious home-grown veggies.

Bumble bees can help with the pollination of your garden. Keep in mind though that there are some bees that can harm your garden. Carpenter bees for example destroy the wood in trees to create their nests. Generally speaking, bees help your garden so it's best if you leave them alone.

Place plant materials in big plastic trash bags, so that you can build layers of this material for use in your compost pile. A good time to collect compost is in fall after the leaves are raked from your yard. Put the bagged leaves somewhere that is warm. In the spring, this will be the ideal material to include in your compost pile.

If you want to develop strong roots in your plants, you should make sure to plant them in the fall. Since the ground is still warm compared to the air temperature and the plants do not have leaves to grow and support it, their resources will be concentrated in the root system, thus creating a strong foundation.

Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes, and shovels can be converted into handy measuring sticks. After laying the handles on the floor, run the measuring tape along beside them. Label the distances onto them using a permanent marker pen. Now you will always possess a large ruler ready for your use in the garden.

It isn't as nearly as horrible as you thought it would be, right? As with many other subjects, there is a ton of advice out there for every aspect of gardening. It is easy to become overwhelmed. Sometimes, it helps to have a place to start! Hopefully, this article has provided you with just that.

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