Gardening is a relaxing, rewarding pastime for many and offers a long list of benefits. Whether you decide to grow a flower garden or plant some fresh herbs, you’ll find that tending to your plants is incredibly fulfilling. This article can lend you a helping hand, and give you important pointers about gardening and growing things.
Properly lay your sod. Before you lay the sod, the soil has to be prepared. Weeds should be removed, and you should break up the soil into a tilth. Lightly, but firmly pack the soil down, and make sure that it is flat. Water the soil until it is saturated. Stagger your sod so that each joint offsets from joints in adjacent rows. Sod should be firm and have an even, flat surface without gaps. Your sod should be watered everyday for at least two weeks, then it will root itself and walk on it.
While caring for your garden in the fall, you will want to keep a lookout for stinkbugs. These destructive pests enjoy many kinds of fruit, as well as beans, peppers and tomatoes. Stink bugs may get out of hand and do significant damage in your garden. It is important to take steps to eliminate them from that area.
Knee pads are a gardener’s friend when caring for plants low to the ground. Long hours tending your garden can leave your knees sore and achy. Buy yourself a pair of knee pads to use in the garden to cushion and protect your knees.
For weeds that aren’t in the middle of your plants, use boiling water to kill their roots. Considering that boiling water is rather safe, you don’t have to worry about toxins in your soil or at your dinner table. Douse boiling water on the weeds and avoid nearby plants carefully. The boiling water will damage the roots of the weeds and will usually prevent further growth.
Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Moisture can be a magnet for disease and parasites on your plants. Fungi is the most common parasite for plants. Proactively treat fungi through the use of fungicidal sprays and treatments.
Fertilize your garden. While a lot of people use manure, it is better to choose fertilizer from a reputable company, as this will reduce the risk of any pathogens getting into your soil. Although there are plenty of fertilizer choices, don’t be concerned with which one you use; just be sure to use one.
Pest control is tough when you have a veggie garden. You can’t use chemicals as they’re the last thing you want to be eating when you enjoy the fruits of your labor. One way that you can help control garden pests is to remain vigilant. Taking the pests off of the plants by hand is one of the best fixes if you are able to catch the infestation in its early stages.
As was mentioned earlier in the article, gardening can be a truly rewarding hobby. Even just working in the fresh air can lift your spirits. By using a few of the recommendations presented above, you can turn your garden into a mini paradise on earth and impress your friends with your new-found horticultural knowledge.