Category Archives: Home Improvements

Do you prefer organic fruits and vegetables, but balk at the high costs? Do you enjoy doing things yourself rather than paying someone to do a shoddy job? Then why not grow your own organic produce right in your home garden? Read on to find out how to start making your own produce and have fun doing it!

Stay out of your garden after it has rained or whenever it is wet. Diseases and bacteria thrive and spread more easily in damp environments. Bacteria can easily attach to your shoes as you walk through the wet garden and be transferred from plant to plant. Instead, wait until the soil is dry to enter your garden.

Are you busy with your organic garden? Remember, before you replant your flowers or vegetables outside in cooler weather, you need to get them ready for the change in temperature and light! For a few weeks, move your plants to a colder spot with no light for a few hours. Gradually increase the amount of time you leave your plants in the cold. After a few weeks, your plants should be ready for the cooler outdoors.

A great tip for being economical in running your own organic garden is to use a plastic mesh bag. This bag can be used along with soap to scrub away garden dirt. You should use a rubber band around the bag to make it as tight as possible and then hang it by the hose with soap.

Minimize the amount of water you use from water supply by incorporating barrels to catch rain water. This will not only reduce your cost of water for your garden, but also give you a source of fresh water that your plants will thrive on since it is not a processed water supply.

Eliminate the need for excessive intervention in the health and care of your landscaping and gardening plants by choosing shrubs, grasses, and veggies that require a bare minimum maintenance. These plants are often easily identifiable by their smaller taproots and undersized, silvery colored leaves. Plants that work well with their environment require very little in the way of fertilizers and pesticides.

Choose a site for fruit trees depending on their specific requirements. Most fruit trees require 8 hours of sun per day. Morning sun is important, as it dries dew rapidly, helping to prevent fungus. Avoid planting fruit trees in a low spot in the garden where frost or cold air can collect. Some fruit trees are especially susceptible to late frost damage, and are better planted on a north-facing slope. This is especially true for peach, plum, cherry and apricot trees.

If you have a problem with rabbits getting into your vegetable garden, try this simple and organic solution to get rid of the sweet creatures. Just use 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper in a quart of water, strained into a spray bottle and add a teaspoon of horticultural oil. The oil will make the pepper spray stick to the plants. Spray your plants periodically and you will never see a rabbit again eating your vegetables.

Protect your compost pile from the weather, in wet climates, consider building a little roof or cover to protect your compost pile from the rain, or cover it with a plastic tarp. You don’t want the pile to become waterlogged, or have the nutrients leach out from excessive water run-off.

Use rainwater for your organic garden. Water can be collected in barrels when rain fall is at high levels, and then used on your garden during drought periods. This will help to conserve water and provide your plants with all the hydration they need. Most rain barrels have a spicket so you can attach your soaker hose directly to the barrel.

Use compost in your garden. Compost balances both acid and alkaline soils, bringing PH levels into the optimum range for nutrient availability. It contains micronutrients such as iron and manganese that are often absent in synthetic fertilizers. Compost also feeds diverse life in the soil, including bacteria, insects, worms, and more, which support plant growth.

An organic alternative to chemical fertilizer is compost. You can make your own compost by using fruits, vegetables and other organic wastes from your home. Compost gives your soil the nutrients it needs and improves its structure.

Keep your surrounding water clean. Everything that you put into your garden, whether it’s pesticides or commercial fertilizer, always makes its way into the water system by leaching through the ground. By only using plain water and natural fertilizers you will ensure that your gardening is organic and environmentally friendly.

Introducing organic and non-chemical protection against common garden pests like aphids and grasshoppers is the ideal solution to keep your garden alive and well. Instead of using harmful chemical and caustic, unnatural methods, opt for approaches like physical removal of pests, erecting fences, nets, or protective barriers, or botanical pesticides.

Know the benefits of composting. Composting is one of the best things you can do for your organic garden. Composting improves moisture levels, promotes fertility, and stimulates plant roots. You can start your own composting at home, and reduce your household waste, as well as get free food for your garden.

Use soap on your plants. Not much is worse than a bad aphid infestation. Your plants will look terrible, and eventually die, if the bugs continue to work on your plants. To get rid of them now, fill a spray bottle with dish soap and water. Spray thoroughly, and repeat as needed.

Make mulch spreading easier with the right tools. After laying out the mulch, use a flat-headed rake to efficiently spread the manure around. The tines of the rake help pull the mulch and spread it, while the flat side of the rake evens out the area. Use the rake with a pushing and pulling motion.

Not only will creating your own garden save you money and give you healthier fruits and vegetables, but it will also help your state of mind as you work in your garden and grow your very own food. Use these tips to become your own farmer, and reap the benefits!