Horticulture is more than decorating. It isn’t only a pastime for hobbyists with a green thumb. It is something someone can do to add tranquility and peace to his or her house, as well as a way to appreciate life itself. If you become a avid gardener, it will have a great effect on your way of living.

To prevent your plants from getting shocked by a big change, get them gradually used to climate and temperature changes. Put the plants outside in the sun for one to two hours in the beginning. Throughout the week, you should leave your plants out for a little longer each day. If you do this correctly, the plants should be able to make their final move at the end of a week’s time.

Clay soil can be a real pain to work with as it often sticks to the end of the shovel. To make the clay soft so you aren’t working as hard, take floor or car wax and rub a light coat on the surface of the shovel using a clean cloth, then buff the surface. The shovel will glide through the clay and as a bonus, your shovel will be resistant to rust.

Soil Analysis

Do a soil analysis prior to planting. Soil analysis costs a little money, but the report can inform you how to enrich your soil and open the door to a lush garden. A lot of cooperative extension offices can provide this service to you and it is worth knowing what you need to do in order to avoid ruining your plants.

Grow some wheat grass or catnip for your cat to eat instead. You can put something over the soil which surrounds the plants which has a bad smell to cats to deter them.

When you grow veggies in a garden, you need to ensure they get at least six hours of good sunlight each day. Many veggies require this amount to properly grow at a faster pace. This is true of some flowers.

For an unusual, but effective, organic solution to weeding young plants, try “boiling” the weeds away. The safest herbicide that you can use in your garden is a simple pot of boiling water. Literally pour the water on the weeds, avoiding any wanted plants near them, and watch the weeds die over time. The water will kill the weeds by destroying the roots and if poured directly on the weeds, will prevent them from growing back.

Don’t you hate it how fresh mint leaves take over all of your garden, even though you love them? Control their expansion by confining them to a large pot. Then, you can plant the container into the ground. However, the container walls will keep the roots held, and prevent the plant from consuming too much of your garden space.

To defend your garden from errant dogs, spray something with a strong scent, including aftershave or old perfume around the perimeter of the garden. By masking the smells he may be attracted to, he should take less interest in the garden plants.

To create a beautiful English garden use various plants and differing plant heights in one flower bed. If you use plants that are all the same size your garden will look flat.

Maximize your time by keeping your tools close. Carry a large bucket with you or wear pants with a lot of pockets. Keep gloves, small pruning shears, a trowel and any other tools handy in order to increase the quickness of the work that goes into your garden.

Increase the worth of your investment. Improving your landscape is one of the best ways to get a high return from your house. Some plant investments can raise your resale value by 20% or more. Get low moisture plants for your garden and yard that are suited for your environment.

When planting seeds in containers, remember that the planting depth should be around three times bigger than the seed size. However, some seeds do not need to be covered, they need the sunlight. Some common examples include ageratum and petunias. With so many different types of seeds, it is important that you check seed packaging or utilize other resources, such as the Internet, to discover which seeds require exposure to direct sunlight.

One unusual tip in organic horticulture, is to “pet” your seedlings often. Use your hands or a piece of cardboard and lightly ruffle the seedling about one or two times a day. Believe it or not, aerating the soil in this manner can actually make your seedlings grow larger.

Use the knowledge you have gained here to resuscitate your garden today. You will be glad you did when your garden is full of thriving and blooming plants. If you start gardening, it can really make a difference in your life, so start now!