TIP! Sod should be laid properly. Before laying the sod, have your soil prepared.

Organic horticulture is very relaxing and will help you connect with nature. You want to grow healthy and non-contaminated food that can be enjoyed by you and your loved ones. This particular hobby may not be as easy as it sounds. Check out the tips laid out below to learn what you must do to begin horticulture organically like a professional.

TIP! Use annuals and biennials to brighten your flower garden. You can use biennial and annual flowers to brighten the bed, and let you change how it looks.

The handles on your horticulture tools can be used as a convenient measuring instrument. You can use shovels or rakes as measuring sticks. Place the handles on the floor to measure the distance between them. Have a marker handy, and mark the distance with it. When the need arises to measure something while in your garden, the measuring tool you need will literally be “on hand,” sketched into the handles of your tools.

TIP! Keep your plants thriving through the winter by bringing them inside. Perhaps you can save your most expensive or resistant plants.

When winter arrives, transfer some plants into the house to save them. You can save the ones you spent the most money on or the ones that are resistant. Dig around the roots carefully and transfer the plant to a pot.

TIP! When fall arrives, it’s time to plant your autumn vegetables. This year, instead of using your regular clay pots to plant your kale and lettuce, use a pumpkin as the container instead! Clean out the pumpkin just like you would if you were making a jack o’lantern.

Soak seeds overnight, preferably in a cool, dark place. Take 3-4 seeds, put them in a small jar or container, and cover them with water. This hydrates your seeds and jump-starts their growth. The seeds will most likely survive and mature this way.

TIP! When dealing with any type of seeds in gardening, it’s important that you soak them overnight in a cool, dark location. Drop your seeds into a small jar that is filled with cold water.

You can alleviate this problem by planting grasses that your cat will naturally gravitate towards. Alternatively, you can try putting mothballs, citrus peel or anything else with an odor that cats find distasteful in the soil surrounding the plants.

TIP! Try dividing the irises. If you divide the overgrown clumps of flowers, you’ll find that your stock grows proportionally.

If your garden includes vegetables, make sure you plant them in a location whether they are exposed to sunlight for a minimum of six hours each day. This allows the vegetables to grow quickly and healthily. This is true of some flowers.

TIP! Look for targeted pesticides instead of using popular but damaging broad-spectrum products. These pesticides will kill every type of pest in your garden, including beneficial bugs that eat garden pests.

Divide irises. Divide any overgrown clumps to increase your stock. Lift bulbous irises when the foliage is dead. The bulbs, when harvested, should easily split by hand – allowing you to replant them for even more blooms next spring. Use a knife to carefully divide rhizomes. You can trim new pieces away from the outside of the bulbs and then simply throw the old center away. Be sure to retain a sturdy offshoot on every piece that you intend to plant. Do this cutting beside your garden bed, so that you can place your new groupings into the ground immediately.

TIP! Choose a plant to use for a focal point. Gardens are like art; you need to give the piece (or garden) an initial focal point.

Think about planting everbearing strawberries in your garden, especially if you have small children. For kids, there are few things as fun as picking fruit fresh from the garden. Your children will be much more interesting in helping out if they know they’ll get to enjoy some tasty strawberries.

TIP! If you have a problem with your dog disturbing your garden, you can repel him by spraying perfume or other scents on the grass near the edge. Your dog will find more interesting scents to explore elsewhere and leave your garden alone.

Gardeners who are intrigued by the ideas of organic and sustainable methods should think about designating a portion of their landscape to support native plants and animals. The presence of native flowers, trees and grasses will attract birds and insects. You will be rewarded by an appealing and flourishing landscape.

TIP! In order to bring in good insects to your garden, you need to plant heather. Heather is desirable to bees; when heather emerges in early spring, it can be a source of nectar.

Protect cuts from dirt and chemicals, and think about staying away from horticulture until they heal. A cut could get infected if it gets in contact with grime and dirt in the garden. It is possible now to get bandages that will completely seal the cut.

TIP! Consider planting strawberries, especially ones that are everbearing, for your garden if you have small children. Children enjoy picking fresh fruit, especially if they can eat it right away.

Organic gardening combines hard work, patience and nature. This is a great hobby that uses your land to grow food. If you want to make the most of your clean, green, organic garden, you should put your new skills to the test.