If you know what you are doing, organic gardening is a great hobby. Use the tips presented here to make the most out of your earth friendly organic garden.

TIP! Get a slug-proof variety of perennials. Slugs and snails can decimate a plant in one night.

Shoveling soil that is mostly clay can be difficult because of the hardness of the soil, and because it sticks to the shovel. Rubbing wax on the shovel prior to digging can kick this challenge to the curb. This will make your task easier because the clay won’t stick to the shovel. It will also keep your garden tool from rusting.

Measuring Sticks

TIP! If you learn that your soil has a high amount of alkaline, mix some used coffee grounds into it. Coffee grounds are an inexpensive way to increase the acid level in your soil.

Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. You can use shovels or rakes as measuring sticks. After laying the handles on the floor, run the measuring tape along beside them. Mark the measurements with a permanent marker. Next time you are working in the garden, you will have a large ruler at your fingertips!

TIP! Your plants need to be kept dry, but sill receiving a good amount of air. If your plants get too moist, they may get sick or infested with parasites.

When winter arrives, you can save some plants by placing them in your home. Think about saving your resistant plants or the expensive ones. Be careful not to damage the root system as you dig up the plant, and place it in a pot.

TIP! Think about planting evergreen plants that will produce berries in the backyard. This will keep your garden colorful, even during those months when other plants are not growing.

Vegetables should be planted in an area where they will get a minimum of six hours of daily sunlight. Many veggies require this amount to properly grow at a faster pace. This is also true for some flowers.

TIP! Gardening is a great way to relax. Everyone wants to find a way to relax and enjoy themselves.

Irises can benefit from being separated. You can get more irises by dividing the overgrown clumps. When foliage is dead, lift bulbous irises. The bulbs will naturally split in your hands, and after you replant them, will flower about a year later. Utilize a knife if you are trying to divide rhizomes. Cut rhizomes from around the outside then throw away the remaining center. Be sure to retain a sturdy offshoot on every piece that you intend to plant. All that is left to do is immediately replant the pieces you have created and let the cycle begin anew.

TIP! Strawberries are a good organic garden choice for families with strawberries, particularly everbearing strawberries. You will find that they enjoy participating in gardening if they are allowed to pluck the fresh berries and eat them straight from the earth.

The best way to start a garden is from first principles: seeds. When planting a garden, the best way is to initially start with seeds. Very few nurseries recycle the plastics that they use as containers for their plants, so the majority of these containers are thrown away and dumped in landfills. Therefore, it is better for the environment to plant a garden with seeds or to find a nursery that packages its plants using organic materials.

TIP! Have your gardening tools near you to minimize the time spent searching for them. Keep the tools in a big bucket, or store them in strong pockets in your pants.

A good fertilizer is important to add nutrients to your soil. Manure is an excellent fertilizer, but it needs to be combined with a synthetic compost to stop diseases from infecting your plants. It is important that you use some sort of fertilizer, although it doesn’t really matter which variety you choose.

TIP! Working in the garden doesn’t have to be grueling; learn to work more efficiently. Don’t waste your time by searching high and low for that packet of seeds or spade.

It is important to follow the instructions on your chemicals and tools closely, especially if you are new to horticulture. If you fail to do this, you could cause yourself all sorts of injuries, the most common of which is irritated skin. Keep yourself safe by carefully following all instructions.

TIP! If you have problem slugs in your organic garden, get rid of them naturally with a beer trap. Take a glass jar and bury it so that the soil is even with its mouth.

Organic horticulture, while requiring a good effort for great results, is a great way to live a greener life. It requires patience and work, but it’s worth it to have a successful organic garden. The groundwork of information contained in this article should get you off to a good start.