There are many things to consider when striving for beautiful and healthy garden plants. While gardening is a lot of hard work, it’s a fun way to spend your free time. Here are a few tips to make your horticulture more fun and less work!

Plant perennials that slugs and snails won’t be interested in eating. Snails and slugs can quickly wreak havoc on a garden. Certain perennials that don’t have tough leaves are especially tasty to snails and slugs. Some varieties of perennials are not preferred by snails and slugs, particularly perennials that have hairy, tough leaves or a taste that isn’t appetizing. Some of these plants include achillea, campanula, euphorbia, hellaborus, and heuchera.

Remember to remove weeds from the garden. Weeds can take over a healthy garden faster than you think. To do this, think about using white vinegar. White vinegar is a fantastic weed killer! Apply it full strength to any areas where weeds are a problem.

You can plant wheat grass or cat grass near the plants that the cat eats. Another option is to place offensively smelling objects on the topsoil near and around the plants you want to protect. Citrus peels or mothballs are a couple of examples.

Coffee Grounds

If a test indicates that your soil is very alkaline, you can mix the dirt with used coffee grounds. The coffee grounds are a very inexpensive way to add acid back into the dirt. You will discover that your vegetables are more flavorful than ever before.

Irises can be easily divided. Splitting up overgrown groups of irises will allow you to easily increase the number of irises in your garden. After the foliage dies, pick up bulbous irises. The bulbs, when harvested, should easily split by hand – allowing you to replant them for even more blooms next spring. Use a knife to divide the rhizomes. Discard the center and cut pieces from the exterior. Each piece must have a minimum of one strong offshoot. Replant the new shoots right away.

You can prevent pests using other plants or natural materials. Forming a border around your vegetable garden with marigolds or onions are ideal for repelling slugs. Insect pests will stay away from seedlings and trees if you use wood ash around the base as a mulch. With these natural methods, there is no need to purchase expensive, harsh pesticides.

It is particularly important for new gardeners to read and follow instructions that come with tools, as well as chemicals. If you don’t pay good attention, you could wind up with skin irritations or other issues. For your own safety, take the time to read and follow the instructions.

Know when is the best time to harvest your vegetables. Most vegetables have a relatively small harvesting window when they will taste best. For instance, zucchini and baby peas have the best taste when you pick them early. However, tomatoes should be as ripe as they can be when pulled from the vine to ensure the best taste. So, learn about the ideal harvest time for your vegetables.

With these tips, you’re better equipped to grow the most beautiful garden you can imagine. In learning how to create your dream garden, you’ll also be growing as a person. That’s because learning how to nurture your plants will not only help you reach the goal of having a great garden, but it will help you learn to nurture yourself.