Whether you're just starting gardening or just trying to switch to an organic environment, these tips will help you start spring correctly.The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
- Lock the water with the cover
Too much watering is bad for plant roots, but water typically evaporates too quickly from normal soil to allow the plant to obtain sufficient water, especially if you live in a dry environment. There are many different ways to maintain water levels, including using heavier soil or planting vegetables with strong roots. However, the simplest way to prevent evaporation problems is to cover the plant bed with organic mulch.
Although you can buy mulch at most gardening stores, you can often find it at free mulch events. Whether these trees are from sparse forests or collected after festivals, most forestry agencies and local park departments will cover old vegetation and provide them free or low-cost. As an organic gardener, this is a very convenient way to obtain the required cover without worrying about the environmental impact.
Once you have the lid, place it on your plant bed, approximately 2-4 inches thick. If you are concerned about weed control, you can also apply a layer of 4 thick newspaper directly to the soil before laying the mulch. After covering, water the wood until it is completely wet. Then, water it semi regularly to prevent flooding.
- Increase winter cover crops
One of the mistakes many new gardeners make is to leave an empty plant bed after the target harvest. Your zucchini plants will not be able to survive the winter, and you do not want the soil you carefully planned to be blown away without any roots fixed.
First, pull out the stems of any plants that have been successfully harvested. If these parts are free of disease and have no attached seed heads, you can compost them at any time. Then, choose a mulch crop that is suitable for your soil and the season you are preparing. Common choices include beans, grass, and broad leaves.
Plant mulch crops on the open space in the garden. Some of these crops provide their own harvest, but others simply exist as placeholders. However, as these crops begin to die in the winter air, they continue to leave their stems and leaves in the soil. During the winter months, this natural compost will add nutrients to the soil while maintaining your precious soil.
As a final step, remember to turn over the soil and cover the crop at least 3 to 6 weeks before sowing. If some of your mulch crops survive, you may need to weed or cultivate them before they germinate. Either way, now is a good time to check soil quality, add fertilizer, and prepare for the planting season.
- Encourage the presence of earthworms
Earthworms are an important component of healthy soil complexes. Worms cultivate the soil and add essential nutrients that are difficult to obtain by any other method. The presence of worms in your soil is created by having a healthy environment and the food and resources your mini garden assistant is looking for.
The first thing you need to do to encourage the presence of earthworms is to rarely cultivate your soil. It is expected that the soil will be turned over in the spring, and may be turned over directly once during planting. The more you move the soil, the less secure the worm becomes.
Next, make sure there is a large amount of organic matter on top of the soil. Covering is very suitable for this purpose, but manure and compost are also good choices. Finally, check whether the soil's hydration level, acidity, temperature, and texture are suitable for the worms you want to cultivate.
If you follow all these conditions, worms should begin to appear naturally in your soil. However, if for some reason there are no worms in your area, you can also purchase worms from your local gardening store. Just remember, if the soil is not safe for worms, they will eventually become extinct, rather than starting a new population.
- Don't let weeds sprout
Composting and organic gardening almost always go hand in hand. However, if you are not careful, adding compost to the soil can introduce new plants in the wrong places in the garden. This happens when flowering seed heads are mixed into compost - something many new gardeners don't know to avoid.
Start by weeding the garden in time. Never let weeds bloom and produce seeds, as they almost always fall into the soil and remain dormant until conditions are right. You also need to avoid composting plants that are flowering or have seeds. There are many other opportunities to find compost materials, so don't be afraid to throw away these plant materials.
If the plants on your compost bed start to bloom, it may be because the temperature is too low. The compost bed needs to be between 130 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid internal growth and promote maximum decomposition. You can increase the heat of the compost bed through nitrogen, moisture, and regular maintenance.
As an organic gardener, one of your biggest difficulties may be pest control. No invasive insect control methods are always difficult to find, and dealing with deer, birds, squirrels, and other scavengers is another issue.
Although onions and chives are not a perfect solution, they have an amazing and powerful deterrent that can be used everywhere in your garden. Plant them near the roots of plants, and you don't want to be eaten by curious animals. The strong aroma of chives can prevent pests, large and small.
Organic gardening requires more attention than gardening using ordinary tools and pesticides. Spend some time every day watering, weeding, and covering your plant bed. As long as you regularly maintain your garden, you should be able to achieve excellent results.
