Be it a flower garden or a vegetable garden, it can be difficult to maintain a garden. There are a lot of things to take care of including fertilizer, South Jersey irrigation, garden pests and insects, among others. Here are a few quick tips to maintain your garden in their absolute best:
Soil
A good garden depends on the quality of the soil. To have good growing plants, you have to feed the soil with the necessary nutrients. Break up the soil from time to time, taking care not to disturb the roots of plants already planted. Spread some compost or manure to the soil. A thickness of 2-3 inches is sufficient to properly fertilize the planting soil. However, if you are growing melons, squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes, it is best to go light on the fertilizer. These plants are highly sensitive to manure used as fertilizer.
Check for weeds growing around and between the plants. Pull them out whenever you see some to reduce competition between the plants. If weeds are a serious issue, try to apply some organic mulch to the soil to control the weeds. Mulching helps prevent weeds from growing and coming back. Mulch also preserves the moisture in the soil, preventing them from getting too dried out. For DIY mulching, use old newspapers, composted leaves, or dry grass clippings. Commercial mulches can also be bought from agricultural stores.
Keep pests away
Pests can affect the well-being of your plants so it’s important to keep them away. Some of the most common garden pests include cucumber beetles, bugs, and aphids. Large bugs can be picked off by hand and smaller ones can be sprayed with water. Try to use organic pesticides instead of chemical ones as the latter can be harmful to the plants, particularly if you have a vegetable garden. Soapy water can be used to kill off the pests. You may use insecticidal soap dissolved in water.
Water responsibly
Water the plants during the early hours of the morning or at late afternoon when the sun is not too high up yet. The higher the temperature, the higher the evaporation rate, the less water gets absorbed by the soil and the roots. Avoid frequent shallow watering as such will prevent the roots from going deeper. Don’t use hot water when watering plants. When watering on late afternoons, let the water run for a few minutes to let it cool. Use a water hose nozzle with large holes rather than fine holes. Plants need more water as they grow.
Cleaning the garden
Fruits and vegetables that grow in the garden should be harvested the moment they are ripe. They should not be allowed to rot or fall off. Dying plants should be removed as soon as possible. To save on fertilizers, dying plants should be placed in the compost heap. The garden should be devoid of debris and garbage to prevent the proliferation of pests. Bugs and beetles hide under dried leaves and debris during the winter months.
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