ORGANIC GARDENING TIPS
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| 151. Be sure you are aware which common landscaping flowers and plants are poisonous, especially if you have children. Some common ones are sweet peas, iris, foxglove, amaryllis, lantana, lupines, clematis, dature, poinsettia, and oleander. |
| 152. Some plants contain substances that can be harmful to other plants and need to be composted before using as mulch or compost in a landscape or garden. Some of these include acacia, California bay, camphor, cypress, eucalyptus, madrone, oak, pine, pittosporum, red cedar, and walnut. |
| 153. Perfumed flowers are enchanting on warm summer nights. Plant citrus, gardenia, and plumeria in pots on your deck or patio where their fragrance can be enjoyed. |
| 154. Keep a garden journal - keep track of which plants are blooming when and plan accordingly the next year to keep flowers blooming all season long. |
| 155. Strawberries can be propagated easily with their runners - spread the runners out around the plant and peg them down with a rock. After they have rooted and show signs of growth, cut the runners and transplant the new plant if desired. |
| 156. Compost is a soil amendment that helps build organic matter in your soil. Mulch is placed on top of the soil to help protect the plant from temperature and climatic extremes and is sometimes used as a weed barrier. |
| 157. Companion planting is an excellent way to improve your garden. Some plants replenish nutrients lost by another one, and some combinations effectively keep pests away. |
| 158. Remember your lawn mower when you are planning a new bed in your landscape. Use the lawn mower to make sure the curves are easy to follow and easy to maintain with the lawn mower. |
| 159. Scatter crocuses throughout your lawn to add early color to your landscape. In the fall, remove small plugs of grass. Place a crocus bulb in the hole and replace the plug. The crocuses will arrive in early spring and provide much needed color at a perfect time. By the time the grass comes up and needs to be clipped, the crocuses will have died back down and disappeared. |
| 160. When a plant is wilting, always check the soil before assuming it is lacking water. Plants wilt for all sorts of reasons. |
| 161. Water in the morning to help avoid powdery mildew and other fungal diseases that are often spread by high humidity. |
| 162. Avoid using railroad ties in or around your vegetable garden; the chemicals used as preservatives are now thought to be toxic and harmful. |
| 163. Geraniums love coffee. Add some grounds to the soil or water with some cold leftovers periodically. |
| 164. Milk jugs, pop bottles and other plastic containers make great mini covers to place over your plants and protect them from frosts in early fall. |
| 165. Keep any leftover seeds at the end of the season; most seeds will last 3 - 4 years when stored in a cool dry place. |
| 166. Orchard Mason bees are excellent pollinators before honeybees arrive for the season. They can be attracted to your garden by provided them places to nest. |
| 167. Kale, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and mustard greens are susceptible to the cabbageworm butterfly. The adult is light-colored and lays single, white eggs on the underside of the leaves. When possible, squish the eggs and light-colored caterpillars to prevent as much damage as possible. |
| 168. Pine needles make an excellent mulch for acid-loving plants, but be sure they are indeed acid-loving! |
| 169. When buying plants, choose plants that have budded but not yet bloomed. When planted, they will focus on root growth instead of blooming which leads to healthier, sturdier plants. |
| 170. Planning on spending large amounts of time in your garden? Consider using stone slabs, brick pavers, small gravel or wooden decking as "floors" or pathways. |
| 171. Curved lines in your landscape are aesthetically pleasing. |
| 172. Grow a "pesto pot" in a sunny spot. Fill the pot with different types and colors of basil and enjoy it all season! Dry or freeze any basil you have left over. |
| 173. Heavy, exuberant climbers need strong supports. Be sure your trellis or arbor is heavy duty and able to support the weight of the fast-growing, heavy branches. |
| 174. Group containers made of the same material on an outdoor deck for a lush, interesting effect. Use planters of all sizes, shapes, heights and textures but made of the same material such as terra cotta. |
| 175. Use trailing, bushy plants in a pot to shade the sides of the container and keep the roots cooler. |
| 176. Mark plants you want to save seed from by tying a piece of ribbon or stretch plastic loosely around the stem, taking care not to injure or constrict it. |
| 177. Caffeine is a natural herbicide. Tea and coffee grounds make excellent compost, but don't add too much. |
| 178. Place large pots on wheels for easy moving. |
| 179. Always test your soil when planning a new bed or lawn. |
| 180. Have more than one bird feeder scattered throughout your yard to attract different kinds of birds. |
| 181. Keep dirt out from under your fingernails by scratching a bar of soap before beginning. When you're finished, wash your hands thoroughly. The soap will wash cleanly out of your nails. |
| 182. Prune your hedges so they are slightly wider at the bottom than at the top. This allows sunlight to reach the bottom leaves, preventing the loss of the lower leaves. |
| 183. Let a few ice cubes melt into the soil of your hanging plants to water them without mess or hassle. |
| 184. Place bird feeders where the mess underneath won't be a problem, especially if the seeds start to sprout. |
| 185. Always think ahead to the mature size of a tree or bush or perennial when you select a site. |
| 186. Place a mailbox in your garden. They are a great place to store garden tools. |
| 187. Maintain your plants by pinching, picking and carefully cutting back. They tend to stay healthier, bushier, and grow better. |
| 188. Remember, peppers can be picked and eaten at any size and stage of maturity. They are often sweetest at their ripest, however. |
| 189. Keep birds away from your garden crops by hanging shiny objects that flap in the wind and sparkle, such as aluminum foil, at regular intervals. |
| 190. An easy way to get compost into your soil without much back-breaking work: Spread the compost over the garden in the late fall. Cover with a winter mulch such as chopped leaves and let nature take its course. By spring, the snow and soil organisms will have worked the compost into the topsoil for you. |
| 191. Native ferns are excellent ground covers for shady areas. |
| 192. Latticework and slatted screens work well to protect privacy while still allowing fresh air and breezes into a backyard. |
| 193. Do whatever you can to attract bats to your backyard. They are excellent insect eaters. Bat houses are available commercially and are best placed in a sunny spot about 12 to 18 feet off the ground, with fresh water available nearby. |
| 194. Coarse mulch can make a very effective weed barrier. It must be at least 3 inches in depth. Some weeds will still force their way through, but most will be effectively kept out. |
| 195. If you live in a dry climate, look for drought-resistant plants. They often have small, silver leaves and deep taproots. Succulents are well adapted to dry weather. |
| 196. Be sure to water newly planted trees regularly, deeply and carefully throughout their first season. |
| 197. Compost introduces and feeds diverse life in the soil, including bacteria, insects, worms, and more, which support vigorous plant growth. |
| 198. Place "cool" colors such as lavender, blue and green in shady areas for the best impact. They are washed out by bright light. |
| 199. Less than 2 percent of the insects in the world are harmful. Most are beneficial. |
| 200. Combine cooking and gardening by experimenting with flavorful, interesting varieties of both native and exotic herbs. |
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