Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Organic Herb Gardening



When getting started with your garden, consider going organic. Organic gardening is a very rewarding process for many different reasons. One of the biggest reasons why organic gardening has become so popular is because people are more aware of what they are putting in their bodies. Herbs which are grown organically will be better for your body. You will not ingest the harsh pesticides which are used in the major farms. The herbs you grow will also smell and taste better than the genetically modified plants can accomplish.

What many people have failed to realize is all of the benefits which insects bring to the garden. Pollination is possible when you attract the right insects to your garden. In fact, some insects can be used in order to get rid of more damaging pests and insects. Consider the fact the hoverfly is attracted by certain varieties of mint. Their larvae will then eat the green fly. This is just one example of an insect which will work with you in order to get rid of pests. Getting to know the different insects will help to separate the good from the bad.

The biggest upshot to organic gardening is in the herbs themselves. Your herbs will have more potency because the oils in the leaves will be less watered down. Food your herbs are used on will have better flavour. Medicines made with organic herbs will have more potency. The herbs will be more aromatic which will benefit in aromatherapy. You can confidently feed herbs to your entire family without having to worry about any negative health effects. The tasty pesto your family enjoys will be thanks to the organic basil growing in your garden.

Keep in mind organic gardening does involve more effort on your part. Because you will not be using insecticides, you may have to spend some nights rooting around in your garden for slugs. You will also need to keep a vigilant eye out for any diseased portions of plants you may see. This is important in order to keep plant diseases from spreading through the rest of your garden. While you may spend more time keeping up with your garden, you will be spending the time on something you are benefitting from, so it is time well spent.

The important elements to remember in maintaining a garden through organic methods is how to plan ahead. Using soil covers and proper pruning techniques will help in making sure your garden is growing correctly. By preparing the soil bed every season, you will be able to remove weeds. This time can also be very effective in getting rid of the eggs which are deposited by the harmful insects looking to take up permanent residence in your garden. There are techniques which should be followed in every season in order to grow the best herbs.

When committing to organic gardening, take care not to let it change your approach to gardening. No matter if you are growing herbs or other plants, it should be something you enjoy. If you make too much out of your garden, you may lose the love. The plants you grow will be reflective of the love and care you bring to them. Make sure you give them everything they need in order to give you everything you need.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Developing Perfect Garden Soil for Herbs



When looking to grow herbs, one of the most important elements is the garden soil you will be using. Not enough can be said about preparing a bed in order to plant a successful garden. This is just as important whether you are starting your first herb garden, or preparing your existing garden for the spring and summer to come. This is dedicated to the growing of herbs outdoors. I will get into pot gardening in a later blog post. Stay tuned for that. In order to make things easier, this post is separated into a section on preparing a new bed and a section on preparing existing beds. Follow these instructions and you will be ready to get started with your herb garden come spring time.

Preparing a New Bed

 
The first thing needed when preparing a new bed is to completely eliminate weed seed from the garden soil. This is important so you will not have to be weeding your garden right after planting when it can disrupt the ability of your herbs to create proper root structures. The process to get rid of weeds does not have to include a lot of weed killer. This will develop a bed which is wrought with chemicals. The herbs you grow will have reminisces of the chemicals left in them. Since this is unnecessary, there is no need to even go this route.

Consider the soil you have before getting started. If you have a hardy soil, attack it right after an early winter rain. Use a shovel to dig deeply. Remove any weeds you see right away and dispose of them properly to protect the rest of your garden. If you have light soil, you will do better to wait until the early spring in order to do the same thing. After digging up the soil, cover the entire area with a 400 grade black plastic sheet. This will prevent light from getting to any weed seeds which persist. Make sure to cover for at least one month before planting.

Preparing an Existing BedThe best time to remove weeds from existing garden soil for herbs is during spring. You will do best to wait until the weather has warmed up a little bit. This will make it easier to remove the weeds without disturbing your herbs too much. This is also a good time to check the nutrient content of your soil. While herb plants prefer a low nutrient soil, there still needs to be some nutrients available. A good idea to get your soil tested is to take it in to your local nursery.

Once your garden is free of weeds you can see, cover the soil bed in order to prevent seeds from growing. This is easily accomplished with mulch. Over this, apply a barrier to keep even more weeds from growing. This can consist of a permeable plastic film, gravel, coconut coir, cocoa shells or leaf mold. No matter what you use, make sure you leave room around the stem in order for the root system to be able to breathe. Once the garden soil is properly prepared, you will develop a much better harvest.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Herb Garden Plants to Get You Started



Herb Garden Plants to Get You Started

Gardening herbs is a great way to spend your time. You will be able to relax while enjoying the benefits of growing your own herbs. There are many different reasons why you would want to grow your own herbs. Whether you are looking to grow herbs for culinary or medicinal purposes, you need a good start. The best way to get started is to become familiar with herb garden plants. You can then decide which herbs are best for your own garden. Once you know what plants you will use, you can design the best garden to grow your herbs in.

The annual plants are those which grow for one season and then will die. With the proper care, you can grow plants which will allow you to enjoy clippings throughout the season. The right kind of pruning will actually encourage new growths in your plants. The reason why the annuals die after one season is because of the poor root structure. There are two ways to enjoy the annuals year after year: clippings and blooms. The blooms will have seeds which can germinate in the soil for a new crop. The clippings will be able to root if planted properly. The most popular annuals include dill and borage.

Another kind of herb garden plants is biennials. Biennials will be able to grow through two seasons, but will not blossom until the end of the second season. You can replant these in much the same manner as the annuals. The root structure is stronger in these herb garden plants in order to help grow through the second season. You will notice a thicker stalk and a more pungent aroma the second year. The most popular biennials are caraway and parsley.

Perennials are plants which will grow again and again if properly cared for. The root structure is very important to survival of these plants. The roots allow the plants to bud again in the spring. When summer comes around, you will be able to enjoy plants which have full foliage. Many gardeners will caution you to separate perennials from the rest of your garden because of their ability to overtake a garden. Pruning along with good planning will help to protect the rest of your garden. The most popular examples of a perennial include chives and peppermint.

Perennials are divided into two subcategories: semi-shrubs and shrubs. Semi-shrubs are herb garden plants which have woody stalks and leafy foliage. The most popular kind of semi-shrub is lavender. The root structure is compact, yet very firm in the soil. Pruning is not necessary in order to promote growth, but is recommended in order to contain the plant from invading the rest of the garden. Shrubs are characterized by being very woody. The root structure is more spread out than semi-shrubs. Typical shrubs in an herb garden include rosemary and elder. Just like the semi-shrubs, proper pruning methods will help you contain growth.

Once you have chosen the kinds of plants you want in your garden, it is important to learn the best methods to grow your herbs. Most herb garden plants grow well in the same kind of soil. They may require different amounts of light and wind, so it is necessary to practice proper planning. Get out there and enjoy what you are creating.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Introduction



A Note To My Readers :

Herb Gardening is by far one of the easiest gardening tasks to accomplish. It has multiple health benefits, it is fun to do and can improve your life in many different ways. This blog has been created as a way to help everyone enjoy the wonderful joy which is herb gardening. You will find many different ways to help you get started with a simple herb garden no matter your locale or your experience with growing herbs.

I will be posting often to this blog in order to help you with many different tips and helpful hints. Make sure you check back often in order to find the latest ideas I have posted for you to follow. I can be reached if you have any ideas or questions in regards to your herb garden. I will do everything I can to keep the language in this blog easy to understand and with as little extra filler as possible. I am sure you have come here in order to get straightforward information and do not want to waste a lot of time. This is why I will get straight to the point.

I am a writer by nature, so I hope you will understand if I tend to get a little bit wordy sometimes. If you have some extra time to kill, I will recommend you visit my other blog at http://analternatetruth.blogspot.com/. At this website, you will find my stories which deal with subjects I find amusing, or interesting. I am willing to take suggestions at that blog as well. I look forward to hearing from you and enjoy the content I post for you.

Thank you,
Brian Bedell