Though gardening can be a very rewarding experience, it can also be very difficult. With the proper knowledge, you can reduce the difficulty you experience with gardening.
In order to remove salt and mineral deposits effectively from your clay pots, you can make a mixture of alcohol, vinegar, and water. Combine this mixture into a spray bottle, which you can then use to spritz the clay pots. Scrub off the salt deposits with a sturdy brush for effective removal.
Before you garden, seal your fingernails with a bar of soap. This helps to prevent dirt and soil getting into your fingernails, which can often be difficult to clean. When you are done gardening, you can remove the soap wax by using a nail brush.
If your garden has a problem with aphids, you can kill them with a strong spray of water from your garden hose or with a spritz of insecticide. Another suggestion is to use tape wrapped around your hand, sticky side out. Pat the underside of the leaves, where aphids prefer to lie, to remove them from your plants.
If you do not have access to a measuring stick, you can make your own by using a long-handled gardening tool. Lay the tool on the ground next to a tape measure and use a permanent marker to mark inch and foot measurements on the handle. This can help you to plan spaces between your plants effectively.
For plants that prefer higher acidity in the soil, you can help to increase the acid level by using leftover tea and coffee grounds. By applying a light sprinkling of these substances monthly, you can help your soil maintain an acidic pH level.
To protect young plants from frost, you can use clay pots to cover them. This helps to keep the cold air, which can harm them, out and allows them to prevail despite the frost. Tea, especially chamomile, can also be used to control fungus, which can attack young seedlings. You can add a little bit of the tea to the soil around the base of your seedling weekly, or you can lightly spray your seed patches with the tea to prevent the growth of fungus.
An easy way to dry herbs is to spread them out over a sheet of newspaper on your car seat, with windows and doors closed, overnight. The trapped heat will rapidly dry the herbs and leave your car with a pleasant odor.
You can easily discover resources from your friends and family as well. If you know someone who gardens, you can take advantage of their knowledge. Ask them how they have had success with their gardens and share the strategies you have used, too.
By keeping the above tips in mind, you will be on your way to having a successful garden. But your knowledge does not have to start with these strategies; be resourceful and creative, and your ability to improve your garden will grow immensely. You can turn your gardening experience into one that you will enjoy.