Gardening Tips and Tricks

Thought I'd jot down a few tips that you all may or may not already know. I think it's always good to review and remind ourselves each year, I know I can always use reminders!

1. In general, thinner leaved plants need more water to stay alive, thicker leaved plants need less.

2. Attract ladybugs to your garden with nectar-producing plants such as parsley, dill and fennel.

3. Change the water in a bird bath every few days to help reduce the mosquito population.

4. Rotate your crops each year to help reduce pest and disease problems, as well as correct nutrient deficiencies and excesses.

5. Native trees and plants are low maintenance; they develop natural defenses against insects, disease and they rarely need pruning or feeding.

6. Less than 2 percent of the insects in the world are harmful. Most are beneficial insects.

7. Learn what the different life-cycle stages look like for both beneficial insects and pests – you don’t want to accidentally wage war on the “good guys.”

8. Place pest repelling plants, such as garlic, next to easily infested plants.

9. Orchard Mason bees are excellent pollinators. Attract them to your garden or orchard by providing nesting blocks.

10. Botanical insecticides are derived from plants and can be more toxic than some chemicals. It's best to try a strong hose spray to aide in knocking soft-bodied pests off plants such as aphids, leafhoppers and spider mites.

11. Water in the morning to help avoid powdery mildew and other fungal diseases that are often spread by high humidity levels.

12. Use barriers against pests instead of insecticides whenever possible. Some pest barriers include floating row covers, netting, copper slug tape, protective collars, and Tanglefoot Pest Barrier.

13. Vegetables that become over-ripe are an automatic lure for some garden pests. Remove them as quickly as possible to avoid detection.

14. Diatomaceous earth makes an excellent organic insecticide – it is an abrasive white powder used to damage the cuticle, skin and joints of insects.

15. Avoid using railroad ties in or around your vegetable garden; the chemicals used to preserve the wood are now thought to be harmful.

16. New beds require plenty of compost, soil amendments and double digging for that extra kick.

17. Earthworms are extremely beneficial to the soil and plants, increasing air space in the soil and leaving behind worm castings. Do everything you can to encourage worms in your soil.

18. Keep dirt off lettuce and cabbage leaves by spreading a 1-2 inch layer of mulch (untreated by pesticides or fertilizers) around each plant. This also helps control weeds.

19. Pest management begins with healthy soil. It produces healthy plants, which are better able to withstand disease and insect damage.

20. Bats are a great form of natural pest control. Many in North America feed exclusively on insects and eat more than birds and bug zappers combined. A study has shown that bug zappers kill more beneficials than pests.
   

21. Sage repels cabbage moths and flea beetles.

22. 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.

This is just skimming the top, for more in depth look into any particular interest, the internet is full of information.