It might be hard to figure out where to start with gardening, but really, all you need to do is look at your options. Everybody has a different yard and different environmental factors to consider. This article will outline a few tips that will identify ways you can begin preparing a garden at home.

Avoid chemicals for pest control. Chemicals are effective but can also damage your plants. You should look for natural methods instead. For instance, you can buy jars of ladybugs and release them on your plants. Ladybugs are natural predators for a variety of smaller insects that eat flowers and other plants.

When uprooting a perennial plant, you should start digging at its drip line. Dig a trench around the plant, and cut any roots that extend beyond that trench. You can tie stems together to avoid damaging the plant during the process. Once all the roots are severed lift the plant carefully by its main stem.

If you are not a fan of wearing gloves when gardening but still hate dirty fingernails, try scraping your fingernails in a bar of soap prior to beginning. The soap will keep soil from entering underneath your nails, plus the soap will help keep your nails from cracking or breaking.

If you are gardening in containers, be sure each container has a drainage system to prevent water from pooling. Lining the bottom of a container with small rocks or pebbles can also help with water drainage for container gardening. Allowing water to sit for extended periods can rot the root system of your plants.

When you boil vegetables, use the leftover water on your potted plants. Try adding used coffee grounds to the soil around plants that grow in acidic soil. If fungus is ravaging your potted plants, sprinkle a bit of Chamomile tea on them, and see if it helps.

The easiest way to dry out herbs is by laying newspaper across the backseat of your car and arranging the herbs in a single layer on top of it. The herbs will dry quickly in warm weather, your car will smell remarkably fresh, and cleanup is a breeze.

It is important to wear eye protection when you are gardening. Many people do not realize that chemicals can easily get splashed, fertilizer can be blown or dirt can land in their eyes. All of these things can cause major damage to the eye. If wearing eye protection the chances of having your eyes damaged are greatly decreased.

Think about a color scheme. Your garden design will take shape more smoothly and quickly if you choose a color scheme to work around. Before deciding, take into account any existing plants and such things as the color of the facade of your house. You can choose one color scheme for the entryway planting, and something completely different for a mixed border in the back garden. If you are a beginning gardener, don’t worry about mistakes. If you end up with a garish looking display, you can simply remove certain plants!

Preparing the soil for your perennial garden is easy. You just need to use your garden spade for slicing underneath the turf, then flip it, and finally spread about three or four inch deep piles of wood chips. Let the area have about two weeks, then dig it and plan the new perennials.

Take steps to protect earthworms in your organic garden. Till your soil minimally, as tilling can kill earthworms. The best tilling depth is 3 to 5 inches. Avoid using chemical fertilizers because they harm the micro-organisms in the soil, decreasing earthworm activity. Be sure that the soil never dries out too much, but at the same time avoid over-watering. By maintaining these soil conditions, you will notice your earthworm population increasing rapidly!

Dry your herbs immediately after harvesting them to prevent rot. Rot is usually caused by moisture either within the herb or on top of it. Moisture can cause the production of harmful bacteria that may cause rot on the herb, or produce a nasty by-product which will then spoil your harvest.

Don’t be alarmed at the amount of organic fertilizer you may need to use. Organic fertilizers contain a lower percentage of nutrients per unit weight than their synthetic counterparts. Because of this, it will probably be necessary to apply more volume of organic fertilizer than is typical for synthetic fertilizers.

If you follow proper organic growing conditions you may find that you are better able to market your produce at the local fruit stands and farmer’s markets. Organic produce is very popular now because people are beginning to see all the health benefits of eating an organic whole food diet.

Stay shallow in the soil when you are working it. You do not need to break your back digging deep in your organic garden. Keep your depth to an average of six inches. Nearly eighty-five percent of all plant roots only require the top six inches of soil. That should make your work easier.

Be aware of the type of lighting that you use with the plants in your landscaped garden. Any kind of bright light tends to wash out the cool colors like blue, purple, and green. These kinds of lights are best when used in shaded areas as they will create maximum impact.

Expect to use a lot of organic fertilizer. When using organic fertilizer, expect to use much more than a chemical fertilizer. This is because an organic fertilizer contains less nutrients by weight compared to its chemical counterpart. That being said, organic fertilizers are slow and steady to release nutrients into the soil, whereas chemical fertilizers give a quick blast and then do nothing. Also, chemical fertilizers tend to be full of nitrogen, which is great for certain plants, but detrimental to others.

As you can see, gardening is easy despite the factors in your life. Gardening can be a relaxing and rewarding hobby, while encouraging you to go outside and be familiar with the planet. Gardening is an excellent way to get your family together, too. You should start your gardening efforts today!