Organic gardening requires a green thumb and a lot of patience. It's a fun activity that will allow you to enjoy nutritious food that's free of pesticides. Easier said than done, right? Read the tips below to see what you need to begin growing like a pro.

Transform the handles of your tools into convenient measuring devices. You can use larger tools, like rakes, as measuring sticks. On the floor, simply lay out the handles, then take a tape measure and run it next to them. Label the distances using a permanent marker. Now, every time you work in your garden, you are going to have a powerful ruler at the touch of your fingertips.

For the best results, select the right kind of soil. You may need to alter the kind of soil you use based on the types of plants you intend to grow. You may also be able to design an artificial area that contains one type of dirt.

When gardening, be sure to look closely for stink bug infestation, especially during Autumn. They like beans, peppers, tomatoes and many fruits. If you do not keep them under control, the damage can be excessive, so keep an eye out for them.

Shelter your deciduous shrubs. If you have them in pots, you need to guard them from cold weather that will damage or kill them. Tie together the tops, and then use a sheet or blanket to cover the wigwam loosely. This method is preferred to wrapping a plant in plastic, since it promotes circulation and prevents rotting.

To keep pests away, you can use plants in the garden or other natural materials. For example, slugs can be deterred by the presence of marigolds or onions. Wood ash used as mulch helps repel pests as well when around shrubs and trees. Using these natural methods will reduce the need for potentially harmful chemical pesticides.

Are you a parent? If you are, try planting some strawberries like everbearing strawberries in your garden. You will find that they enjoy participating in gardening if they are allowed to pluck the fresh berries and eat them straight from the earth.

As you are working in your garden, you must take care to protect both knees. It's not a good idea to spend much time standing while you are bent over at the waist. You should kneel while tending to your plants for the sake of reducing stress to your spine. You can purchase an inexpensive kneeling pad for gardening in order to protect your knees.

Do not be in a rush when you plant your seeds. To begin with, you need to dampen the soil sufficiently. Then you want to spread your seeds evenly while making sure that they have enough room to grow. Bury them three times as deep as the size of the seeds. Make sure you are not burying the seeds that need light to grow.

When your seeds sprout, they will not be in need of the warmth they needed to germinate. As your baby plants grow, you can move them from their heat source. You must also take away plastic films from your containers in order to keep the warmth and humidity out. Check on your seeds periodically to make sure you know when to remove the films.

Although organic gardening is often much harder than using chemicals, the reward is much greater. Although the chemicals may claim greater results, using organic methods to tame your garden will do less harm to your body, and the environment.

The watering needs of your garden will vary considerably, depending on your climate zone and the time of year. The amount of water you need depends on when you are doing the watering, whether your water is high-quality and the grade of the soil in your garden. In some cases, you can't water because of climate issues. You can't water the leave of your plants during humid, warm weather--it'll promote the growth of leaf fungus. Instead, focus water on the plant's root system.

When you mulch your garden beds with organic material, make sure it's about three inches deep. Doing this will nourish the soil in your garden and improve its ability to retain moisture. It will also prevent weeds from growing, which will make your garden look neater and more attractive.

When you garden, be aware of what you can use. Try using natural alternatives instead of the chemicals you normally use. Compost is a great example of what to use. Unlike inorganic fertilizers, compost fertilizers do not add toxic chemicals to the soil which could get in your water supply.

Your organic garden would be wonderful in a shady area. Shade gardens do not require a lot of maintenance, which is very appealing to most people. They require little watering, and not much work or time. This could also enable slower growth, and there will be a lot less weeds to eradicate.

If you are planning to plant trees or shrubs in your yard, you should pay close attention to the hole that you have dug. If there are any glazed sides in the hole, it restricts the growth of the roots.

Use at least three inches of organic materials to mulch trees and flowers. This is a technique that provides benefits to the land itself, but that also minimizes water usage, allowing you to save money and the environment simultaneously. You'll discover it could also look really good.

Healthy soil translates to even healthier flowers, grasses and vegetables. If the soil is nutrient-rich, plants will be able to ward off disease and damage caused by common garden pests. Even though there will still be insects, plants will not be damaged by them.

To garden properly in an organic fashion, requires a lot of patience, a lot of elbow grease and even more know-how. This wonderful past time uses land to produce delicious foods for your table. If you want to make the most of your clean, green, organic garden, you should put your new skills to the test.