A healthy diet can get a real kick start from having an organic garden, but understanding organic gardening itself can prove complex. When it comes to seeds, there are many to pick from. Here are a few tips and techniques you can use to get started in your own organic garden.

Sod should be laid correctly. Before the sod can be laid, you should prepare the soil. Get rid of weeds and tilth the soil finely. When the soil is clean, pack it tightly and create a flat surface. Water the soil until it is saturated. Lay the sod in straight rows, ensuring the seams meet perfectly. After the sod has been flattened to an even surface, you can use soil to fill any remaining gaps. Sod must be watered every day for about two weeks, and then it will have rooted and be completely ready to be walked on.

Clay soil makes working with a shovel difficult. The clay is hard and sticks to the shovel. Coat the shovel with floor or car wax, and buff it with a clean rag to make the job a lot easier. The wax prevents the clay from sticking to the shovel, and stops rust from forming.

Before you start planting your garden, plan it out. Doing so means you can remember where each particular plant is when you start seeing sprouts arise from the earth. Another benefit is that you won’t lose the little plants in a big garden patch.

Start your garden off right with seeds, not plants. When you grow a new garden, start the environmental way, from seeds. Most nurseries use plastic containers to grow seedling. This plastic is seldom recycled, so most is dumped in landfills. Be kind to the environment and start your garden with seeds or purchase young plants from nurseries that use organic packaging materials.

If you are a first time gardener, it is important that you follow all of the instructions on all of your tools and chemicals. It may seem simple enough, but not following it could lead to chemical burns and skin irritations. For your own safety, take the time to read and follow the instructions.

An eye-catching plant makes an attractive focal point for your garden or flowerbed. Any great garden design involves using a focal point to grab someone’s attention and keep it there. Usually this is a big plant that is somewhat different from the other plants in the garden.

If you want to get children in on the fun, plant a few strawberries, everbearing if possible. 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.

It’s simple to lay a new perennial bed. 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. Allow for at least 10 days to pass, then plant the perennials that you just purchased.

Organize your gardening so that you can work efficiently. One of the biggest time wasters is not keeping track of your tools and having to look for them every time you need them. Prepare your equipment before you go into the garden and put everything away afterwards. Even something like a carpenter’s tool belt or some cargo jeans work well to keep tools organized.

Pine can make surprisingly great mulch. Some garden plants have a higher acidity, and prefer a more acidic soil. If you have these plants in your garden, keep them healthy by using pine needles as mulch. Cover soil beds with a few inches of pine needles, and they will disperse acidity to the soil below as they decompose.

When you are planning on growing a garden, you should think about the space you will need to provide a healthy growing area for your plants. You can easily underestimate how much space the plants need until they begin to grow. The plants will inevitably need to unfurl and spread, but they also need the circulation of air from open spaces. Keep this in mind when appropriating spots to plant your seeds.

If you sell or use organically grown produce in a commercial setting, you should communicate your commitment to natural growing by becoming certified. This will improve your sales and show your faithful customers that they are getting the best possible food that is grown.

Depending on the season and weather, adjust your watering habits. The amount of water you use each time should be dependent on the water quality, the soil type and what time of day you are doing it. Overzealous watering in an already humid climate can lead to leaf fungus. Water the plants root system thoroughly instead.

Avoid over-watering your plants. Excess water may hinder the plant’s roots from getting nutrition from the soil. Always check to see if rain is in the forecast before watering your plants. If rain is on its way, you are probably safe to skip watering duties for the day.

Any gardening at all can soothe the soul, but organic gardening provides additional benefits. Any form of gardening gives a basic outline for all others; teaching you the general methodology behind sewing, planting, and harvesting properly.

Use a soaker hose to water your garden. With a soaker hose, you actually help your plants grow to their potential because the water slowly seeps out the hose which helps guide it to the roots, allowing the leaves to remain dry. Not only do you eliminate the tediousness of having to hand-water your plants, you will also reduce the amount of water that you use.

As stated, organic horticulture, and understanding the choices you have in terms of plants, can greatly affect your present and future dietary choices. Start with the tips above to grow the best possible organic garden for your family.