Cover Planting: An Innovative Gardening Technique
Cover planting is a method of planting that utilizes existing natural environments to either completely block out or modify the environment. It is an effective technique when used properly and can add value to your garden.
An example of cover planting would be planting grasses or shrubbery to block sunlight. Or, in the case of edible plants, planting them in blocked places to prevent slugs from eating them. Cover planting is a great way to control the environment and to ensure that your plants grow strong and help delicate plants thrive in the environment you want.
Not all plants benefit from this technique and it is important to know which plants thrive in cover planting and the best time to do it.
DIY Fruit Trees
It is a good idea to plant fruit trees when you are in the process of creating your garden. Choosing evergreen trees that will block out the sunlight is a good idea if you are aiming for an outdoor garden. Give the trees the bare essentials while keeping them covered at all times. Even in the colder months, the trees will be protected by the shrubs and plants that surround them.
Most fruit trees require at least 6 hours of sunlight per day and will need to be regularly watered during dry spells. It is vital to choose a fruit tree that can survive in your area, even when you eventually move them outdoors. Moveable containers can quickly change the balance of nearby water systems, which is a major factor to consider when the tree becomes a great deal larger.
Save Money and Grow your own Veggies!
Growing your own vegetables is obviously a way to save money, especially if you plan to sell them. However, many people don’t realize that vegetable gardening can actually be a profitable venture.
The first money you make from your garden is the cost of seeds. While some people can get away with throwing away nearly every seed from their garden every season, others require that they replace a few key species every year.
Consider the expense of buying new seeds every year when you grow your own produce. This is much less than the expense of buying just one new plant every year. In addition, the higher quality of the plant you grow will mean that it will produce bigger sprouts and produce in the first season.
If you are planning to sell your vegetables, you will obviously need to replace infected plants every season. Some smaller garden farms have been struggling to keep old plants alive over and over again because of lack of region-specific knowledge.
When you grow your own produce, you don’t have to worry about attracting pests, animals, and other household pets. These are considerations that many farmers take into consideration, but they still rely on purchasing “trash” seed every season.
Small is Comparative
A lot of people will say that they don’t like the taste of homegrown vegetables because they are not used to them. When you compare vegetables grown in your own garden against those from the store, it quickly becomes evident that the latter are much more satisfying.
The quality of the produce is also a big factor. Often, the more expensive a vegetable is, the less useful it is compared to store-bought varieties. For example, the Better Homes and Gardens tomato is supposed to be one of the best varieties—but a visit to your local grocery store proves otherwise.
Building a garden is an expensive process, both in time and money. Relying on cheap seeds from the store is a great way to bring the price of your produce down, but this method also requires a lot of effort and time. Many people would rather buy the seeds they need themselves.
One way to deal with this, especially if you are tight on time, is to seek out an underground nursery. These are generally individuals who provide inexpensive seeds to gardeners, and accept returns of their own plants. Underground nurseries often have their own small departments dealing with specific seeds, or a plant specialist looking for additional plants.
A Collecting Seedarium
Seeds in a collectionarium will self-seed when kept in a solution that is either too weak or too strong. The 64 favorite varieties of the USDA Cooperative Extension are perfect for this situation.
One more way to create your own collection is to begin growing seeds in a variety of different soils using a grow-bed kit. You can gradually add new soils as you get more comfortable with growing plants.
If you are growing an underground system, you can either sow every individual soil or sow a mixture of soils in a large container that can be reused throughout the crop.
