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Step 5: Fertilizing
Once you’ve made the decision of what to plant in your garden, there’s still the choice of which type of fertilizer to use: organic or mineral (or both!). Both types are beneficial to different garden plants and which option you choose lies in whether you are in search of a general or more specified fertilizer.
Organic fertilizers, which are created from animal products, contain all-natural material. These more general fertilizers work with the bacteria and fungi already present in the soil to breakdown the components of the substance to enrich the soil. These fertilizers act much more slowly than mineral fertilizers, but there is less chance of error. The plants are provided a steady, lasting supply of the nutrients they need.
(Similarly, if you’re looking to turn your leftover table scraps and leaves into an all-natural compost that will supplement your organic fertilizers, take a look at the range of compost bins available through Bluestone Garden.)
Mineral fertilizers, on the other hand, contain inorganic raw materials such as nitrogen (to build plant cells), phosphorus (to promote root growth) and potassium (to make the plant cells temperature tolerant). The minerals react with water and are released into the soil quickly. It’s important to stick to the guidelines when using mineral fertilizers, as adding too much damages the soil and ground water and adding too little lets the plants starve. Before using a mineral fertilizer you should also perform a test on the soil to find out which minerals are already present.
In the end there are pros and cons to both types of fertilizers, depending on your soil, schedule and planting selection. But, with the right research, your garden can be growing and productive in no time!
Bethany
Step 4: Loosening
Now that your seeds are planted, there are just a few things you need to do to ensure that your plants and vegetables grow to their full potential. One of the most important things is keeping the soil loose and able to breathe. If the soil seems to be getting compact and crusty, consider the Duo Hoe ILM3, which offers more bang for your buck by being two tools in one! One side has a three-inch sharpened blade for weeding your garden (and also for trenching your garden during next year’s planting season!) and the other is three-pronged for breaking up tough soil. With these two options you can make sure the soil stays healthy for your growing garden.
Hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather!
Bethany
Step one: Cultivate!
It’s time to begin the first step of WOLFing. Excited? We are. Now is the perfect time to start cultivating your soil to prevent it from drying out and to help your seeds and seedlings get those early season nutrients that are so important in initial growth.
For this essential task we suggest three of WOLF Garten’s cultivators: the classic cultivator, the cultivator for all soil conditions and the heavy-duty workhorse.
All three are attachments for the InterLocken handle, which is designed to let you work standing up, eliminating any problems with bending and knee or back pain. Remember the stories of people bent over in the hot sun, slaving over their finicky gardens? Those days are gone.
But, which cultivator is right for you?
For traditional cultivation, use the classic BAM cultivator, with “L” shaped tines. This WOLF cultivator has an extra bend that allows the tines to travel with the surface of the ground and is perfect for breaking up the average soil consistency in the garden. And the BAM does not become obsolete once your garden begins sprouting up; its lightweight design makes it the best tool to weed and cultivate well into the growing season.
To break up average soil, use the medium soil BEM cultivator. It’s lance-shaped prongs are designed to break up medium to hard soils and the pointed tines will break even the most stubborn soils. The wide tongs are made to get the job done quickly and will cultivate more area faster. Perfect for spring and fall use, this powerful tool can be used to cultivate in the spring and to weed large areas between rows of plantings or vegetables.
If you happen to have a very large garden, try the heavy soil BOM cultivator. This, the “real deal of cultivators,” is equipped with “Arrowhead” prongs welded to each tine that break up and lift most soils and plow through the earth. The heavy-soil cultivator is perfect for preparing your vegetable or flower garden in the spring and turning it again in the fall.
So, try one or try ‘em all. All WOLF Garten cultivators have a sleek, modern look and are designed to loosen and aerate the soil without damaging existing roots.
Get out there and start that garden. Let us know how your ’09 growing season is looking and feel free to share any cultivation tips or tricks of your own!
Bethany
Get ready to plant: Learn effective soil treatment in 8 easy steps!
There’s a lot of hidden life beneath our soil, and, like most things, it is best activated when it is worked with the appropriate tool at the correct time. Now that we are (finally!) done braving the cold of winter, it is time to begin cultivating the topsoil; this provides aeration and drainage of water. Much of the survival of your plants relies on the moisture in the soil, and cultivation guarantees that neither too much nor too little moisture remains in the soil during the warm season. Also, have you also noticed that an air and water balance is connected? The more air that gets into the uppermost soil layer, the better the micro-organism development and mulch. Therefore, the proportion of water remains at a level perfect for plant growth. Furthermore, in the hot summer months, regular loosening of the soil ensures that water does not evaporate quickly via run off channels or hardened ground. Cultivated soil prevent water runoff, equal moisture distribution in the soil for healthier plants and conserve our limited water resources as well. Proper soil treatment is the first step in growing your own plentiful garden.
Good soil means healthy plant growth. WOLF-Garten has defined the process of creating and maintaining quality soil in 8 Easy Steps, which we call WOLFing. The WOLFing system has been used for years throughout Europe, creating some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. The 8 Easy Steps of WOLFing provides you a simple system, ensuring success in your garden.
Preview the steps here and check back often. We’ll be breaking down each step and showing you the ins-and-outs of getting your soil ready for a lush, productive garden.
Have any questions? Comments? Just want to say hi?
Fire away!
Bethany
Welcome, friends!
We’re glad you’re visiting us. The BlueStone Garden blog is the perfect meeting place for all who love working with their own two hands to create bountiful gardens and lush landscapes.
This is the place to get together with fellow gardeners who share your passion. Feel free to pass along your own success stories. Ask questions. Or show off your prized flowers, vegetables or landscape. We would love to see them. Consider yourself a part of a family of gardening enthusiasts who can help each other more fully enjoy our wonderful hobby.
While you’re visiting us, do yourself a favor and check out the incredible values on the best gardening tools from around the world! BlueStone Garden is the #1 source in North America for world-renowned WOLF-Garten garden tools, the leading brand in Europe. Trust me, you’ll love them. They’re built to last and, as your fellow BlueStone Garden guests tell us, they really do help you get the most out of gardening. We think you’ll agree.
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or landscaping-related comments, photos, suggestions or questions.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Rose
