TIP! A great gardening tip to use is to always select types of plants that are more likely to produce a high yield. Traditional strains are often out-performed by hybrids that have been bred for cold tolerance or disease resistance.

Are you jealous of how other gardens look? You might imagine that all your neighbors have some top-secret formula that keeps their grass and garden looking so much better than yours. Truth be told, no such secret exists. Creating an amazing garden will take a little work and knowledge. Information about gardening is available online, in books and in magazines created for garden enthusiasts.

TIP! Start your plants in containers, and then transplant the seedlings into the garden later on. This raises the chances of the plants growing until adulthood.

Make sure that your sod is laid properly. Get your soil ready before you lay your sod. Break the soil into fine tilth and make sure you remove any weeds as well. Lightly, but firmly compress the soil, making certain it is flat. Make sure you work with a moist soil. You want the sod laid down in staggered rows, and the joints to be offset from each other. Sod should be firm and have an even, flat surface without gaps. Once it is in place, the sod requires frequent watering for at least two weeks. This is usually the amount of time it takes for the sod to grow roots, making it ready to grow seamlessly into place.

TIP! Plant some perennials in your garden that repel slugs. Slugs and snails are voracious eaters that can destroy a plant literally overnight.

Clay is naturally hard, and can can stick to a shovel making it frustrating to work with. Try applying a coat of wax onto your spade prior to working with clay soil, and then buff the spade head with a cloth. The wax prevents the clay from sticking to the shovel, and stops rust from forming.

TIP! Keep your plants thriving through the winter by bringing them inside. Think about saving your resistant plants or the expensive ones.

Your tool handles can easily be used as handy rulers. Large handled tools such as shovels, rakes, and hoes can be used as measuring sticks. Lay the handles onto the floor and place a measuring tape beside them. Then, transfer the measurements to the handle using a permanent marker. Now, the next time you’re down in the garden, you’ll have a handy ruler without needing to look anywhere else.

TIP! Tender deciduous shrubs are very fragile, so protect them. Tender, potted shrubs must be protected when the weather is cold.

If you notice powdery mildew on your plants, do not buy an expensive chemical. The best solution is mixing baking soda, a drop of liquid dish detergent and water together in a spray bottle. Once weekly, spray this mixture to the affected areas of your plants, and the mildew should be eliminated shortly. This is a natural solution for ridding your plants of mildew safely.

TIP! Start your peas in a protected indoors environment rather than outside. Seeds that are planted indoors will enjoy superior germination.

Allow enough room between plants for air to circulate, so that plants do not stay too wet. Excess moisture creates an appealing environment for disease and parasites. One common organism that thrives on moisture is the fungi family. Be sure to prevent the growth of fungus with a spray that will inhibit their growth.

TIP! To defend your garden from errant dogs, spray something with a strong scent, including aftershave or old perfume around the perimeter of the garden. This can make scents that dogs are attracted to, and make your garden less interesting in general for pets.

Don’t forget to use a good fertilizer in your garden. Manure is probably the best fertilizer. Choose a commercial product to reduce the risks of pathogen exposure. You can choose from many different fertilizers. Do not worry about the kind of fertilizer you end up using but definitely put down something.

TIP! Make sure to wear sun protection gear if you’ll be working in the garden in the sun. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun.

There are natural steps you can take to keep garden pests at bay. A border of onions or marigolds around a vegetable garden can repel slug. Wood ash can be used as mulch, and if put on the base of shrub and tree seedlings, will keep insects away. These methods are environmentally-friendly and mean you do not have to resort to harsh chemicals.

TIP! Involve the whole family in your gardening hobby; children find growing things to be very interesting. Children will benefit from the fresh air while bonding with you in your efforts to provide healthier food alternatives for them.

Many of the tips here are quite easy and don’t require you to have any special talents. You just need some basic education on horticulture techniques, then you can put that education to good use. Pay close attention to your plants and how they react to your methods. If one thing doesn’t work, try another. While it may take time, with patience your beautiful garden will be admired by the whole neighborhood.