There is nothing better than making a dinner from food that you have grown in your own garden. If you know what you are doing, gardening can be a fun and exciting adventure. This article will give you many tips about gardening, and in no time you will have the garden of your dreams.

Pay attention to the compatibility of your plants. You can plant tall plants, such as tomatoes, and use them to shade such sun-sensitive plants as lettuce and spinach. These combinations can reduce the amount of fertile space your garden requires while also increasing the yield of all the types of plants you have.

During hot weather, water your plants more frequently and deeply. When your plants do not get enough water, their roots work themselves up close to the surface, which means they will dry out quicker. If you water deeply, the roots will stay well underground to get to the water down below.

Invest in a electronic PH tester. Avoid liquid PH kits (the color coded ones) as they tend to be less accurate. It is very easy for first time users to botch readings. Also, do not use soil PH test kits as they are unreliable and are not intended for home use.

Make sure to keep your eye on your garden for pests. They can eat away your plants or foods and cause irreparable damage. If you do find them in your garden, it is important that you get rid of them as soon as possible before they reproduce and create more problems.

If you find that you have soil that has high amounts of alkaline, mix used coffee grounds throughout the soil. This is an easy and inexpensive method to increase the acidity of your soil. Improving the pH of your soil will make your vegetables and greens taste even better!

Make sure to pick the right seeds for your location and zone. Certain crops grow better in certain locations. Seed packets usually have information regarding USDA zones. Information regarding USDA Plant Hardiness Zones is also available online. A good example of this is growing oranges in warmer climates and apples in cooler climates.

Get rid of any garden pests immediately. Garden pests, such as red spider mites, ants, whitefly, and aphids, can infect your plants with various diseases, so if you notice any of the plants in your garden dying or failing to thrive, check for pests first. To get rid of garden pests, invest in a good pesticide.

Always read the product label before using garden chemicals and store the chemicals in a safe place out of the reach of children and pets. Garden chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers can be very toxic to humans, so make sure you are aware of any extra precautions you need to take when using, storing and disposing of the products.

If you want an organic way to weed your garden, try "boiling" them. A pot full of boiling water is an effective herbicide, yet it is, chemically speaking, completely harmless. Pour boiling water on any weeds, but be careful not to spill it on plants you want to keep. The roots of the weeds are damaged by the boiling water which, in turn, inhibits further growth.

A wonderful treat for your indoor houseplants is to take them outside periodically and let them bask in the glory of a summer rainstorm. You will be treating them to higher humidity and longer hours of daylight that far surpasses the stale conditions they may be getting indoors! You will want to minimize too much direct sunlight and make sure your plant containers have good drainage holes so that extra rainwater doesn't collect to cause root rot. Some quality time in the outdoors will pay off with lush, healthy plants year-round!

Use a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool when you're working in your garden. It's rough on your knees to spend lots of time on the ground kneeling or squatting. That's why it's a good idea to have a portable, lightweight garden stool on hand. You often need to move large objects from place to place, so it's a good idea to have a sturdy, well-balanced wheelbarrow.

To save money on seeds, only use a small portion of the packet. In most cases, only a pinch of seeds are necessary, and seeds can easily be stored for the following year. You can also try splitting seed packets with your neighbors and friends. This is a great way to garden on a budget.

To ensure the vitality of your garden, research what plants are native to your area. While imported plants may look lovely, they may have health difficulties growing in your climate. Native plants and produce will easily be able to adapt to changes in the weather, and will keep your garden healthy and strong.

Clean up your garden at the end of the growing season. If you clean up your garden when the growing season is over, it will improve the appearance and make less work for you the following year. Remove dead or damaged branches on trees and shrubs, get rid of weeds before they go to seed, and rake any leaves from the lawn. Remove old annual plants and cut perennials to the ground if they normally die back in the winter. Any plant material that isn't diseased can be put in the compost pile.

You have learned many tips on gardening from this article. You will be very rewarded when your garden starts growing all the fruits and vegetables that you planted. You will also find that you save a lot of money on fresh produce. Hopefully you will have a green thumb in no time.