Purpose and Function of Cleaning the Garden
Today, I will introduce to you what cleaning the garden really means and whether you have done it right during the winter. This content about green plants and flowers will definitely be helpful to you, so let's learn about it together!
Recently, many gardening friends have been asking about cleaning the garden. Some are worried about the scorching of seedlings by lime sulfur, while others are concerned about whether it is safe to apply lime sulfur on potted plants on the balcony. When is it appropriate to apply it? And so on, similar questions. Because many friends have asked, it gives the impression that everyone's understanding of cleaning the garden is just about how to apply lime sulfur. However, the reality of cleaning the garden may be very different from what you imagine.
1. What is Cleaning the Garden?
Cleaning the garden is not simply applying lime sulfur or sodium ricinoleate. The essence of cleaning the garden lies in the verb "clean," which means "to clean up" or "to remove."
What is cleaned up and removed are the weeds, fallen leaves, withered leaves, and garbage in the garden. These fallen leaves and withered grasses are the hiding places for pathogen spores and insect eggs. Therefore, cleaning up this garbage and clutter is removing the hiding places for diseases and pests, as well as their food sources, and then supplemented with spraying to kill the remaining exposed pathogen spores and insect eggs.
So, it can be said that cleaning the garden is not just applying lime sulfur and calling it a day.
2. Purpose and Function of Cleaning the Garden
The purpose of cleaning the garden is to remove the source of diseases and pests. We know that the decomposition process of fallen leaves and withered grass requires the participation of microorganisms. Among these microorganisms, there are beneficial bacteria as well as some pathogenic bacteria, and they can also attract some small insects.
Many pest eggs hide under these withered grasses and rotten leaves during the winter. Therefore, cleaning up these hiding places for pathogen spores and insect eggs can easily freeze them during the winter. Additionally, applying pesticides to kill insects and bacteria can give us a brand new and healthy garden environment, reducing the occurrence of diseases and pests the following year.
3. How to Clean the Garden Properly?
Recently, many gardening friends who keep flowers on their balconies have asked how to clean the garden on a balcony.
Cleaning the garden means cleaning the garden space, which is relatively large and has a complex ecosystem. So, if you only have a few potted flowers on your balcony, there is no need to join in on this.
If you have a large balcony with many potted plants, you should first clean up the withered branches and leaves on the balcony. Pick up the fallen leaves in the pots and keep the whole area clean.
For potted plants that are originally healthy, there is no need for special treatment. If they are frequently infested with red spider mites, you can spray two types of red spider mite-killing drugs and one type of fungicide on the branches and leaves of the potted plants, including the surrounding environment, and then pour the remaining solution directly at the roots for comprehensive mite and fungicide control. In the spring, apply the red spider mite-killing solution to the roots again, and by April, regularly prevent, which can basically eliminate red spider mites in the萌芽 stage. For the prevention and control of diseases and pests in roses, you can refer to the book "How to Grow a Burst of Roses from Scratch."
For friends with outdoor gardens, cleaning the garden is a big project. First, clean up the fallen leaves, weeds, and garbage in the garden. Not only should the ground be cleaned, but the pots should be cleaned as well. After everything is cleaned, apply lime sulfur or sodium ricinoleate to achieve a better cleaning effect.
Now, many gardening friends have started cleaning their gardens. They have bought lime sulfur, sprayed it tremblingly, and in the process of burning the seedlings, they think they have completed the cleaning of the garden. However, in reality, they have only treated the already diseased and infested plants, not cleaned the garden.
In fact, with the current temperature, it is impossible for us to complete the task of cleaning the garden. The weather this year seems relatively warm, and in many areas, the roses are still green. Even if they are infected with black spot or downy mildew, there are still many leaves, and the falling of leaves continues. In this case, it is recommended to apply lime sulfur first to treat downy mildew and kill the surface bacteria to control the spread of the disease.
When the roses have completely shed their leaves or it is time for pruning and training, remove all the leaves, clean up all the fallen leaves and garbage in the garden, and then apply lime sulfur or sodium ricinoleate again for a thorough cleaning. Wait until spring, before the roses sprout, and apply lime sulfur again to consolidate, which can greatly reduce the probability of diseases and pests occurring in the spring.
In fact, it is difficult to clean a private garden thoroughly. We are not like rose nurseries, where, except for rose potted plants, there is only plastic mulch, making it a simple task to clean the garden.
Our gardens often plant different plants according to the seasons, and many plants cannot be treated with lime sulfur, such as grass seedlings in autumn and winter, and some large-leaf plants. Therefore, the key to cleaning the garden still lies in the maintenance of the environment. Spraying pesticides is only auxiliary. If you do not organize your environment well, relying on two applications of pesticides in the winter to eliminate diseases and pests the following year is impossible. Don't put the cart before the horse.
The above is a comprehensive explanation of what cleaning the garden is, its purpose and function, and how to do it properly. I hope it can serve as a reference and solve your problems with green plants.