In the world of organic gardening, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced organic gardeners alike. There are many e-guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This set of tips contains some of the best advice for helping a good organic gardener become a great organic gardener. When laying sod, it is important that you do it correctly. Prior to laying the sod, prepare your soil. Remove weeds and break your soil until all the clumps are gone. Lightly, but firmly compact the soil, making sure it is flat. Gently sprinkle water on the soil until you are certain that it is thoroughly moistened. You should lay your sod staggered, and have the joints offset. Make sure that the sod forms an even, flat surface, and if you have any gaps show between the sod, fill them with a little bit of soil. Keep the sod moist and avoid walking on it until it is well-rooted, usually two to three weeks. Clay is naturally hard, and can can stick to a shovel making it frustrating to work with. Make your shoveling job easier by lightly coating a shovel with a layer of wax, then buffing the surface. Either car wax or floor wax will work just fine. This causes the clay to slide rather than stick, and prevents rust as a side effect. The handles of your tools can double as clever rulers. You can convert any large handle tool, such as a hoe, shovel, or rake into a measuring tool. Measure the handles with a tape measure laid out in the floor. With a permanent marker, note pertinent measurements on the tool handle. Now when you go to work in the garden, you will have a ruler that is large at your fingertips! There are grass varieties, such as wheat grass or catnip, that will give your feline something to nibble on besides your garden. Additionally, use your cat's keen sense of smell to your advantage. Citrus fruit peels and mothballs both smell horrible to cats, so put them on the soil near the plants your cat likes to eat. If you are growing vegetables in your garden, it is important that you have them in a spot where they can get at least six hours of sun a day. Most members of the vegetable family need this minimum of light for proper growth. This also rings true for some of the flowers. Coffee grounds can be used to amend soils that are high in alkaline. This is a great and cheap way to increase the acid levels in your dirt. The greens and vegetables need the proper balance and will grow bigger and stronger with the right mix. You must protect tender, deciduous shrubs. If you have a few potted shrubs, they should be shielded from the wintry weather. With a sheet or blanket, you want to loosely cover the wigwam after you tie the tops of the canes together. This method is much better than wrapping the plant in plastic, as it allows air to circulate, which can prevent rotting. Make sure to fertilize your garden. While a lot of people use manure, it is better to choose fertilizer from a reputable company, as this will reduce the risk of any pathogens getting into your soil. You must be sure to use some kind of fertilizer. There are many different combinations available for different uses. Think about putting some berry-producing evergreens into your landscape. They offer terrific color during the dreariest times of the year when nothing else you have planted has any hue remaining. Other winter plants include the American Holly, Winterberry, The American Cranberrybush and the Common Snowberry. Broad-spectrum pesticides are really not the optimal choice for pest control in your garden. These types of pesticides also kill the beneficial insects that eat the pests. Many times good bugs will be more sensitive to harmful pesticides than the ones you are trying to get rid of. If your good bug population goes down, your problem will only get worse. This can lead to needing even more pesticides to eliminate the problem insects. After you have read the suggestions here, you will have a better idea of what you need in order to be an organic gardener. You have much of the information that you need right at your fingertips. All that remains is for you to apply it. Use the tips here, do some further research, and try a few ideas of your own. You can enjoy a lovely organic garden quicker than you think.