Gardening: Gardening In Organic
Organic gardening is the exact same as regular gardening except that no
synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used. This can make certain
aspects difficult, such as controlling disease, insects, and weeds.
Organic gardening also requires more attention to the soil and the many
needs of plants. Organic gardening is the exact same as regular gardening except that no
synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used. This can make certain
aspects difficult, such as controlling disease, insects, and weeds.
Organic gardening also requires more attention to the soil and the many
needs of plants.
Organic gardening starts with the soil. Gardeners must add organic
matter to the soil regularly in order to keep the soil productive. In
fact, compost is essential to the healthiness and well being of plants
grown organically. Compost can be made from leaves, dead flowers,
vegetable scraps, fruit rinds, grass clippings, manure, and many other
things. The ideal soil has a dark color, sweet smell, and is full of
earthworms. Some soil may need more natural additives than regular
compost can give, such as bonemeal, rock phosphates, or greensand. A
simple soil test will tell you the pH balance and which nutrients you
will need to use.
One thing that makes even gardeners that are very serious about organic
gardening reach for pesticides is insects on their plants. The best
way to defend plants against insects is to take preventative measures.
One thing that can be done is to make sure plants are healthy and not
too wet or dry because insects usually attack unhealthy plants and if
healthy, they can often outgrow minor insect damage. A variety of
plant types is a good idea to keep pests of a particular plant type
from taking out the entire garden.
Perhaps the best way to defend against insects is to make your garden
enticing to insect predators, such as ladybugs, birds, frogs, and
lizards. You can do this by keeping a water source nearby or by
growing plants that attract insects who feed on nectar. Other ideas
are sticky traps, barriers, and plant collars. There are some
household items that prevent against insects too, like insecticidal
soaps, garlic, and hot pepper.
To avoid plant disease in organic gardening, choose disease resistant
plants and plant them in their prime conditions. Many diseases will
spread because of constant moisture and bad air circulation, so the
site of your garden and the way it is watered can help ensure against
diseases.
Weeds can be an annoying and frustrating part of organic gardening.
Organic mulch can act as a weed barrier, but for even better protection
put a layer of newspaper, construction paper, or cardboard under the
mulch. Corn meal gluten will slow the growth of weeds if spread early
in the season before planting, as does solarization. There’s also the
old-fashioned art of hoeing and hand pulling that always works. Your
best bet in weed prevention is persistence. Mulch well and pull and
hoe what you can; after a few seasons you can beat the weeds for good.
Organic gardening is an excellent way to assure that your plants will
be free and clear of all pesticides and, if taken care of properly,
will be as healthy as possible. Organic gardening may take a little
more time and care than regular gardening, but after gardeners get the
hang of it and figure out all the quirks of their garden, it is
definitely worth the extra time.
Organic gardening is the exact same as regular gardening except that no
synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used. This can make certain
aspects difficult, such as controlling disease, insects, and weeds.
Organic gardening also requires more attention to the soil and the many
needs of plants. Organic gardening is the exact same as regular gardening except that no
synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used. This can make certain
aspects difficult, such as controlling disease, insects, and weeds.
Organic gardening also requires more attention to the soil and the many
needs of plants.
Organic gardening starts with the soil. Gardeners must add organic
matter to the soil regularly in order to keep the soil productive. In
fact, compost is essential to the healthiness and well being of plants
grown organically. Compost can be made from leaves, dead flowers,
vegetable scraps, fruit rinds, grass clippings, manure, and many other
things. The ideal soil has a dark color, sweet smell, and is full of
earthworms. Some soil may need more natural additives than regular
compost can give, such as bonemeal, rock phosphates, or greensand. A
simple soil test will tell you the pH balance and which nutrients you
will need to use.
One thing that makes even gardeners that are very serious about organic
gardening reach for pesticides is insects on their plants. The best
way to defend plants against insects is to take preventative measures.
One thing that can be done is to make sure plants are healthy and not
too wet or dry because insects usually attack unhealthy plants and if
healthy, they can often outgrow minor insect damage. A variety of
plant types is a good idea to keep pests of a particular plant type
from taking out the entire garden.
Perhaps the best way to defend against insects is to make your garden
enticing to insect predators, such as ladybugs, birds, frogs, and
lizards. You can do this by keeping a water source nearby or by
growing plants that attract insects who feed on nectar. Other ideas
are sticky traps, barriers, and plant collars. There are some
household items that prevent against insects too, like insecticidal
soaps, garlic, and hot pepper.
To avoid plant disease in organic gardening, choose disease resistant
plants and plant them in their prime conditions. Many diseases will
spread because of constant moisture and bad air circulation, so the
site of your garden and the way it is watered can help ensure against
diseases.
Weeds can be an annoying and frustrating part of organic gardening.
Organic mulch can act as a weed barrier, but for even better protection
put a layer of newspaper, construction paper, or cardboard under the
mulch. Corn meal gluten will slow the growth of weeds if spread early
in the season before planting, as does solarization. There’s also the
old-fashioned art of hoeing and hand pulling that always works. Your
best bet in weed prevention is persistence. Mulch well and pull and
hoe what you can; after a few seasons you can beat the weeds for good.
Organic gardening is an excellent way to assure that your plants will
be free and clear of all pesticides and, if taken care of properly,
will be as healthy as possible. Organic gardening may take a little
more time and care than regular gardening, but after gardeners get the
hang of it and figure out all the quirks of their garden, it is
definitely worth the extra time.
