Organic gardening is not as easy as some may think! There is a lot more to it than just watering some seeds or digging around in the dirt. It is truly an art form. It has requires many techniques and products that require a green thumb as well as some hard work to achieve a great organic garden. Here are some tips to help you with your own:
Select perennials to reduce the amount of care your garden requires. Plants that return year after year usually require only a modicum of weeding and pruning. Edible perennials, such as asparagus, rhubarb, and sorrel, can provide an excellent salad addition for your household without causing too much work for you.
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.
While caring for your garden in the fall, you will want to keep a lookout for stinkbugs. Stinkbugs are most prevalent on tomatoes, beans and peppers. Decrease their presence as much as possible to avoid them wreaking havoc in your garden.
Test your soil before purchasing fertilizer. Fertilizers provide essential nutrients to plants, such as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. However, fertilizers can be very expensive. By testing your garden soil to see which nutrients it is lacking, you can avoid spending extra money on a complex fertilizer, and instead purchase a fertilizer containing only the nutrients that your soil requires.
A great rule of thumb to follow when planting an organic garden is less is more. While you'll want to plant a little more than you think you will need in case of rot or pests, you don't want to overdo it because you'll end up with much more than you can handle.
Store a few plastic bags near your garden to slip on over your dirty gardening shoes. This way, you can maintain your momentum and head right back to your garden so that you can finish what you were doing.
Utilize frost covers for your plants when it gets cold. Frost may cause tiny ice crystals to form in your plant and shred the natural, soft flesh of the plant. Milk jug containers and other plastics can help assist you in making a closed environment around your plant. Ideally you want to protect your plant from being exposed to the cold outside air.
You should always take spacing into account when placing plants in your organic garden. When the garden is bare, it is sometimes hard to envision how much space a mature plant actually needs. This will give you enough room to work around your garden without smashing any plants. If you put enough thought into your garden, you will enjoy more impressive results.
Care for your compost. Cover your compost pile with a lid, tarp or black plastic. Sunlight will kill the bacteria that do the composting, so the outer layers of a compost pile that is exposed to the sun will not break down. Water the compost pile regularly, keeping it evenly moist. Do not over-water, as a soggy compost pile will rot. Turn the pile every two to five days to aerate and provide oxygen to the bacteria. If necessary, add a composting activator to speed up the process.
If you have children and want to become more involved with them, starting a small organic garden can be a great way. This type of hobby is wonderful for family bonding but also helps your children to start to understand many of the basics of the circle of life and growth.
Clean the fallen foliage from your organic garden regularly. Strive to walk through your garden at least once a week and pick up dead leaves. Dead leaves are like a great big welcome sign for disease and harmful bacteria. Removing them from your garden will help prevent the need for pesticide use.
Think about using all-natural botanical insecticides in your organic garden; they are very handy when it comes to getting rid of harmful pests. Natural insecticides are sometimes more effective than the myriad synthetic, chemical-based products available. Keep in mind, however, that the biological composition of botanical insecticides can cause them to quickly decay and disappear.
While most novice gardeners mistakenly believe that any insect is a harmful insect, at least 98 percent of common insects found in the garden are perfectly acceptable, if not beneficial for most flowers, vegetables, and grasses. Beetles, spiders, praying mantises, ladybugs, and green lacewings should be welcomed in any garden as they devour the insects that harm your plants.
Would you like to make your own compost without spending a lot of money? Save all the pieces of fruit you don't eat! These pieces will create an all natural compost that is well suited for your garden by providing nutrients at almost no cost.
Keep your pest control free of unneeded chemical treatments. First, physically remove the pests. Next, place barriers and traps against them. Then, try some biological controls. As a last resort, use botanical and mineral type pesticides. Go out of your way to avoid using industrial methods to best protect your organic garden.
Find out what USDA Zone you live in so you can pick the proper plants for growing in your area. Make a diagram of what you intend to plant and take time choosing the right spot for your garden. A little planning beforehand will save you time, money, and frustration.
Wait until the fall to plant shrubbery and trees so that their roots can be strong. You want to do this because the ground temperature is still warm when compared to the fall air temperature. These plants will not have leaves yet to help support it and help its growth, so all of the resources will be focused inside of the root system, and will create a strong foundation.
So, organic gardening is a lot more that dropping seeds in the ground. It takes skill and hard work outside. No doubt, you want to enjoy the fruits of your hard labor! Use the handy tips above to help you get the most out of gardening the natural way!
Orignal From: Working Your Soil So You Can Grow Healthy Plants
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