About organic gardening

Maybe you want an organic garden out of concern for the environment. Or perhaps you want to nourish your body with food that doesn't contain toxic materials. You may even be aware of the belief that cooperation between gardens and the ecosystem makes for better crops. Whatever the reason, you'll need to learn about different organic gardening methods.

Fertilizer: vegetarian style

There are several ways to begin to implement organic gardening practices. One way is to substitute chemical fertilizers with organic materials, such as compost or manure, to promote optimum soil conditions. In composting, for example, organic matter such as grass clippings, food, and leaves are left for consumption by bacteria, insects, and fungi. What remains is the cellulose and minerals of vegetable matter, which can then be added to gardens. Minerals such as those found in shellfish remains, kelp, or animal bone also aid in soil fertility.

Making new friends

Another excellent method used in organic gardening involves companion planting. The idea behind this centers around the notion that certain types of plants grow better next to one another than others. This is illustrated in the example of the "three sisters:" beans, corn and squash. Squash grows low to the ground, which provides shade for the roots of the other plants. The corn serves as a pole for the beans to grow on, while nitrogen from the bean plants improves the soil for the corn.

Crop rotation is another gardening method to ensure top-notch conditions of both soil and plants. Because planting the same vegetable year after year in the same place makes soil nutrient deficient, it is wise to plant different items in the same spot each year. Pairing soil-building cover crops, such as rye, with nitrogen fixing crops, such as legumes, will help your soil to remain healthy year after year.

Keeping the pests away

There are many types of organic matter that can be used as pest control in organic gardening. Mixtures of onions, garlic, and peppers serve as effective pest repellents. Water and insecticidal soap sprayed on plant leaves is said to ward off some types of bugs, including mites and aphids.

In organic gardening, pests can also be alleviated through careful planting and crop rotation. For example, plant radishes next to leafy plants to attract leaf-eating insects. The insects will leave the radishes alone, but go for the plants intended for them. Or, plant edible flowers next to other vegetables to detour them away from what you want to eat.

Larger bugs and insects can also be removed from plant leaves by hand. Rather than spraying these pests with deadly chemicals, they can be relocated or removed and disposed of. And, believe it or not, some insects actually help gardens. Introducing lady bugs and green lacewings into your organic garden is a great idea, because they eat unwanted pests, acting as useful tools to keep your plants thriving.

Weeding out the unwanted

All gardens are prone to weeds, and organic gardens are no exception. Instead of using herbicides, organic gardening often uses barriers to constrict the growth of weeds. Referred to as mulches, they can include stones, straw, wood chips, or leaves. Placed around plants, not only do these barriers keep weeds from growing, but some materials (especially leaves, straw and wood) help maintain soil moisture. And when they break down, their cellulose returns to the soil, adding nutrients.

In organic gardening, weeds can also be hoed or tilled. Using a handheld device or machine, hoeing or tilling disturbs the weeds' roots, preventing them from getting water and other needed nutrients. When disturbed, weeds are left to die, their matter decomposing back into the soil.