Organic gardening tips

Every gardener has unexpected problems from time to time. Perhaps you are having a hard time getting rid of insects. Or maybe you don't know much about manure or compost. Before you resort to toxic chemicals or environmentally unfriendly ways, here are some gardening tips that can help your garden to be both successful and safe.

Keeping soil rich and fertile

• Flower beds, trees, and other plants should be mulched with 3 inches of organic material. Not only will this help to conserve water and add humus and nutrients to the soil, but it also blocks weeds from growing. Simply add mulch to well-watered soil around the base of plants or trees.

• The best way to get your garden ready to grow is by adding compost to the soil. Compost can be made out of just about anything that was once alive, including grass clippings, leaves, hair, old food, paper towels, coffee grounds, and egg shells. Compost is healthier than most synthetic fertilizers because it contains micro nutrients, such as iron and manganese.

• To create a thriving organic garden avoid frequent cultivation, especially deep down in the soil, which can damage plant roots, disturb healthy organisms, and bring the seeds of weeds to the surface.

• If you have a vegetable garden, rotate plants frequently! The following crop rotations have proved effective in gardening: plant potatoes after sweet corn, peas after tomatoes, and tomatoes after beans. Remember, vegetables from the same plant family usually have the same problems, so carefully plan a garden rotation cycle.

• Plant vegetables that grow well together side-by-side. Some great combinations include beans and potatoes, peas and carrots, cabbage and beets, spinach and cauliflower, corn and cucumbers, and corn and beans.

• Use manure to add nutrients and keep PH levels in the soil balanced. Choose manure for your organic garden that comes from an animal that has been fed a vegetarian diet, as meat-eating animals can produce manure that is contaminated with disease and parasites.

Keeping plants pest-free

• Although removing pests is important, it is equally important to maintain healthy soil. Healthy soil produces healthy plants which are able to withstand insect damage. If your organic garden is overrun with pests, check the condition of the soil first.

• If your organic garden suffers from the following pests, here are some tips to help. For aphids, use a high population of lady bugs and lacewings. Aphids can also be sprayed with a mixture of water and insecticidal soap. Potato beetles and cabbage worms can be picked off by hand. Cucumber beetles are best dealt with by frequent crop rotation.

• Remember, many insects are useful in organic gardening practices. Beneficial insects such as ladybugs, fireflies, lacewings, ground beetles, spiders and wasps keep harmful insects from eating plants and vegetables. Learn about the types of insects you see before you kill them.

Keeping weeds away

In organic gardening, one way to get rid of weeds is to spray household vinegar. Not only will this kill the weed in an organic way, but it's also safe for you and the environment. Another organic material that is useful is corn gluten meal. Spread around the area where weeds are just starting to grow.

 

 

Use mulch as a barrier to keep weeds out of gardens. Organic mulches can include materials such as straw, grass clippings, and leaves. For extra protection, place several sheets of newspaper under the mulch.

 

 

 

 

Another gardening trick to keep weeds away is hoeing. Use an oscillating hoe that will sever the stems from the roots just below the soil surface. Make sure to rid your organic garden of weeds before planting season and after harvesting.