Garden Tips & Resources

Ecological gardening is an exciting, gratifying and inexpensive method of gardening. Notwithstanding the significant benefits of this approach few folk have this far been able to fully appreciate the benefits, simply because most lack the necessary experience and understanding. What the organic gardener does is, at its heart, a sort of biomimicry, or emulating nature to resolve problems. When properly done, organic gardening can produce prime quality food and landscapes, boost the garden environment, protect water quality, and preserve natural resources.

It is a very important component of going green.

In a healthy ecosystem, for example a natural grassland or a forest, the living plants, be they evergreens (like the trees) or annuals (like the grasses), drop litter to the soil surface as part of their yearly cycle. Organic gardening is asystematic (holistic) approach that involves a full knowledge soil and soil management, integrated pest management, the life cycles of plants, pests, and the natural enemies of pests.

Pest Control

However, the organic gardener approach is far more than eliminating the utilization of man-made pesticides and fertilizers. Organic gardeners struggle to work in conjunction with nature, and view their gardens and properties as part of a natural system that begins with the soil and includes insects, plants, the water, wild animals and humans. Plainly it is to think more longterm, using natural fertilizers to build your soil up. Healthy soil means healthy plants, and healthy plants yield more crops, offer premium taste, and are better able to battle disease.

Organic pest management requires an exhaustive knowledge of the pest life cycle, and involves the cumulative effect of many techniques, including :

• Planting complemetary crops that discourage or divert pests
• Encouraging beneficial microbes
• Careful plant selection, choosing disease-resistant varieties

Each of these techniques also admits other benefits,such as soil protection and improvement, fertilization, pollination, water conservation and season extension.

Composting Successfully

Composting is in some ways the center of organic gardening. What goes into the soil comes out as beautiful vegetables, flowers, plants and trees. Composting is starting to become quite a thing to do – as it’s also one of the ways to stop global warming – and special composting bins can be purchased ormaybe made quite easily. Your compost will be the most important source of nutrients which has got to be added to the soil.

Plants grown in healthy soil are strong and resistant to pest and diseases. Thus, what occurs below the ground is as crucial as what occurs above. Plant the borders of the garden in native flowers or plants such as clover or alfalfa to attractbeneficial insects such as ladybugs. Avoid planting vegetable crops in large blocks. Planting trees and bushes in the middle of flower beds varies height and makes your garden more visually attractive. Just be certain to consider how tall your trees will grow in say 20 years, as well as where their roots will spread and how they will eventually shade your garden.

Organic gardener skills aren’t a new idea, but does represent an increasingly popular type of gardening. The climate changes occuring right now more or less prescribe that this is the only possible way to go in the future. And as it is also more fit for you it is actually a win-win suggestion. Here you can find more definitions and suggestions on organic horticulture.

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