By Matt Jackson
An Introduction to Organic GardeningOrganic gardening is a term that is often considered to be gardening without the chemicals. While this is certainly a very big part of it, there are a lot more factors you need to take into account to be a true green gardener. Working with your garden and introducing the right plants and the right insects is a vital part of creating an organic environment. This organic environment will see your plants flourish in ways you hadn’t thought possible. Soil, planting, and wildlife are the three most important aspects that you will need to balance.
Soil and Soil Fertility
Soil, or more specifically the fertility of your soil, will determine how well your plants grow. The addition of the proper organisms enables the soil to feed your plants. Soil low in nutrients will only encourage the growth of very few plants, attract pests, and leave you downhearted and irritated. On the other hand, a nutrient rich soil that is high in organisms will promote growth of almost any plant and help develop the ecosystem you need. If you have room, then one or preferably two compost heaps will not only help to nourish the soil but give you the opportunity to recycle garden and kitchen waste.
Using Your Own Organic Compost
Organic compost is a surprisingly complex topic. Simply throwing all green waste into a pile won’t generally give the best results. Drainage, aeration, and moisture must be provided at just the right levels to create the perfect compost. Use a coarse material, such as straw, for the base of your compost and then layer it throughout the pile. Turning the pile helps the material to rot down quicker. Every month or so, fork the compost heap either into a new position or into the same area. Compost from the center of the pile should be moved outward as the edges merge into the middle. Dry areas should be moistened with water at the same time.
Compost is ready to be used when all the constituent ingredients of the pile are unrecognizable. This signifies that rotting and decomposition has taken full effect and the compost is at its peak. If you need to keep your compost pile through a wet period then you will need to shelter the pile from the rain. This is done to prevent the nutrients from being washed away by the rain.
Companion Planting
Whether you are looking to establish a garden full of healthy, vibrant flowers or you want to grow your own organic vegetables special care should be taken over the design of your planting. Companion planting is a method that involves planting different types of flower or vegetable to benefit one another. In design terms, companion planting tends to concentrate on the use of colors and appearance but in organic gardening, the gardener considers the effects of each plant on one another.
Companion Planting as a Form of Pest Control
The technique of companion planting is particularly useful in terms of pest control. Every garden attracts pests and far from aiming to completely destroy them we, as organic gardeners, should merely be trying to encourage fewer of them. The reason is simple. While some insects are natural pests to your garden, these pests also attract the more desirable of insects. By completely wiping out the pests, and destroying the food source of other insects, you will also kill off the ladybugs and other insects. Developing a natural food chain, and thriving ecosystem, allows the survival of all the essential insects and wildlife.
By combining one type of plant that attracts pests with another type of plant that attracts their natural predators it is possible to enjoy both plants and the wildlife. The marigold is a particularly potent tool in the organic gardener’s arsenal and it has the advantage of being aesthetically pleasing. Nematodes and whiteflies, specifically, do not like marigolds. Therefore planting marigolds around your garden can help prevent these nasty pests from getting a foothold and bedding down for the season. Similarly, aphids despise garlic, but are attracted to roses. By giving your roses a friendly garlic companion you are able to reduce the ill effects of the aphid quickly and easily.
Attracting Wildlife
This brings us neatly onto the topic of attracting wildlife. Every gardener wants, or should want, to attract wildlife in various shapes, sizes, and habit. Birds, toads, hedgehogs and ladybugs are just some of the more beneficial animals you should attempt to attract. Put up nesting boxes (away from opportunist cats) for different kinds of birds all around your garden. Some birds thrive on the aphids in your garden when feeding their young. You not only get the benefit of beautiful flowers but a vast array of natural wildlife in your garden.
Toads and Hedgehogs
Toads and hedgehogs love to eat slugs and they can consume vast amounts of them on a good day. While not everyone is a fan of the toad, they have a vital part to play in your garden especially if you like big leaved plants like the hosta or other plants that thrive in damp areas.
A Full, Balanced Ecosystem
Remember, your goal is to provide a full ecosystem. Disposing of the pests in your garden completely means you are much less likely to enjoy the benefits of the more pleasant looking wildlife that a well-rounded garden attracts. By avoiding the use of toxic chemicals in your garden it is likely that you will attract more pests initially. Get your combination planting right, and attract as many garden guardians as possible and this should only be a problem for the first year or so. When your ecosystem is perfectly balance you will reap the rewards.
The Benefits of Organic Gardening
Organic gardening is not only healthier for you and the wildlife in your area. It is also more satisfying and generally gives much greater reward in terms of satisfaction, flavor (for the vegetable gardener), and aesthetics. There is no reason to rely on toxic chemicals that harm you, your garden, and everything in it. A little care, some research, and hard work will give you the same positive results with far fewer negative ones.
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