Due to ongoing environmental concerns, organic gardening has seen huge growth lately as more and more people discover the secrets of enjoying a beautiful, thriving garden without the use of chemicals and pesticides.
One major reason avoiding chemicals and pesticides has become so popular is that long term use of these chemicals deplete the soil and often leave it unable to sustain ongoing growth. There are many instances of perennials suddenly no longer blooming and usually the cause is the overuse of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.
Another reason many people are choosing to go organic is concern for the health of their family, neighbors, pets and the environment in general. With constant use, pesticides and chemical fertilizer can seep into ground water, which will damage wells and also cause problems with fish ponds and other parts of the landscape.
Aside from environmental and health concerns, however, a nicely cultivated and landscaped garden will actually increase the value of any home, and when that garden is an organic one, its value is enhanced even more.
Many people hesitate to switch to organic gardening because they're worried it won’t be able to handle pest control as well as chemicals. The fact is, this is one area where organic gardening can actually be superior to chemical methods. Rather than using harsh pesticides to get rid of garden pests, one technique organic gardeners use is to introduce beneficial insects into their garden to get rid of harmful ones. This often leads to harmful insects being unable to compete with the beneficial insects and they will gradually disappear.
A common pest encountered by gardeners, and one of the main reasons they use chemical pesticides, is aphids. However, these pests can be organically controlled by simply spraying the infested stems, leaves and buds with a diluted mixture of soapy water followed by an application of fresh, clear water. This technique has been used by organic gardeners for years because it works effectively, even if you have a heavy infections of aphids.
To ensure the success of your organic garden, it’s important to choose the right plants and the right fertilizer as well. It’s also nice to know that there are organic equivalents for just about every type of chemical fertilizer. When choosing your plants and fertilizers, it’s important to research what will work best for the area where you live. You may want to join a local organic gardening club where you can pick up a lot of excellent tips from experienced organic gardeners.
Another good place to do research is on the Internet and a good place to start is at my website, Lawn and Garden Magic. I have a lot of information on Organic Fertilizers that you can check out here: Organic-Fertilizer.
A good technique for any organic garden landscape is to plant ground covering plants in areas where grass has a hard time growing. This will enhances the beauty of your home, but on a practical level, it will also provide better soil drainage and water retention. In fact, many homeowners and organic gardeners are discovering the power of using plants native to their area as natural ground cover.
You can also use flowering vines as a centerpiece because they’re great for enhancing the beauty of fences, walls, sheds and other structures and they can easily be trained to grow along these structures.
As you can see, there are a great variety of plants and flowers that can enhance an organic garden. The added benefit is the protection of your home, your family and even the environment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn Cutforth is a writer, eBook publisher and graphic designer.
For comprehensive information on all aspects of lawn and garden care,
visit his website at Lawn and Garden Magic.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by Glenn Cutforth on July 18, 2006 11:10 AM
