Some organic gardening tips

by JAKOB JELLING

Most synthetic fertilizers contain components and chemicals which can be harmful to living organisms, and therefore organic gardening usually is a wiser option. If you wish to apply organic gardening techniques, you should start by avoiding all synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and use natural options instead.

Once you have decided where you will plant, you should apply natural compost and rock materials to it. If you have flower beds, you should add about 3" of organic material to them; this will add enough nutrients and humus as well as help conserving water.

If you have acid-loving plants, a good idea is to place a layer of pine needles over their bed every fall, since these needles have a nourishing acid which will help the plants growing strong and healthy. Try to avoid using any pesticide by making sure of adding enough organic soil, since this component strengthens the immune system of the plants and helps them growing strong.

At the time of choosing plants, try to opt for the ones which better adapt to the temperature, shade, and soil in which they will be. If these factors are not the appropriate ones for the plants you choose, you might not succeed in growing them as strong and healthy as you might have intended.

Compost is the main organic matter which should not be missing in an organic garden. Ideally, the compost should be made from organic elements such as grass clippings, leaves, or kitchen waste. Also, in order to avoid using chemical pesticides you should try to have as many different plants as possible, since this variety will create a biodiversity with many different microbes and insects that will control each other.

You should mulch your organic garden often, since this offers an important protection and helps avoiding the erosion produced by natural elements such as the rain. You can make your mulch with elements such as grass, sticks, shredding leaves, and compost as well as other organic materials. Mulching protects roots, helping them being strong during winter cold or preventing the adverse effects of the sun’s heat.

Jelling is the founder of Dwank.com.