Eco Green Facts

Archive for January, 2012

Organic gardening is not as easy as some may think! There is a lot more to it than just watering some seeds or digging around in the dirt. It is truly an art form. It has requires many techniques and products that require a green thumb as well as some hard work to achieve a great organic garden. Here are some tips to help you with your own:

Marigold flowers are quite the powerhouse in an organic garden. As their flowers and leaves decay, the marigold releases chemicals that attract frogs, repel snakes and kill nematode pests that attack many vegetable plants, including tomatoes. Look for ways to let the bright yellow marigold bring brilliant color and decoration to your garden, as it goes to work to protect the health of your plants.

Eliminate mites from your garden. Mites affect fruits, vegetables and herbs by sucking the chlorophyll out of plants and injecting toxins. They are most prolific in hot, dry areas. Because mites are very difficult to see, you will first notice damage to the plant in the form of yellowed, dry leaves and poorly developed fruit. Get rid of them by spraying your plants with a forceful jet of water early in the morning, 3 days in a row, or spraying with insecticidal soap every 5 to 7 days.

Use and organic pest control, organic pest control will help to build healthy soil. Organic pest control is a comprehensive approach instead of a chemical approach. Create a healthy biodiversity so that the insects and microbes will control themselves. Using natural products and building healthy soil is the best long-term treatment for pests.

Pull wild morning glory by hand. While some gardeners treat morning glory with a chemical, the best way to remove it is by pulling it out by hand. Start this early in the season, and also try to dig the roots out. Remember that morning glory seeds can remain dormant in the soil for 50 years or more, so never let the plant go to seed. If you do, you will be stuck with an infestation the following year.

Avoid over fertilizing your plants. Over fertilizing can lead to lots of lush growth, that is soft and attractive to pests and animals. Slower growing gardens are often hardier, meaning they are better at resisting pests and diseases. This is one of those cases where too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing at all.

Invest in the additional time and effort to create a nourishing compost for your garden. A well-maintained compost can enhance the consistency, structure, and aeration of the soil; it can also improve the soil’s ability to drawn in and retain water levels. As an added bonus, compost can also stimulate development of healthier roots.

So, organic gardening is a lot more that dropping seeds in the ground. It takes skill and hard work outside. No doubt, you want to enjoy the fruits of your hard labor! Use the handy tips above to help you get the most out of gardening the natural way!