Organic Gardening Tips
“Organic Gardening” generally means avoiding the usage of synthetically produced items in the garden. There is no specific definition of “organic” for home gardeners; the USDA has specific definition for organic products, commercially grown. The entire concept is fairly murkier with many people saying that organic food items that are industrially produced are no longer healthy for the environment, than other commercially produced items.
At the heart of the organic gardening movement and the idea behind organic garden is to see the garden as more than just a secluded plot of land. A garden is part of a larger bionetwork, whether the gardener view in that way, or not. You can say a garden that is taken care of organically is more in harmony with the rest of its surroundings. Inputs are considered carefully, not just for its outcome on the larger plants or pest, but the whole surrounding in total.
Gardening Naturally
According to Professor Jeff Gillman the term “gardening naturally” is more explanatory than the term “organic gardening”. Gardening naturally means to take up actions to help a garden subsist in balance with the ecosystem surrounding the garden. Basically gardening and natural gardening starts with the soil. Soil is the most essential component for successful gardening. Organic gardeners spend their time mostly adding organic matter-compost, shredded leaves, and mulches-to the soil, which brings an improvement in the soil structure. And improves soil fertility and adds useful microorganisms to the soil. Many conventional gardeners use synthetic inputs that are necessary for the soil to be replenished and add necessary nutrients.
It is the soil and so much more
The soil is the main component and the beginning of a great garden. Soil combines of organic matter, minerals, air spaces, moisture, microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria, and macro organism such as worms, insects etc., organisms of many types almost have one or more portions of their life cycle in the soil. With the practice of using natural gardening methods, one can expect the soil life to be healthy and which will also increases the life of the soil. Always remember there are two types of insects, one is beneficial insects and the other one is harmful insects. For insect control or bacteria control applying a blanket treatment, not only controls harmful insects, it also controls beneficial insects. Many insects and bacteria population will calm down themselves, when they are left alone. Again the idea of balance comes into play. If the soil is in good condition, with proper balance of nutrients, and a healthy population of beneficial microorganism and macro organisms, plants above the guard will be in a good health. It is of no use when you begin your organic garden without the proper balance of nutrients, if you find your soil useless, then you have to immunize the soil with humus acid or beneficial bacteria to restore the life of the soil.
Plants get stressed out
Just as animals experience stress, plants experience stress as well. The method of organic gardening is basically to reduce plant stress naturally, without the use of synthetic inputs. The plants that are not planted properly at the right place, or if they are not getting the essential nutrients and are not getting sufficient water at the right time will be stressed. They produce weak growth which is more exposed to diseases and pest problems.
Mimicking the natural world
By definition, a garden is a cultivated place. That is what sets it apart from naturally occurring ecosystems, which maintain better stability. Basically school students learn about “succession,” in the wild, and the process of reaching a mature “climax community.” With climate change climax communities may change, or introduction of enveloping species, but for the most part, they are constant. Part of what allows these ecological communities to remain stable is the fact that they have a wide range of species that work well with each other-trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, fungi, insects, mammals and birds. In the modern era, industrial agriculture-conventional and organic-is founded on the effectiveness of monoculture-acres and the acres of the same types of plants together. Therefore, when one disease or pest attacks, the whole field is in trouble.
In compare to gardening, especially on a small scale, allows the gardener to do what he or she can do to restructure a functional ecosystem. There are always chances of pest problem, but inter-cropping, field rotation, moderate use of compost and strategic planning towards gardening goes a long way towards establishing a more balanced system. Nitrogen-fixing plants like legumes can be planted near corn or tomato plants which require high amount of nitrogen, though creates artificiality, but creates functional relationship as well. You can confuse insects by alternating plants in the onion family with plants in the cabbage family.
Organic Gardening is a state of Mind and Practice
The term organic does not necessarily mean safe, there are many naturally occurring compounds that are more harmful and dangerous than synthetically produced chemicals. Organic gardening is more of a philosophy that, when enacted, allows a gardener to produce food flowers with less of an impact on the earth.
Benefits of Organic Gardening
As we all know, organic gardening is a method of growing and cultivating plants which does not use synthetically produced items or insecticides. It strives to obtain a balance and harmony throughout the ecosystem of soil, light and air. The vegetation that is grown within them is generally equivalent as these natural cycles with one exemption. The nature of organic gardening is to cultivate without chemical fertilizers, organically house the soil to maintain healthy plant life. Gardening organically is the best approach for leading a healthy lifestyle; moreover it is environmentally conscious way of living, and puts into effect all-natural garden droppings and manure to fertilize and grow plants and flowers.
Organic gardening is one of the ancient techniques of cultivation, it is beneficial for the whole family, and moreover it is affordable to do as well. Usually this is a past time that has turned to be an obsession these days, and people are very curious to learn the art of organic gardening. Yet how many of us do really know just what it is, and it is not a new perception, but it is preferred type of gardening. The concept is all about preventing yourself from getting attacked by a deceases or insect, than reacting to diseases and insects. Organic gardening is the practice of growing vegetables, herbs and fruits just by using natural compost and naturally found supplies that you find near your surroundings. Organic gardening is an art in itself; however, you should not just start things without a firm plan. It is gardening without the use of man-made chemicals, so better plan before you hit the field.
It is advised that majority of individuals should learn the art and techniques of organic gardening, with which one can utilize and establish environmentally friendly gardens, in a town, suburbs or country. Consumers try to lead a more healthy and eco-friendly existence and spend less money along the way, and this is the reason organic gardening is gaining very much popularity. It is an idea or an approach to cultivate botanicals so that the idea of using chemical compounds gets reduced, and avoid using substances that can harm your environmental surroundings, as well as to the end user. It is one of the most rewarding types of growing vegetables, because it enables you to achieve most of the benefits. Organic gardening is purely a natural way of growing plants, without the usage of chemical fertilizers or pesticides, with a larger knowledge of natural systems.
Naturally growing is really about creating the garden like a comprehensive ecosystem, and a gardening system where the gardener is a participant, and not an observer. And has to take care of each and every thing and maintain a balance between the earth and its nutrients, water, environment, and obviously the plant life. Organic gardening is a method of maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature; it is not that hard as one might think it is. Organic gardening is becoming very popular in United States and in other countries as well. It is basically about growing wholesome vegetables, fruits etc., and moreover creating a better place for the environment and living beings.
Organic gardening is very easy and fun, and is a method of gardening where it utilizes significant diversity in pest control and reduces the usage of pesticides; it is a process which keeps on changing time to time and allows a person to be a sole participant inside the garden. It is not just avoiding chemical usage; it is lot more than that. Many gardeners think gardening organically is actually hard, but it is not that tough. It takes some time to get used to the methods and techniques, but after that you will be an expert and judge things independently and trust me it will be worth it. You can achieve the most of it, and enjoy the yield.
Important Components of Organic Gardening
As we know organic gardening is much more than just avoiding the chemical usage on your garden. For many it is a way of living, following the laws of nature to grow fruits and vegetables and other plants as well. This is basically a personal choice made in light of much research done into the importance of diet as it relates to our well being and durability.
Studies say that organically grown foods have higher portion of vitamins and minerals than those which are grown using chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. No doubt organically grown fruits and vegetables are not only better health wise, but they also avoid the accidental exposure to the chemical agents that are used in large quantity ,which is very common in today’s world.
Here are some major components that are essential part of organic gardening.
Healthy soil – This probably is the most fundamental aspect of any organic garden. Healthy soil that is taken care of naturally will grow healthy food stuffs every year. Organic fertilizers such as manure and composted garden, kitchen waste are easily recycled back into the soil to make it healthier, which will help the plants to grow in a better and healthier way.
Avoid all kind of man made chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides – This will not only make the soil stay healthier and naturally organic but it will also keep you and your family free from harmful diseases.
Sustainable gardening practices allow your garden to become self sustaining – nutrients are usually used by plants and are replaced through the use of natural fertilizers and compost. Probably organic gardens rely on natural organic cycles to remain strong each and every year.
Responsibility towards the environment – The natural environment benefits from organic gardening practices, and also reduces the harmful effects associated with chemical dependent farming practices.
Creating a friendly nature for beneficial wildlife – There are many beneficial animals and insects, which will be attracted towards your garden. Protecting them from the threats associated with hazardous chemicals is not only beneficial to them but also to your gardening efforts, as they will consume a large number of destructive insects, controlling the drawbacks in a natural manner.
Use intensive planting practices to save water usage and retard the growth of weeds – Intensive gardening practice is nothing but simply spacing your plants close together. This process will help the soil to be wet and protect it from getting evaporated, and avoid weed seed germination.
Use the concept of plant biodiversity so that, changes in growing condition does not lead to crop failure – Planting different kind of plants will guarantee that the loss of one plant will not endanger the whole gardening process
Crop rotation – Controlling pets and disease is the main reason behind crop rotation, each year and throughout the growing season crop rotation is mandatory. Crop rotation really helps the garden to be healthy and produce a good harvest.
Use good watering and weeding practices – It is good to do rain harvesting, because rain water helps the plants grow well. Capture the rain water and try to store it near the garden, so that it becomes easy to use it. Use soaker hoses, drip irrigation methods or water manually to minimize water loss. Avoid using chemical products and harmful pesticides. And remember, lay down a thick layer of mulch to hold in moisture and keep weeds from germinating.
Preserve seeds from your best crops for future use – Imagine a successful garden that requires no outside help, from planting in the spring until fall harvest an organic garden is really a part of its natural environment.
Basic Things to be Followed While Starting Organic Gardening
A lot of gardeners believe that organic gardening includes a lot of challenging tasks, but the truth is organic gardening is not as challenging as it seems. The main difference between the two methods of gardening involves pest control and fertilizers. Organic gardening is lot more about a natural way of doing things, as opposed to applying pesticides or chemicals.
Taking it into consideration, we will look at the fundamentals of organic gardening for any of you, who have just started.
To begin with, establish a landscaping design. It is not really needed to be elaborate, so long as it indicates which plants go where, along with a day to day time table on planting.
It may be difficult to select the right spot. Always remember that almost all plants produce well as long as they have at least six hours of sunlight every day. Do not forget to provide water; it is a good idea to keep the soil wet. And make sure you have water source within reach, and the area should be sloped to give plants effective drainage.
If you do not have a space for a reasonable to large size garden, you might think about merging your vegetables and flowers to save space. Just be aware of the sunlight and watering requirements of the plants, and all thing should be fine. Time together with experience will polish up any garden site.
And the second thing is, once the suitable location is confirmed, the next step is preparing the ground. Use a tiller or a garden fork to turn the soil over, remove all the rubble, weeds and grass. Work with the back of a well-built rake to break up any clumps of soil, and then flat the surface. Live the area for a couple of weeks to rest, and then take off any fresh weeds or grass that may develop. It is not a bad idea to go over the place with the tiller or garden fork once more to loosen the soil.
And thirdly, check the pH level of the soil. You can go buy a test kit online or from a garden store nearby, or you could take the sample of the soil to a local nursery, or else you can go meet up a district agriculture adviser to evaluate the soil.
Lastly, when you found out the pH level of the soil, go seek help from organic gardening experts for tips and methods of organic fertilizers and pest control solutions. They will guide you to bring the soil pH level into line as per the requirements of the plants you plan to grow.
They also give you the best ideas to what to grow in your location so that you get the most of it, and how to take care of your plants, and the right time to pick them.
These are some important principles that may help you in your organic gardening experience. Make the gardening plan accordingly with the sunlight and water requirements. Prepare the soil, analyze the soil and get some expert advice about organic fertilizers and pest control methods, for most advantageous nourishment and health.
Do not forget to include your turf in those gardening plans discussed above.
Organic Gardening Tips and Ideas
Organic gardening is gaining a lot of popularity for the fact that it is a natural way of growing plants, and avoids the usage of synthetic products and chemicals. Organic gardening also provides protection from genetically modified organism in the garden.
Many of us, who take up organic gardening for the first time, find it difficult to buy supplies for gardening. People do not know where to buy and what are the products that are to be purchased, for the nourishment or controlling pests. Many of them might not know how much water to supply, or how to go about and use kitchen leftovers for their gardens. They need more than a few organic gardening tips and ideas.
Organic gardening effective ideas and tips are can be found easily, if you know where to find them. Here are some places that you can start your search.
Helpful Ideas for Organic Gardening
One of the effective gardening tips is this one. The foremost thing that you can do to control pests in the organic garden is to keep the soil healthy. If the soil is healthy, you will have a healthy harvest for sure. Health plants, like healthy humans, can be capable to resist any disease.
The second effective organic idea is to control pests with lady bugs. These tiny and beautiful insects with black spots can control aphids naturally and totally. You can order them from several organic gardening places online. By the time they arrive, spray each and every part of aphid-infested plants with well thinned lathered water. Rinse with plain water.
And coming to the third organic gardening tips, it is good to plant guardian plants around and among tender vegetables. The organic gardening border can be made colorful with marigolds, and ward of many pests. You can go with onion and garlic as well; they make great deterrents to pests that would come to steal organic produce.
Sources for Organic Garden Helpful Ideas
There are no specific websites, but mostly the groups or products can be easily found online. You can just use simple key words regarding the subject in your search engine, to find out more about organic gardening ideas.
Co-operative Extension Office: The co-operative extension is a nationwide network. Every state and territory might have a state office, and they also have a network of local and regional office. These state offices may have at least one expert, who can give you the necessary information about practical and research based organic garden. I am sure this will be very helpful for your organic gardening.
Park and Recreation Departments: If you reside in a large region, your local park and recreation department might be a helpful source for your organic gardening ideas. Lessons may be offered on subjects such as organic gardening plans, planting seeds, and how to compost.
YMCA: In many areas, these organizations provide lessons on organic gardening topics, with a lot of creative and innovative tips and ideas. These are led by local organic gardening experts. There workshop may include vegetable organic gardening and organic gardening flowers.
Organic gardening shop: A lot of gardening stores have come up to offer different products for organic gardening needs, such as seeds and supplies. Many try to include at least one person on staff, who can give effective ides and tips.
Nurseries: You can go to local nurseries and obtain helpful ideas and tips about organic gardening techniques. As the demand of organic gardening is increasing, they are learning that they must not only provide organic fertilizers and seedlings, but also advice and give effective ideas.
Journals: You can find organic gardening journals, which have been around for many years now, and are loaded with organic gardener’s helpful ideas and tips. Visit your local library and look for the journals. Some topics are meant for small farming organic gardens, others focus on organic gardening for family or farmers market. Choose one that is the best and has the most helpful ideas for you, and subscribe for ongoing organic gardening help.
Refer catalogs: At times, many seed catalogs have not only organic seeds, but also the tips and ideas for the organic garden. See for major seed companies catalogs.
Books: If you are a novice to organic gardening, you would want to invest in at least one good book on organic gardening. Books can explain how seeds and produce are organic. They can provide you with the organic gardening, and also advice on weed control.
Family and Friends: Some say that we all have a circle of 250 links. Within that circle, you will at least find one person who is familiar with organic gardening and has the best ideas and tips that will guide you for a better organic experience. Their organic garden may be 50 containers, or it could be only one. Anyone who does any organic gardening will be willing to share his or her experience and helpful ideas that they have established.
Internet: The internet tops when it comes to providing information. It is a best source for finding organic gardening helpful ideas and tips. Become a member of an organic gardening forum and share ideas. Read organic gardening blogs. At last visit Cornell University’s organic gardening website. They provide an online organic gardening class. The professor is sure to have helpful organic gardening ideas and tips.
Reasons to Why to Start Organic Gardening
Today the term organic gardening is becoming more and more popular. You can see organic foods, clothing, and even organic bedding. Entire stores are devoted to organic products and books about the subject, and they are available everywhere. So why is there such an interest in organic things these days?
People are starting to understand how harmful chemicals can affect our bodies and our environment. Firstly when pesticides and other chemicals came into use in farming and home gardens, people sang their praises. But after so many years of usage we have realized the bad effects of using too many pesticides and chemicals. This does not mean that all the pesticides and chemicals are bad; they have their place when necessary. Yet, exclusive usage, dependence on chemical products and over usage of these chemicals have made the soil weak, and it has become very difficult to grow crops. Additional to this, many of these chemicals reach out into our water supply and food we consume, which in turn brings in a lot of health problems.
Well, what can a home gardener do to keep away the effects of chemicals in the yard? There are so many things. Foremost thing is to take the decision to use natural products in your garden. You can do it slowly or all at once. Many gardeners tend to use organic products in most of their yard work and some chemicals for really hard weeds and pests problems. You will really get used to it when you get started with using natural methods and rely less on the chemicals, as your natural methods will take control of insects and weeds.
One of the most effective ways of beginning pest control is to introduce beneficial insects into your garden. Some insects like lady bug, praying mantis, and parasitic wasps are beneficial to the yard because they feed on the harmful insects. Lady bugs like to eat aphids, and parasitic wasps lay eggs on the backs of the tomato horn worm, then the hatching larvae eat the worm. These helpful insects used to be found naturally in almost all the gardens, moreover pesticides that are used to kill harmful insects also kill and chase off the good insects. Make sure you do not use chemical pesticides, if you are planning to put the beneficial insects in your garden.
Another effective method of keeping the bugs away is by just using a simple solution of water and liquid dish soap. Store the mixture in a spray container and spray all over the leaves of your flowers and plants. The soapy mixture is a great aphid repellent and also keeps other bugs away.
For natural weed control, you would find that by using thick mulch around plants and trees. Rock or bark can be used, but remember, bark is a natural material and it may break down over time so it might be needed to be replenished every year. To keep weeding to a minimum, thick ground covers are also very good method. Try to find those plants, which are native to your region and are not prone to overtaking the yard. At times when you plant a ground cover, it tends to overgrow its limits. You can avoid the growth of weeds, by planting your shrubs and flowers close together. Plants that grow in an attractive manner, almost certainly in a close knit pattern leave little bare ground and light for weeds to easily develop.
As you become more experienced with natural gardening methods, doing it in an organic way will be simple. You do not have to use chemicals always, to grow a perfect garden, just do it the way nature intended.
Organic Gardening Remedies
Here are some collections of natural and homemade remedies for the entire organic gardening enthusiast
Spraying guide lines:
Before spraying water the plant first (if it is dry).
Do not ever mix a chemical fungicide with any of the homemade treatments; wait for at least 10 days.
It is very much necessary to spray all pest controls and fertilizers especially early in the morning or late in the evening.
Spray only when the temperature is below 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spraying both the sides of the leaves is good.
First, test a part of a plant and leave it for few days to determine whether it is safe for the whole plant or not.
Finding a way to attract beneficial insects:
Take 25ml of brewer’s yeast, 50ml water, 5ml honey and 75ml of warm water. Mix all the ingredients together; dilute 15ml to 2 cups of water. Spray it on the plants during spring and early summer to attract beneficial bugs. This method kill’s slug’s as well.
Bordeaux mixture: Primarily a fungicidal solution for plants, containing copper sulphate and calcium oxide. It repels insects such as flea beetles and leafhoppers.
Take a plastic bucket; dissolve 3 ounces of copper sulphate in one gallon of water. Then add 5 ounces of hydrate line, stir it thoroughly with each addition. The final mixture is ready to use as a spray or as a saturate without further dilution. After the usage of this mix, wash your tools properly and store it in a glass container or a plastic container, it is very caustic to metals. And remember; be careful while handling the hydrated lime for the reason being it to be very caustic.
Cornell academy method: (Fungicide, matricide, or pesticide)
Basic ingredients are 2 tablespoons of fine horticultural oil, 1 tablespoon mild dish soap, 1 heap tablespoon baking soda and 1 gallon of water. Fungicide
Optional ingredients:
1 tablespoon of liquid seaweed (make sure your product does not have sulphate), 5 to 7 droplets of liquid plant vitamin mixture. You can apply this mix every two weeks; most likely you will find the need to spray only once a month. However, remember; start using this mix before you notice any symptoms, or as soon as any problem develops.
Insecticidal soap: (Aphids, mites and white flies)
1 cup of vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon of mild dish soap
Add 1 to 2 tablespoon of this mix with a cup of water. Homemade sprays may have a slight risk of burning leaves so before using it; test this spray on a few leaves first. Observe for one or two days, if you find there is no harm using it then go ahead and spray the whole plant.
Petunias: (Toxic to tobacco hornworm and some caterpillars)
Prepare a tea of chopped petunia leaves, boiled in water.
Baking soda: (good for crumbly mushroom)
1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1 liter of water and a few drops of liquid dish soap, mix these ingredients and put it into a spray bottle and spray directly onto the both the sides of the plant.
Horsetail plant: (good for crumbly mushroom)
1 cup chopped horse tail and 1 liter water. Mix the ingredient and boil for 20 minutes, once it is boiled, cool it and strain it accordingly. Spray the solution on the plants or use it as a soil saturate to avoid damping off.
Garlic: (Fungicide and Insecticide)
5 to 10 cloves of garlic, ½ liter water, mix it in a food processor or a mixer, strain and spray on plants.
Bug liquid: (insecticide)
Take ½ cup of a particular pest and mash it well, mix 2 cups of water to it, and strain.
Mix ¼ cup of this bug juice with 2 cups of water and a few drops of soap. Spray it on plant surfaces (use a pair of plastic gloves).
Hot pepper spray: (insecticide)
Mix together ½ cup of hot peppers with 2 cups of water, using a blender and then strain. Spray on plant surfaces.
Caution: hot peppers burn eyes and skin, better use a pair of gloves and protective eye wear.
Dormant oils: (over wintering stages of mites, scales, aphids and other insects)
Dormant oils usually work by suffocating the insects. Spray on ornamental plants and dormant orchards in order to control over wintering stages 0f scales, mites, aphids and other insects. The temperature should be more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Caution: some plants like Japanese maples and blue spruce are sensitive to this oil. Test an area of a plant first and then spray, remember to spray before the plants brakes out in leaf.
Summer oils: (used for controlling aphids, spider mites, scale, mealy bugs, and some caterpillars.)
Summer oils have fewer impurities, which makes them safe for your plants. These oils are lighter than dormant oils.
1 cup cooking oil, 1 table spoon mild liquid dish soap and 1 cup of water, are the ingredients for summer oils.
