4 Organic Gardening Techniques to Try
More and more people have become interested in organic gardening. The organic gardener works with nature to create a healthy garden. It takes time and patience to do this, but the rewards of being a good steward of the garden is worth it. Here are four organic gardening techniques:
Make Your Own Compost
Compost is organic matter that has been broken down to be useful to the soil and the plants and so is an important component of any organic garden. Planet Natural explains that there are many ways to make a good compost pile, but it should have a good amount of dry and green plant material to create a carbon/nitrogen ratio of about 30 to 1. The pile should not be exposed to direct sunlight, which kills the bacteria that break down the material.
After the ingredients have been added, the compost should be kept moist, but never soggy. Turn it every two to seven days to make sure it’s well aerated. Things not to put into a compost pile include the manure of meat-eating animals, wood ash, meat, fat, soil or plants that are diseased or infested.
Scare Away Pests Naturally
An organic gardener might feel a bit sorry for the predators and pests that are an inevitable part of gardening. They too need to make a living. But another role of the gardener is to make sure that they make a living elsewhere, but naturally. You can introduce a predator to control the population of a certain pest, such as introducing ladybugs to feast upon aphids or attracting birds to eat caterpillars. doTERRA recommends, you can also use certain essential oils to create natural and effective pest-control sprays.
Encourage Earthworms
Encouraging earthworms to populate your garden is one of the best things you can do to keep it healthy. Earthworms aerate the soil, help it retain water and keep it friable. Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm suggests that you make sure you are adding the right type of worms to your garden. Super Red Night Crawlers are best for aerating and fertilizing gardens. They also break up hard soils and balance soil that is too acidic or alkaline. They add natural compost to the soil through their droppings.
Plant the Right Plants Together
Pots 2 Plots reports that many plants have allies, companions, and incompatibles, and it is important to know which is which. Allies repel insects or support the growth of another plant. Companions can live together even though they don’t particularly help each other, and incompatibles should not be planted together. Sometimes, there are added benefits. Planting basil near cherry tomatoes can act as a flavor additive.
Despite its reputation, organic gardening is neither more expensive nor more difficult than other types of gardening. At the end of the growing season, you and your family can enjoy healthy produce that you know was grown in concert with nature.
For help in taming your garden or yard, redesigning trouble areas, or just maintaining the level of beauty you desire, let GreenWise Grounds Care help!
