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Basics of Organic
Gardening
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Organic gardening works on the principle of
using natural methods and products in harmony with nature rather than
chemicals. 'Work with nature and nature will help you.
• Use natural methods.
• Avoid use of
chemicals.
• Recycle whenever possible.
• Encourage
natural processes.
Where ever possible look for
natural ways of carrying out certain gardening tasks. Instead of spraying off
weeds try hoeing or hand weeding. Using a mulch is an effective way of stopping
weeds growing. Weed seeds can often be unwittingly bought into your
garden by yourself. Avoid using manure that is too fresh or from a heap covered
in weeds, it is sure to be full of weed seeds. Be careful when sowing seeds,
most seeds are small and light and are easily blown onto areas where you don't
want them to grow. A weed can be any type of plant growing in the wrong
place.
Try using disease and pest
resistant varieties of plants, rather than using chemicals to control them. Use
physical barriers to keep pests away from plants, netting can be used over
fruit and fleece can be used to keep smaller insects away from carrots and
other vegetables. Scarecrows are fun to make and provide a focal point in the
vegetable patch. Fences can be erected to keep rabbits and other animals out of
the whole garden or just certain areas. Use deterrents, animals mark their
territory with smell, try and confuse or frighten them away by using other
smells such as another animals dung or urine, even your own can work!
All households produce a lot
of waste that can be recycled, much of it can be used to advantage in the
garden. Every garden should have a compost bin. Place anything that is
biodegradable into your compost bin. Keep a bucket near the house and make a
habit of putting vegetable peelings, teabags, fire ashes, bedding from your
hamster or rabbit or anything else into it then transfer to your compost bin.
Newspapers can even be added but it is better to take these to a recycling bank
along with bottles and jars, old clothes and plastic containers. Old carpets
can be used as a mulching material. Those useless CD's found on magazines can
be hung up with string to make a very effective bird scarer. Use rain water
butts to store roof water or collect water from your bath or shower to use for
watering.
'Work with nature, and nature
will work for you.' Encourage natural predators, whilst birds can be a nuisance
they are helpful in controlling slugs and insects. Certain species of insects
are very beneficial, Ladybirds are to be positively encouraged. Whilst some
people think that worms are horrible and a nuisance they are vital for healthy,
fertile soil. Worms pull organic material down through the layers and in doing
so aerate and improve the drainage. By improving soil fertility your plants
will grow stronger and be more resistant to pests, diseases and
drought.
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'Work with nature and nature will help
you
Scarecrows are fun to make and provide a focal point in the
vegetable patch
All households produce can be
recycled
By improving soil fertility your plants
will grow stronger
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