Organic Gardening

Organic gardening as the name suggests is the method of growing plants and trees without the use of synthetic products.  If you’re keen to put your green thumb to use, there are a few practical tips to help you nurture a friendly garden ready for the summer ahead.

1.    Soil: To maintain a healthy soil, always opt for natural compost. This will improves soil structure and aeration. Compost can also help to increase soil's water storing capacity and promotes soil fertility, stimulating the healthy growth of your plants.

2.    Fertilisers:  Inorganic fertilisers can contain toxic chemicals which can spoil the fertility of your soil. Manure is a natural fertiliser and is much loved by soil conditioners – better known as ‘earth worms’ – which can help make your soil porus, support the good growth of roots and improve the circulation of water.

3.    Trees:  Trees, once they reach a good height, can save you energy and money by providing protection to shade loving shrubs from the hot sun whilst also keeping your house cool during the warm summer months.

4.    Planting tip:  Dig irregular holes before planting any trees. This will restrict the growth of the roots.  A glazed hole can also protect the roots from disturbing the neighbouring plant.

5.    Growing flowers:  Some flowers will perform better in certain areas of your garden – for example climbers such as Clematis or Fothergilla will grow easily. Daffodils and Mustard flowers also grow well organically without much of effort and help, making your organic flower bed look all the more beautiful.

6.    Pests: Rather than introducing harsh chemical deterrents to your garden, spray vinegar or turmeric water to keep away pests. Growing organic weeds can also keep insects away from other flowering plants.

7.    Watering: Recycled rubber hoses like Soaker hose will help in delivering water directly to the roots of the plant. Hoses like these can reduce water loss from evaporation, as can watering your garden early in the morning or late at night when the sun isn’t as strong.

8.    Mulch: Mulching is an important method in organic gardens as it saves fertility, maintains acid balance and stops the growth of weeds. A 2 inch mulch bed is recommended to achieve healthy plant growth.

9.    Aphids: Simply spray neem water or warm water to keep Aphids away. Water sprays work well even with the heaviest of infestations.

10.    Homemade compost: A fantastic way to improve the health of your organic garden is through a homemade compost. Mix Perlite, Vermiculite, Sand, Sphagnum moss, Peat, Coir, and Worm compost together. When you dig out the soil before planting trees, shrubs or any other plant, add some of the compost.  

July 2011