Organic Gardening

Many gardeners are worried about the overuse of pesticides, and the possible effects it could have on their family members, their pets and their families. Other gardeners are concerned about the possibility of pesticide runoff, and concerned that such runoff could get into the groundwater and cause damage.

Another reason for organic gardening is the recent trend to incorporate fish ponds into the garden landscape. Fish are among the most sensitive creatures when it comes to chemical sensitivity, and even a small amount of chemicals in a closed environment like a pond can be toxic to many ornamental fish. Any homeowner who wishes to incorporate a fish pond into his or her landscape must be very careful about the use of pesticides, insecticides and other chemicals.

While information about organic gardening was once hard to come by, today there is lots of information available, as more and more people take up this special form of gardening. Both food plants and ornamental flowering plants can be grown organically, and many people particularly like the idea of growing and eating their own organic produce.

The basis of a good organic garden lies with the quality of the soil. It is very difficult to grow healthy plants or flowers in poor quality soil. If the soil in your area is not of high quality, it is important to take steps to improve the soil before planting any flowers or plants.

One great way to improve the soil for an organic garden is to lay down a good quality mulch. It is a good idea to mulch the flower bed with three inches of organic material, as this will help to conserve moisture, discourage the growth of weeds and add much needed nutrients to the soil. In addition to these benefits, a good quality mulch also provides a great looking finishing touch to the garden.

If you plan to grow acid loving plants in your organic garden, it is a good idea to put down a thick layer of pine needles in the fall. As these pine needles decompose in the fall and winter months, they add acid to the soil naturally, and eliminate the need for harsh chemicals or other additives. Adding chemicals to the soil can alter their long term chemistry and reduce their ability to grow thriving plants.

Providing a good mulch bed in the organic garden also provides protection from many garden pests, in addition to keeping weeds to a minimum. In addition, a good quality mulch will encourage healthier plants to grow, and healthier plants will be better able to fight off infections without the use of fungicides and herbicides.

Starting a compost pile is a another great way to reduce the amount of household waste your family generates, while producing high quality organic fertilizer for your plants. A simple compost pile is easy to set up, and it produces the rich, high quality soil that help plants thrive.