Learn to Grow Your Garden Organically
No longer just a craze, organic gardening has become a way of life for more and more Americans. It is the perfect solution for anyone wanting to cater to the health of their family and their environment. While some people view organic gardening as unreasonable and costly, others see the value. While it may have some up-front costs, it can actually help you save in the long run. Effective growing practices can help you achieve healthy, abundant harvests free of harmful ingredients like carcinogens and other chemical byproducts. Organic gardening is not a hands-off approach, so be prepared to get your hands and tools dirty.
Soil Prep:
Make sure your soil is well prepared to support your plants. Ideally, you want to test the soil to find the pH and nutrient levels and determine necessary treatment. At the very least, condition your soil with humus, an organic matter material in the form of grass clippings, manure and compost.
Compost:
Compost is a staple in any organic garden, replacing the job of synthetic fertilizers to help feed and support plant life. Designate a bin for compost and add layers of soil, carbon (like dry garden clippings) and nitrogen (like moist kitchen scraps). Turn the pile with each added layer, and you’ll have effective compost in just a couple months.
Plant Selection:
Match your plants with their environmental needs including the right sun exposure, moisture level and soil type. If you purchase seedlings, check your local farmers market for plants that have not been exposed to chemicals.
Grouping and Spacing:
Follow suggested spacing on the seed packages to ensure your plants have room to grow. If they become overcrowded, remove some of them to allow appropriate spacing. Grouping plants with adequate spacing between rows can help organically prevent weeds and increase composting and watering efficiency.
Water:
Drip irrigation helps target the roots of your plants. Make sure they get an inch of water per week. Reduce water loss to wind and evaporation by watering in the morning.
Weed Control:
Keep on top of your weeds so they don’t compete for nutrients. Use mulch as a proactive measure for weed prevention and hand pick any weeds from their roots.
Pest Protection:
The best approach to warding off pests is to attract beneficial insects to do the job. Use blooming plants to attract ladybugs and other predatory bugs. Also use natural deterrents like garlic spray to keep pests at bay.
Harvest:
When it’s time to reap the rewards of your labor, use scissors to harvest produce instead of ripping and potentially damaging your plants. If you yield too much to eat at once, consider freezing, drying or canning.
Make your garden an organic one, free of any chemicals that may harm your children or pets. Take control by growing organically and regulating what goes into the foods you serve your family. Have pride in organic gardening as you demonstrate respect for those you love and your planet.
Spring Ahead of Pests in Your Garden
Georgia summers are nothing to play with, and neither are the bugs that come with them. Think mosquitos, gnats and aphids that wreak havoc on your BBQ and your ornamental trees and shrubs. There are several ways to attack these pests organically without introducing harmful chemicals to your lawn.
Introduce good bugs to your landscape.
Many beneficial insects are natural enemies of those bad pests you DON’T want around. One of these good bugs is our mascot, the ladybug or lady beetle. Not only are ladybugs good luck, they also eat the bad bugs, such as aphids and whiteflies that feed on your ornamental trees and shrubs. Read more on how to attract them and other good bugs to your garden.
Plant other vegetation that pests hate.
Pests hate the smell of certain plants such as marigolds, lavender and peppermint. You can also add carnivorous plants to your landscape that actually trap and eat insects, such as the pitcher plant or Venus flytrap. In addition to the scent, you can extract the oils from certain herbs to use as a natural mosquito and bug repellent for your family. Good to know for the upcoming summer months.
Call an expert.
If all else fails, you can call us and we’ll be happy to come out and spray your landscape with an organic outdoor pest control treatment. It consists of an organic garlic spray solution designed to repel mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. If this is a solution that will work best for you and your family, visit our Specials page and get 50% off your first outdoor pest control treatment to keep those pesky pests at bay.