The Right Tools: Organic Garden Products
November 11th, 2009 Posted in Green Living & News
Anyone who has ever taken up a new hobby knows that the right tools are key. If you knit, you need good the right size needles for the yarn you’ve chosen. A serious biker needs a good bike and the right helmet. And an organic gardener needs the right tools and products.
This article will explore:
Choosing what to plant
Growing an organic garden is quite the undertaking. Organic gardens require a lot of care and a patient touch. After all, pesticides and synthetic chemicals used to boost growth were invented for a reason. Growing plants is hard work!
The first step in creating a beautiful and healthy garden is to pick the right plants.
Whether you want to grow flowers, vegetables, or a combination, picking plants that will grow well in your environment is key. Picking plants that are native to or can adapt to your climate will help to make your garden more self sufficient. Plants that don’t naturally grow well in your area of the country will most likely die.
For specifics relative to your area of the country, check out websites like www.organicgardening.com, which contains a wealth of information including what to garden where.
Here’s a brief overview of what grows well in what climate:
The Northeast
Plant in the spring and summer and choose vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants. Herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage, and dill grow well. Flowers like New England aster, butterfly weed, and garden phlox all grow well in the Northeast.
The South
The warmer southern climate affords more time for growing. Some plants can be grown year round, including lettuce and broccoli. Perennial flowers like black eyed susans can also be grown in the fall and winter months. In the spring and summer, the possibilities are almost endless. Tomatoes, okra, sweet potatoes, strawberries, and blueberries all thrive in the humid warmth of the south.
The Midwest
The Midwest is a great climate for growing flowers like mums, lilacs, and roses in the spring. It’s also the optimal climate for herbs like rosemary and thyme and for vegetables like tomatoes and peppers.
The West
The West, much like the South, has a milder climate more conducive to growing year round. Perennial vegetables like asparagus and artichokes. You can also grow flowers in the winter like daisies and foxglove. And the western climate is a great place to grow fruit trees like oranges and lemons!
Tools and tips for a beautiful garden
Cultivating an organic garden requires good tools. Because you aren’t using chemical agents to help your plants grow, you’ll need to work a little bit harder to make your garden grow just as beautifully!
When starting to plant, make sure you have good soil. Tilling your garden’s soil before planting can really help your plants take root. Tilling is simply digging up the soil and mixing it around so that it can hold the appropriate amount of water. The best tilling method involves spreading an inch of compost material on top of the soil, leaving it sit for a few weeks, and then digging to mix it in with the old soil (called rototilling.)
Once your soil is prepped, you might want some fun gadgets to make the planting process easier and more efficient. A hand seeder will help you place the seed at the right depth in the soil to ensure optimal growth.
Keeping your garden growing is the biggest challenge you will face as an organic farmer. Tools like rain gauges and soil thermometers will help you determine if your garden is getting enough water and if the ground is the right temperature.
Remember, care is key! Gardens, especially organic ones, require a lot of attention and TLC. But the benefits far outweigh the costs, so don’t give up or get discouraged!
Keeping bugs away the natural way!
Ok, so I know what you’re thinking. How am I supposed to keep insects away from my plants without using chemical agents?
Insecticides are really useful in keeping insects away from your plants. There’s no doubt about that. But you don’t have to use synthetic chemicals to keep the bugs from feeding on your plants.
EcoSMART Safe Plant and Garden Value Bundle gives you the tools you need to make sure insects stay away from your garden and weeds don’t take over. And EcoSMART is made from plant oils that naturally repel insects. It’s safe for the environment and completely organic. Plus, it’s safe to use around pets and children!
The Safe Plant and Garden Value Bundle includes:
- Weed and Grass Killer
- Garden Fungicide
- Garden Insect Killer
- Insect Repellent
You’ll have all the tools to make your garden bug free and beautiful!
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