How Does My Garden Grow...

It's been a long, cool spring, so we've been waiting for weather like this! Once May hit, it was full-speed ahead, with tilling, mulching, and planting waiting to fill our every weekend.

I always like to share some pictures of my garden's progress throughout the season, so here is the first batch of spring garden photos - these were taken last week, so they're already out of date - things grow so fast when it's up in the 50's at night!

My beloved spring bulbs - including new surprises like the white & apricot narcissus which were apparently planted everywhere in the front flower bed before we moved here!

The gorgeous flower bed full of spring bulbs - the first lush and colorful sign of summer, which I look forward to all winter long!

Another bulb picture, but I could not resist the beauty of this stripey tulip!

Our future garden site! (Fencing in progress...)

My mint - which I transplanted and brought with me from my old apartment; after a long cold winter, it is coming back strong!

After losing some to frost :-(  the remaining potatoes are growing like weeds! Seriously - they're bigger every day! This is our first hay-bale gardening experiment, and so far, so good....

Like the potatoes, the peas are visibly growing daily! I have a piece of wire fencing over them to protect them from the deer until the fencing project is complete, but will need to trellis them soon.

Although some of the strawberry blooms got clobbered by frost last week, they are growing strong, covered with buds and new flowers, and I am so excited for strawberries this year!

Tomato, pepper, eggplant, and celery seedlings - growing strong, and awaiting transplanting to their new summer home in a week or so!

There you have it! The start of my garden on the new homestead....

Stay tuned as I update this blog (and our main blog at http://www.newholisticliving.com/blog.html throughout the summer to let you know how our new gardening adventure goes!  And be sure to also Like us on Facebook for more up-to-date pictures throughout the season!

Natural Homemade Solutions To Your Organic Gardening Problems

Gardening organically is a great way to ensure your family and friends eat healthy and treat the earth well, but it does present some challenges.  The biggest challenges are usually in taking care of pests and fighting disease in order to grow a beautiful and bountiful harvest.

In today's post, we'll take a look at some natural, homemade solutions to these organic gardening problems.

Aphids:

Pea aphids extracting sap from the stem and leaves of garden peas. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aphids can be successfully treated with either of the following sprays. The key to either is making sure you are diligent in spraying all the leaves, including the undersides.

Oil and soap spray - Take 2 teaspoons of Mineral oil or Neem oil and add in 2 or 3 minced garlic cloves. Let it steep for about 24 hours, then strain. Next add 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap and 1 pint of water. Use 1-2 tablespoons of this mix with a full spray bottle of water.

Always test it on a leaf first to make sure it does not harm it. If it does, dilute it with more water and try again.

This spray is not picky as to which insects it eliminates so if you do have some beneficial insects around that you don't want to harm, you should try the next spray instead.

Tomato leaf spray - Add 1 cup chopped tomato leaves to two cups water and let sit for 24 hours. Strain and add this mixture to a large spray bottle, filling it up the rest of the way with water. Spray liberally on all affected areas.

Animal Pests:

Use red pepper spray and many critters won't come back for seconds.  It makes the plants just too spicy for rabbits, mice, birds and squirrels. Mix 3 tablespoons of Tabasco sauce and 1 teaspoon dish soap. Add this to 1 quart of water and spray around the area. I have also found that squirrels don't like cinnamon. Sprinkle it liberally on the ground around your plants to keep squirrels from digging there.

Slugs:

 In the spring, go on a nightly slug hunt. Using a flashlight, locate the slugs and sprinkle table salt on them. A couple nights of this should sufficiently decrease your slimy slug problem. You can also pour beer into shallow lids and set on the ground. Many people report that this will attract slugs which will crawl in and drown.

Powdery mildew, a Biotrophic Fungus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Powdery Mildew:

This is a serious fungal disease that hits many types of plants, including squash and cucumbers in particular, but weekly spraying of 30% skim milk or raw milk to 70% water can take care of it.

Weeds:

Good old vinegar can kill most weeds but it can also kill your plants. Do not pour it on weeds in your grass or you'll end up with dead grass spots. If the weeds are close to other plants, try using a paint brush to brush the vinegar on the weed's leaves. Or just pull them out by the roots.

Not only are homemade organic remedies good options for your garden, they're also inexpensive and use everyday household items. Try any of these options to take care of your organic garden problems and reap the rewards with a great bounty.

Using Coffee Grounds for Organic Gardening

While some people would declare coffee to be the staff of life and will enjoy several cups of their favorite brew throughout the day, there really is more to coffee than just drinking it. It turns out coffee can actually play a part in organic gardening. So not only can you drink it, but you can use the coffee grounds to make your garden soil and plants happy.

Brewed coffee is acidic, but the grounds produced from the brew are not. The brewing process removes the acid and they become neutral and nitrogen-rich. This is good news and lends itself to practical applications in your garden.

Coffee grounds. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Probably the easiest thing to do with your coffee grounds is to add them to your compost pile. They are considered a "green" material just like vegetable peelings and grass clippings. Being rich in nitrogen means they will help heat up your compost and aid in a faster decomposing time. As with any composting, brown materials such as dry leaves should be included in your bin as well.

Another way to use your grounds is to work them well into the soil before you plant your garden. Or consider lightly sprinkling them around your garden before a good watering as if they were a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.

Consider making a compost tea with the remains. Try grounds and water for a weak mix and let it heat up. Strain it and spray on the plant leaves. You might want to do a test run first to make sure it's not too strong. Otherwise, you can make a full-blown tea with other compost material too and aerate the mixture with a pump and bubblers before straining and spraying it.

Some people like to spread coffee grounds around their acid-loving plants, but since the coffee's acid was depleted in the brewing process, it may not really give extra help to these plants. There are those who swear by it though.

If crawling pests are a problem, try spreading grounds and crushed egg shells around plants in an effort to deter pests such as slugs.

A handful of healthy worms in coffee compost (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Feed the worms, they like coffee too! If you have a worm bin you can feed it to them in small doses mixed in with your other kitchen scraps. If you don't have a worm bin, working them into your compost pile or directly into your soil will benefit the wrigglers who will, in turn, benefit your soil.

You can keep a container in the kitchen for your grounds after you brew your coffee and then dump them all into your compost bin at the end of the week. Alternatively, you can get larger quantities by visiting your local coffee shops and asking for their grounds. Consider making arrangements to pick up their waste on a specific day each week and they'll keep you "grounded".  Do watch your ratio though, as it should not be more than 20-25% of your total compost material.

The next time you have coffee, save the remains for the benefit of your garden. Put them in your compost pile, feed the worms, work into the soil, or use in a tea, and watch your plants thrive!

Answers to Your Organic Gardening Questions

Whether you've just made the decision to garden organically or you've been at it a little while, you no doubt have questions. Organic gardening does require a little more effort, but the end results will be worth it. The following are popular questions often asked by new organic gardeners, and their answers:

1. What is organic gardening?

There are many definitions, depending on who you ask, but boiled down it means growing plants without the help of synthetics - synthetic herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers.

2. Why should I plant a cover crop?

Cover crops are also thought of as green manure; that's because when they're finished, they can be tilled into the soil, like compost, and will enrich the soil with nitrogen.

Planting a cover crop may be better than leaving a garden plot empty not just because of the green manure outcome, but also because a cover crop helps keep the topsoil from blowing away in the wind. In addition, you can eat some of the products of these crops, think peas or beans, and also the roots help break up hard-packed soil.

3. What are the greens and browns I need in my compost bin?

 (Photo credit: Joi)

Greens and browns are not really referring to the color of the waste you put in your compost bin. Greens refer to nitrogens and include items such as grass clippings, vegetable peelings, manure. Browns are higher in carbon and mulch, leaves and small twigs are classified as browns.

One way you can tell the difference is to think about whether the item will start to stink after a few days sitting by itself. If so, it's a green.

4. How do I get rid of aphids on my tomato plants?

Make up a spray, either Tomato Leaf spray or Oil and Soap spray, and apply it to both sides of the affected leaves. You can find recipes for these sprays by doing an Internet search. You'll notice they use common household ingredients. Otherwise, you can buy commercial products that have organic ingredients.

5. Can I get rid of weeds organically?

Yes you can. The most obvious method is pulling the weeds out by the roots. If that option does not appeal to you, then try household vinegar in a spray bottle, being careful not to get it on your plants or grass. Additional applications may be necessary. Other options are to pour boiling water on the weeds or burn them with a wand made for that purpose.

6. So why are worms a good thing to have in my soil?

Worms produce castings that are sometimes called "black gold". To capitalize on these little wigglers, you can set them up in worm bins and feed them your organic waste. What comes out the other end is a nutrient-rich addition that will build up your soil.

No doubt, starting an organic garden will mean you have questions. Finding ways to assist Mother Nature naturally can give you the greatest reward - a healthy garden with beautiful plants and good-for-you vegetables!

What You Should Know About Organic Farming

When did farming become more than just farming? Now there's farming and then there's organic farming. But what is it that makes organic farming a better form of farming than anything else? Here's what you need to know about organic farming to understand the benefits you are receiving from these crops.

1. Organic farming is a holistic approach to farming. Organic farmers use ecologically-balanced agricultural principles to control pests, tend to the soil, and manage crop rotation. Simply put, it lets nature take its course.

2. Organic farms include everything from vegetables to grains, to meat, dairy, eggs, and even cotton. To be considered organic they must remain as close to their natural state as possible without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. And when raising animals, they do not use synthetic growth hormones or antibiotics on their livestock. The animals eat only organic feed and in some cases, are allowed to roam outdoors.

A USDA map of the United States showing the number of organic farms per state in 2007. 0–100 organic farms 101–200 organic farms 201–500 organic farms 500+ organic farms. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. When organic farming began being monitored and tracked in 1994, there were 2500-3000 certified organic farms in the United States. Today there are more than 10,000 certified organic farms in the United States which provide 2% of the total food supply.

4. The basis of a good organic farm is the soil. It must begin with the right mix of soil that leads to healthy crops and animals. This reduces incidence of disease, and makes the farm more productive overall.

5. To create this productive soil, farmers need three basic things.

* Compost. This is organic materials that are decaying such as yard trimmings (wood chips, grass, and leaves), food waste (coffee grounds, tea bags and fruits and vegetables), and manure. Using compost allows beneficial bacteria and fungi to grow which creates a nutrient-rich moist soil.

* Green manures and cover crops. Cover crops are plants grown specifically to benefit the crops and are used to help protect the soils surface from water and wind, maintain soil structure, and maintain the healthy organic matter in the soil. Green manure is a cover crop that is grown and tilled in to the soil to add nutrients back into the soil. Cover crops also keep weeds at bay and to distract pests. They constitute a natural fertilizer/pesticide.

* Crop rotation. This is done by using different fields for different things each year. So one year a field could be used to grow pumpkins and the next field be used to graze sheep. The next year these fields would be switched. This way the nutrients are not depleted in one field, and it also minimizes the buildup of pests and diseases common to a specific crop.

Pig farming, Stancombe Down. Part of Sheepdrove, a large organic farm. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

6. Livestock is handled with the same level of care. They often may live in habitats similar to their natural habitat, and receive humane treatment. They don't receive hormones that promote growth and they don't receive antibiotics for any reason. They do receive vaccinations, though, as preventative care. Their diet consists of 100% organic food.

Organic farming really goes back to the roots of farming before intensive mass production was encouraged and expected from farmers in order for them to succeed. It's the way our food should be grown so we don't have to worry about pesticide poisoning or the alteration of our hormones due to the hormones that are fed to animals.

Clearly it's also becoming much more common and easier to find organic foods, even in your local supermarket. The price tag might be a bit higher for these organic foods, but it's worth it - not just for your health, but for the health of the farmers who grow the food, the planet, and future generations to come.

Feeding Your Spring Garden Plants

The best time to start feeding your garden is in spring. At this time of the year the ground is still moist from the winter and early spring rains. As the ground warms up with the warmer spring weather you get ideal growing conditions in your garden.

This is a crucial time for growth in the garden and you will need to ensure that your plants have the necessary nutrients to benefit from this period.

The small feeder roots that will be developing will seek the nutrients that you need to supply them. By choosing the correct foods for your plants they will have better foliage, they will be stronger plants and will also have more abundant flowering and fruiting.

Rich compost fertilizer for soil. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are three key factors that are needed in a balanced plant food, and they are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

A plentiful supply of nitrogen will ensure that your plants have healthy foliage. Phosphorus improves the plants root health, and potassium will encourage the plant to bloom and fruit.

As you can see they are all needed for the overall health of the plants and you should always check on the packaging of the fertilizer to see whether the chemical analysis is suitable. Be sure to ONLY choose naturally sourced, organic fertilizers, and the more balanced they are, the better.

These fertilizers usually come in three forms - controlled release, liquid and soluble.

Controlled release formulations have the nutrients inside a semi-permeable membrane that allows the nutrients to be released into the soil in a controlled manner once it reacts with the soil moisture and temperature. One application can last months and it is ideal for containers and indoor plants and established plants and trees.

Liquid formulations are similar to the soluble ones but they have been mixed with water and can be sprayed on the plants leaves for rapid response. (Compost tea may also be used in this manner - be sure to dilute it with water first so it won't burn the leaves, and apply in the early morning or evening so the sun won't cause leaf burns.) Fish emulsion is also a good natural liquid fertilizer.

Soluble formulations are applied dry and dissolve once the area receives water, which will dissolve the salts and make the nutrients available for the roots of the plant. Blood meal is a good example of a nitrogen-based organic fertilizer that is soluble.

All applications have their benefits and you need to decide which is best for the plants you are feeding. Just make sure to choose organic, naturally based fertilizers, and ideally you want a good balance of all nutrients (such as compost), although this can depend on your soil composition and what nutrients it needs most, so you will want to test your soil first before applying any fertilizer.

Video: Creating A Sustainable Organic Backyard Garden

This inspiring video shows the transformation of one man's backyard lawn into a beautiful, sustainable, organic vegetable garden. He shows and describes in step-by-step detail such things as building his rainwater collection and watering system, including how he did it, what materials he used, and approximately how much some of the materials cost, and setting up his raised beds.

He used the bio-intensive growing method, such as described in the book How to Grow More Vegetables and Fruits (and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops) Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine, for high productivity without the use of any added chemicals. The time-lapse of his garden growing is awesome! Check it out for inspiration on how to create your own garden using sustainable gardening techniques such as rainwater harvesting, bio-intensive growing, and other helpful tips:

Backyard Organic Garden
Learn how to transform a small backyard into a highly productive, self-watering, sustainable vegetable garden that doesn't use any chemicals or pesticides. P...


Other Helpful Resources for Sustainable Gardening in Small Spaces:
   

Video: An Experiment in Backyard Sustainability

As Scott reminds us in this video, we are meant to live in close connection with the earth, and with our food. Many of us have lost these connections over the past 50 years or so, and maybe this is part of the reason so many of us feel so unsatisfied at some level.... Connections with each other and the world around us are some of the richest experiences we can have in life!

So what can you do to rebuild these connections with your environment, even if you don't even own your own home? Scott is actually a renter himself in this video, and he shows you just what is possible in sustainable gardening - even if done with an annual focus, rather than the long-term view of a permaculture system. It's all about balance, and Scott discusses in this video how to achieve this balance in your garden.

Check out this interview for ideas, inspiration, and motivation - and see how easy it can be to grow your own sustainable garden in your backyard!

An Experiment in Back Yard Sustainability
Peak Moment 51: Tour Scott McGuire's "White Sage Gardens" in the back yard of his rental home -- a demonstration site for suburban sustainability. He ponders...

Organic Vs. Sustainable Gardening: What Is the Difference?

We talk a lot about sustainable gardening here, but we also talk about organic gardening, and although they may have some similarities, organic gardening and sustainable gardening really aren't the same thing. We've had a couple of questions from our readers on this subject, so today I'm going to hopefully clear up some of the confusion!

First of all, let's define the two terms.

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Organic gardening means gardening without the use of chemical pesticides, fertilizers or other chemical inputs. Fertilizers can be compost, manure, purchased organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion, seaweed, or many other inputs made of organic matter. Organic means of pest control are also used, from physical methods (removing pests by hand, barrier methods, etc.), to purchasing or making natural insecticides to apply to the plants. If we move up to organic farming (on a larger scale than just gardening, and usually the produce is for sale to the public), organic certification also comes into play. Foods sold with the "organic" label are required to meet certain standards regarding what substances are used to grow, package, and preserve them.

Sustainable gardening on the other hand, means growing food sustainably - both with regards to the surrounding environment, and the process as a whole. Obviously growing food with chemicals is NOT sustainable. Not only does it pollute the air, soil, and water, but it also destroys valuable nutrients and microbial activity in the soil, meaning healthy plants cannot grow there without the use of more and more chemicals. Chemical gardening and farming basically interrupts the natural ecosystem that keeps everything (from growth to pests to disease) in balance, creating a cycle where progressively more chemicals must be used to keep your garden growing and producing. Obviously this is the antithesis of sustainability. But there is more to sustainable gardening than just avoiding the use of chemicals - otherwise it would just be organic gardening.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sustainable gardening in theory means that your entire ecosystem works together as a natural and holistic system, without requiring any outside inputs. Yes, this means you would not purchase any fertilizers or pest control methods - even those made of natural and organic ingredients. It means you nurture your soil first of all, and help it naturally become the best soil it can be. It means that you would use only those items in your garden that you could make yourself, from existing components - such as compost from garden waste and kitchen leftovers, and animal waste only if your own animals produced it. It means that you would use techniques such as companion planting and crop rotation, plus encouragement of beneficial bugs, to control pests and disease, instead of purchasing natural pesticides. Sustainable gardening means utilizing the natural tendencies of plants and their interactions with their environment to grow your garden. This is a step beyond just "going organic".

Obviously this isn't always the easiest thing to do! It may be easier if you actually have a small farm, and not just a garden, so that you can use things like animal bedding and manures in your composting efforts, and allow your animals to help keep the land healthy, as in the example of Polyface Farms. But even if you don't have a farm, you can still incorporate some sustainable gardening techniques into your garden. When planning your garden this year, draw up an actual garden plan, or use some of the available garden planning software, so that you can start a defined cycle of crop rotation. Learn about companion planting, and how you can draw beneficial bugs to your garden that will feed on pests you have commonly noticed in your garden. Choose plants for your garden that are native to your area, or at least grow well in your conditions - e.g. low water, clay soils, whatever your case may be. And of course, if you haven't already, start composting!

This year, try to go beyond just organic in your garden, and be sustainable. Check out our Sustainable Gardening web page for some helpful resources, and the articles below may also give you some good tips on these topics:

http://nhlsustainablegardening.blogspot.com/2013/02/using-organic-vegetable-garden-planner.html
http://nhlsustainablegardening.blogspot.com/2013/01/video-crop-rotation-planning-tool.html
http://nhlsustainablegardening.blogspot.com/2013/06/pest-control-tips-for-organic-gardeners.html
http://nhlsustainablegardening.blogspot.com/2012/10/composting-tips-for-organic-gardening.html
http://nhlsustainablegardening.blogspot.com/2012/02/video-helpful-composting-tips.html

Video: Growing Organically Indoors & Outdoors

This is a bit longer video that goes into detail about soil ecology, beneficial fungi, and why it's so important to grow your soil (rather than your plants) to get the most out of your organic gardening efforts. It may sound a bit dry, but if you're a gardener wishing to better your organic gardening experience, it's actually quite fascinating!

Organic Gardening Outdoor & Organic Hydroponics Growilla Speaking Tips With Online Hydroponic Store
Here we speak with Growilla, going over s...

Video: Choosing Organic Fertilizers for Your Hydroponic Garden

This short video shows some different organic fertilizers you can use in your hydroponic garden. Choosing quality ingredients helps to ensure a successful organic hydroponic garden, without having to resort to chemical fertilizers.

How to Create & Manage an Organic Garden : Using Organic Hydroponic Nutrients
Learn how to use organic hydroponic nutrients for your garden's benefit in this free educational video series. Expert: Steve Contact: www.myspace.com/solorga...


Organic Hydroponic Fertilizers Shown In Video:
    

Dealing with Rose Diseases & Pests Organically

To make sure that your prized roses remain in the best of health, follow these tips when you notice the following symptoms.

1. Black Spots on Leaves

Black Spot on rose leaves. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This disease is commonly known as black spot. Black spots appear as circular with fringed edges on leaves. They cause the leaves to yellow. Remove the infected foliage and pick up any fallen leaves around the rose. Organic sprays may be used to prevent or treat this kind of rose disease with varying success.

2. Stunted or malformed young canes

Known as powdery mildew, this is a fungal disease that covers leaves, stems and buds with wind spread white powder. It makes the leaves curl and turn purple. Spray with an organic fungicide to treat this fungal disease, and as mentioned in Tuesday's post, try to surround your roses with other kinds of plants instead of planting them close together with other roses, to prevent the spread of the disease.

3. Blistered underside of leaves

Known as rust, this disease is characterized by orange-red blisters that turn black in fall. It can survive the winter and will then attack new sprouts in the spring. Collect and discard leaves that are infected in fall. An organic fungicide spray may help if necessary.

4. Malformed or stunted leaves and flowers

This is caused by spider mites. They are tiny yellow, red or green spiders found on the underside of leaves where they suck juices. Ladybugs or an application of organic insecticide may help.

Aphids on rose (Photo credit: Scot Nelson)

5. Weak and mottled leaves with tiny white webs under them

This is caused by aphids. They are small soft-bodied insects that usually brown, green or red. Often clustered under leaves and flower buds, they suck plant juices from tender buds. Get some ladybugs for your garden - they feed on aphids and can help keep them under control on your rose bushes.

6. Flowers that don't open or are deformed when they open. 

Thrips could be the reason behind this problem. They are slender, brown-yellow bugs with fringed wings that also suck juices from flower buds. Cut and discard the infested flowers. Organic insecticidal soaps can sometimes help if the infestation is severe.

Remember that roses are hungry feeders that require much organic fertilizer to become healthy bushes. By keeping your roses healthy and strong, you can help them avoid or combat many common diseases and pests without having to resort to chemical methods at all.  

Organic Rose Fungicides & More:
   

How To Grow Roses Organically

A lot of people with organic gardens ask how to grow roses organically. The answer is often - with difficulty. While they are some of the most beautiful and traditional of all garden flowers, roses are not all that easy to grow in an organic garden. They suffer from so many pests and diseases that there is always a temptation to reach for chemical solutions. So in this article we will look at how to grow roses the organic way - without giving in to those temptations.

Climbing roses. (Photo credit: ukgardenphotos)

The first point is to start out with a hardy variety of roses if possible - that is, if you do not already have your roses growing in your garden. This means going for varieties that are closer to the wild rose and less hybridized, such as rugosa, gallica and ramblers with small flowers. The German company Kordes sells hardy varieties of rose that will do well in organic gardens without any spraying.

This may be bad news if you were imagining your garden full of long-stemmed tea roses with huge blooms, but if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense to go for the older varieties. Just like pedigree animals, if plants are selectively bred for their appearance they can start to have weaknesses. The principle of an organic garden is to take a step back from our human desire to control nature to that extent.

Besides, the smaller flowers can be beautiful too, especially if you deadhead them regularly so that flowers keep on coming.

Assuming that you have chosen your roses, let's now consider how to grow roses organically when those darn pests appear. First, it is better to plant your rose bushes in different places around the garden instead of having a dedicated rose garden where they are all together. This can prevent diseases such as black spot from spreading from one plant to the next.

Another important part of disease prevention when you are considering how to grow roses is the method of pruning. It is very important to cut stems cleanly, on a diagonal, when pruning. A straight cut edge or a ragged edge to the stem allows water to collect. Fungal infections will settle and thrive in the damp conditions and invade the plant.

If your roses still suffer from fungal infections or black spot, you can buy organic sprays for these diseases. However, they are not always the instant solution that chemical sprays will tempt you with. It is better to help your plants to avoid succumbing to the disease in the first place.

Aphids on a rosebush. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Apart from disease, roses have insect pests such as aphids. If you are unlucky, aphids can completely infest a rose bush. The best way to deal with them organically is to introduce a predator such as ladybugs (ladybirds) into your garden. You can buy a ladybug farm and a feeder so that they stay - although you should not feed them too well, or they will not need to go eat your aphids!

It is also a good idea to have small flowering plants and herbaceous perennials around your roses. This will create a barrier to prevent fungal spores blowing up from the soil onto the leaves of the roses.

Plants that are in flower in late spring and early summer will attract insects that feed on both nectar and aphids, providing another line of defense against the little green monsters. Nasturtiums will attract aphids away from your roses, while plants of the allium family (onions, leeks, garlic) will repel nematodes. Rosemary, thyme and geranium will attract beneficial insects.

If you let at least one of your rose bushes go to hips instead of deadheading, you will find that birds are attracted to the hips. The birds will be another line of defense that can help you to grow roses successfully in your organic garden.

And be sure to check back Thursday for some tips on dealing with common problems with your roses.

Video: Plant Propagation from Cuttings

This helpful video describes and demonstrates what you need to do know for successful propagation via plant cuttings. This can be a great way to add new and interesting plants to your garden. See a plant you love in someone else's garden? Ask if you can take a cutting! You can quickly and easily add new plants to your garden without having to wait for them to grow from seeds.

In this video he demonstrates how to do a plant cutting with a couple of different herbs - rosemary and thyme. He waters with a kelp mixture to stimulate root production naturally and organically. Kelp can be found in most garden centers, as well as online.

Check it out, and get cutting!

 

Kelp Fertilizers for Cuttings and Organic Gardening:
   

Which Ones are the Weeds?

I have always wondered who ever determined exactly what was a weed? There are some delightful looking weeds that grow in the garden even when we don't want them to be there.

I guess the best explanation of what represents a weed is, a weed is a plant that is growing somewhere that it shouldn't be. I have known people who will happily leave weeds in the garden if they think their color and style will add to the variety of their garden. I don't mind a few weeds if they're not terribly invasive, but some plants become weeds just by invading other available spaces where we don't want them.

More often than not, we fight the never-ending battle to eradicate these unwanted residents from our gardens only to have them grow back faster than ever.

Weeds (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The problem with weeds is the fact that many of these plants are better at seeking out the nutrients in the soil and by doing so they are using the goodness that we want for the plants that we choose to have in the garden. They can also suck up that all-important water that can be scarce during the hot season, and they can shade or crowd out our garden plants. Many weeds also attract insects to the garden that can affect the condition of other plants.

No matter how diligent we are at removing weeds from the garden they will always reappear as their seeds are transported by insects, the wind, and even on the clothing and shoes that we wear.

Replanting from one garden to another can easily introduce new weeds so it is always important to check the soil and the roots of the plants that you are moving to ensure you aren't transplanting weeds also.

Most of the time pulling weeds is the best way to remove them, although in some areas a hoe can also be of use. Once they are removed, adding a covering of mulch will help to reduce the return of weeds. Another method that helps is to lay a thick layer of dampened newspaper on the ground before covering it with mulch. This is very effective, and the newspaper will decompose easily into your soil and and even provide food for beneficial earthworms.

Once you get the weed population under control, usually it gets easier with each passing year, as long as you stay on top of it. Be sure to remove weeds before they go to seed, and you'll have fewer and fewer unwanted weeds in your garden area.

Tips for Properly Watering Your Garden Plants

The summer has just started, and already it's watering time here in Central Ohio - this spring has been quite a bit drier than usual. As all gardeners know, watering is one of the most essential components of garden success. Plants are approximately 90% water and therefore it is essential that they get enough water to survive.

Gardening is all about balance and that applies to the amount of water your plants need to stay healthy. Over watering can be as harmful as not giving them enough water. Too much water can reduce the plants ability to draw oxygen and nutrients from the soil and this is as essential to their growth as the water.

The soil that the plants are growing in is a big factor in the amount of water that you should be giving them. If the soil is heavy and doesn't drain well you will need to give them less water or they could get water logged and the roots can rot. If the soil is a lot freer draining then you might need to water a little more often.

Drip irrigation uses a series of pipes and tubes to deliver water to the base of each plant. Because little water is lost to evaporation and runoff, this method uses less water than sprinklers and trenches. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Gentle watering is better than heavy watering with a hose as the higher pressure of the hose can cause the soil to turn to mud, and can also compact it. Once the soil dries out again it will become solidified. This compacting of the soil after heavy watering makes it more difficult for the plants to grow.

Soakers (also called soaker hoses or drip irrigation) are a good method of watering provided the flow of water is not too great. Soakers are also excellent when using a timed irrigation system so that the plants get sufficient water when you are away and particularly in the hotter months of the year when the soil tends to dry out more often.

If you are using timed irrigation you will need to adjust the timing and the flow of water according to the seasons and always make changes when there have been unseasonal changes to the weather that will require extra care for the plants.

Once again, garden plants need the human touch to maintain that balance - and that's what only you, as a gardener, can provide.

Mulching Your Organic Garden

Mulch is great for your garden and for the environment, simply because you are turning something that would normally be thrown out as waste into a food supply and a very effective one at that.

Mulch will help to maintain moisture in the soil and reduce the weeds in the garden too.

Mulch.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Generally you should mulch in damp weather so the plants will have sufficient moisture in the soil. If you are using mulch in dry conditions make sure you water the soil first to retain some moisture as it will be harder for any water to get to the roots of your plants through the covering of mulch. Mulch keeps the soil moist but it can also stop the soil getting moist if the water can't penetrate.

If you are using lawn clippings for mulch make sure you haven't used any chemicals on the lawn prior to cutting, that could have a detrimental affect on your plants. If you leave the clippings to rot first this will often reduce any side effects that these chemicals might have on your plants.

Lawn clippings can also generate a lot of heat so spread them around lightly in thin layers and don't smother your plants with it - they are a green form of compost materials, and they do heat up a lot while decomposing.

There are many different things that can be used for mulch, from lawn clippings and plant cuttings to straw, hay and bark.

All those autumn leaves that are blowing around your property can make good mulch but they really need to be left to rot before being used, as they can be too acidic if used too soon.

If in doubt with anything you are using for mulch, leave it to rot first, or compost it, and you can be sure it will be better for your garden.

Moon Gardening In Your Organic Garden

Moon gardening is a modern take on what is believed to be an ancient gardening method. There is really nothing new or different about it. You do exactly the same things that you are doing in your organic garden already - you just do them at particular times according to the phases of the moon.

It is well known that the gravitational pull of the moon has an effect on natural phenomena such as tides. Moon gardening simply takes the ancient belief that the moon also has an effect on the plants and animals living on the earth, and translates that into principles that you can apply in your garden.

The waxing gibbous Moon as observed from Earth (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The principles of moon gardening governed farming as well as hobby gardening for centuries, if not for millennia. It was only in the 20th century, when modern farming methods and chemical fertilizers were introduced to make intensive farming possible, that farmers and gardeners abandoned the old ways.

The best known principle of moon gardening divides the moon cycle into four periods. The first and second periods are when the moon is waxing or getting bigger, with the first period ending when you can see the first quarter of the moon (a half moon shape). The third and fourth periods are when the moon is waning or getting smaller. The fourth period includes the dark day(s) until the new moon begins the cycle again. A full moon cycle is approximately 29 days, so each quarter lasts for around one week.

In the first quarter of the cycle, you can plant leafy crops. In the second period, you can plant fruit crops. In the third period, plant root crops and perennials.

In the last period, you do not plant anything. At this time, according to the principles moon gardening, the tidal pull means that the water table is receding and there is less water available for your plants. So this is not a good time for seeds to be planted or for seedlings to be planted out.

During this final period, you can do other things in the garden such as pruning. The main thrust of deadheading roses, dahlias etc should also be undertaken during the last quarter of the moon's cycle. The plant will then put out more flowers while the moon is waxing. If you deadhead earlier in the moon cycle, the flowers that grow back will be fewer and weaker.

To take moon gardening a step further, there are also guidelines on what to plant according to where the moon is in the sky. Leaf crops are best planted when the moon is in Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces; root crops when it is in Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn; flowers when it is in Gemini, Libra or Aquarius; and fruit when it is in Aries, Leo or Sagittarius.

Phases of the moon. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So if you are about to plant a fruit tree, for example, according to moon gardening, you would wait until the week when the moon is in its second period (between the first quarter and the full moon). Then, during that period, choose a day when the moon is in the astrological houses of Aries, Leo or Sagittarius.

Note that this goes by where the MOON is in the sky, not the sun. It is sun signs that tell us that, for example, Aries runs from mid-March to mid-April. This has nothing to do with where the moon is. The moon moves through the houses more quickly, and only stays in each house for 1-2 days.

To find out which house the moon is in, you will need to consult a lunar calendar. You can find these online, but keep in mind that it varies in different parts of the world. Look for one that relates to your own country, state or region.

Some people are skeptical about the idea of planting and gardening according to the phases and position of the moon, but why not give it a try? You do not have anything to lose, and you may find that your organic garden thrives on moon gardening.

Organic Gardening Supplies for Beginners

If you’re a beginning organic gardener, you’ll want to know which supplies you’ll need to invest in to get the most from your garden. Organic gardens aren’t too different from other types of gardens, except that organic gardening supplies such as fertilizers and preventative measures should be chemical and synthetics-free.

Online organic gardening sites contain a plethora of information and all the supplies you’ll need to become an enthusiastic and successful organic gardener. Here are some examples of supplies you might want to look for:

Container gardening. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Soil conditioners – Preparing the soil for organic gardening is the most important task you can do to ensure a beautiful and prolific organic garden. Products such as biostimulants can boost the soil and increase flower, vegetable, herb and fruit production. They’ll also reduce the stress that can harm some plants during planting.

Propagation supplies – These organic gardening supplies are necessary if you plan to start your own seeds. You can find flats, domes, rooting gels and powders, plant labels and other supplies that will make your organic gardening experience a positive one.

Tools and accessories – Gardening tools necessary to any type of garden include soil testing, weed control, pruning tools, stakes, ties and plant supports and soaker hoses. You might already have some of these items on hand.

Container gardening supplies – Many begin their organic gardening adventure by starting out with several “organic” containers for planting. That’s a great way to start if you’re not sure about the process and don’t want to invest a lot of money at first. You can find hydroponic supplies, organic potting mix and more online.

Pest and Disease Control – For organic gardeners, your pest and disease control supplies are especially important to reap a successful garden. Items such as organic insect sprays, repellents, traps and disease control products can help set your mind at ease about your garden being safe from pests.

Composters – True organic gardening requires compost material, and it’s much easier if you have the proper equipment. A compost crock that sits in your kitchen and holds food waste can be purchased online for under $25. Larger, compost tumblers cost more, but if you decide you’re really serious about organic gardening, it’s a clean and convenient way to recycle.

You can find all the organic gardening supplies you’ll need online – from greenhouses and hydroponic growing materials to organic sprays and fertilizers. Your efforts to maintain an organic garden can help create a sustainable environment that will help keep both you and the planet healthy.

For more on organic and sustainable gardening, including supplies and educational resources, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html.