| Quick Tip: Organic Gardening |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-401 |
|
|
|
advertisement
|
A thriving garden doesn't have to depend on chemical fertilizers and insecticides, says Ask DIY Gardening expert Jessie Mack Burns. With good basic care and natural-based additives, you can achieve healthy, gorgeous plants and flowers in a few easy steps! - First, evaluate the condition of your soil to make sure it's nutrient-rich. Organic matter is the key to every healthy garden, so if your soil is low in this department, beef it up! Adding compost or peat moss to your flowerbeds will go a long way in helping your plants establish a good root system.
- Secondly, choose plants that are native to your area for best results.
- Two to three times a year, treat your plants to a feeding of slow-release organic fertilizer.
- While watering needs will vary according to location, a good rule of thumb is to water deeply at least once a week.
- Add mulch to help plants retain their moisture.
- Finally, control harmful insects with non-toxic alternatives like soap, pepper and beneficial insects.
- If you've followed these tips and your plants still aren't thriving, use a soil test kit to check the soil's pH level. The ideal pH is seven; if your reading is a little high, add some lime to slightly "sweeten" the soil (decrease the acidity). If it's below seven, try adding extra organic matter to increase the acidic content.
RESOURCES :
Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control
Rodale Press Inc. (Organic Gardening Magazine)
Emmaus, PA 18098
Phone: 610-967-5171
Fax: 800-813-6627
Email: customer_service@rodalepress.com
Bugs, Slugs & Other Thugs: Controlling Garden Pests Organically
Model: 0882666649
Author: Rhonda Massingham Hart
224 pages
(July 1991)
Storey Books / Storey Communications Inc.
Website: www.storey.com
| 
