Organic Gardening Tips

How to garden organically


You are here: Home / Archives for organic gardening tips

Desert Plants

by

Despite how harsh the desert may seem, there are broad types of desert plants that survive in dry conditions. These plants are hardy, thriving on little water, a great deal of sunlight, and conditions that would wither or kill most living things. However, just because these plants can survive in a terrain many creatures cannot, desert plants do not necessarily make good house plants.

However, those who manage to raise desert plant indoors get the rewarding experience of nurturing a type of plant that many people do not usually get to see up close. These plants can serve as conversation starters, as well as adding a unique atmosphere to your home.

When you think of desert plants, the most common desert plant to come to mind is the cactus. Wild cacti can grow to several feet tall, and usually do not handle home life very well. Many require special greenhouses with artificial lighting to survive. Don’t be discouraged, there are cactus species that can be grown indoors for your enjoyment. These include the Acanthocalycium klimpelianum, the Acanthocalycium spiniflorum, the Acanthocalycium thionanthum v. variiflorum and the Acanthocalycium violaceum, as well as many other varieties. All of these cacti tend to be small, round in shape, and have one or several blossoms at the top of the plant. Like desert wildflowers, cacti require delicate care in order to survive. Unlike common belief, you cannot just neglect your cactus and water it infrequently. They need a certain amount of exposure to the sun, and scheduled watering. Without this, your plant will wither and die. Cacti are among some of the most difficult plants to keep in a home, so you will need to approach their care with caution.

If you are looking to keep desert plants in your home, there are a few key things that you need to keep in mind. Plants like the Apache Plume, the Arizona Poppy and the Blue Phacelia require a great deal of sun and warmth. While they can survive the freezing spikes of the desert night, these plants need conditions that resemble the desert in order to survive. If you plan to grow any one of these plants in your home, you should take care to provide them a great deal of light and be cautious of over-feeding.

Should you follow the few rules of desert plants – scheduled watering, proper temperatures and exposure to sunlight – you will be able to enjoy your plants for years to come.







Pest Control for Organic Gardening

by

The idea of organic gardening pest control is not a new theory, and in fact is as old as agriculture. The problem is that since World War II organic pest control has been replaced in civilized countries with man-made pesticides that are detrimental to both the environment and to the people who consume the plants on which the products are sprayed. More and more people today are doing organic gardening and prefer not to use pesticides. There are varying beliefs on the use of these products, with some people opposing their use only on food crops, whereas others simply try to reduce their use as much as possible.

Many different reasons make logical sense for utilize organic gardening pest control methods. Most importantly, if pesty insects are left alone, free of pesticides, they ae less likely to become resistant “super bugs”. Organic methods tend to be less polluting and blend into the ecosystem around it instead of disrupting it. In addition, because many of the pesticides that are available are derivatives of petrochemicals, their costs are higher, thus making alternatives more attractive. Whatever the reasons may be for avoiding their use, the organic gardener has to be prepared to work in order to make up for the loss of those chemical products that he chooses to abstain from using.

Organic gardeners have several effective, non-chemical methods that they can utilize to control garden pests. Using a method known as varietal selection, where pest and disease resistant seeds are used, is one of the easiest ways to avoid pest problems. The cultural control method of organic gardening pest control involves changing your gardening methods in order to reduce the hospitality that your garden offers to pests. This may mean removing or burning diseased plant material and destroying weeds and plan debris that provide hiding places for insects. Using stakes to keep fruits off the ground as well as pruning to remove diseased limbs, removing sickly plants, proper building of the soil, and making sure the plants are in raised areas in rainy seasons also help control diseases and pests. Crop rotation can also help in the prevention of disease and in pest control.

Although it takes longer to eradicate pests with these methods, in the long run they are safer and even prevent pests from attacking other crops in the area as well. Although organic gardening pest control may present a longer and more strenuous process, it is well worth the time and effort.

Stone Walls

by

One of the best ways to enhance any landscaping plan is to include a stone wall or two. Whether you chose to use natural stone or manufactured blocks, the effect is unique and impressive. Few yards can’t profit by having areas marked off or raised for dramatic effect, and using stone makes those boundaries more defined.

Some of the things you can create include a retaining wall, a raised bed or border, for a complete range of ideas you can contact your local landscaping business. Manufactured blocks are easier to use and appear more formal in the yard. When looking for a large pallete of colors and shapes you will want to choose manufactured stone. They are designed to fit together in a specific way that ensures their stability.

You can delineate an area that is specific as a planting bed with a low line of blocks or stone. Create a flower bed using a low stone wall. Using serval rows of rock will help you create a raised bed in your yard. Raised beds are particularly good for flowers and vegetable plantings. Once you build the wall you add soil and amendments before planting, these beds usually have fewer weeds as well.

Formal stone walls have been used for thousands of years to delineate borders, to create field boundaries and to help retain soil and water. Farmers in New England used the stones they found to build the stone walls that now dot the whole area. In older parts of the world you will find stone walls scaling hills to create terraces that allow people to plant in areas that otherwise would be not be farmable. Stone walls are normally not needed to hold the land in place but are mainly for beauty.

If you are looking for a one of kind stone wall look, then natural stone is for you. It is best to get a selection of sizes of stone, since that allows you to create a more stable wall in the end. The beauty of a well done stone wall is like art. If you spend time fitting the stones together correctly the result with be a beautiful stone wall.

By contacting a local landscasping firm you can get a complete range of ideas for using both natural and manufactured stone. Many such centers can also provide building services and design services that help you bring your dreams onto the page and into your yard. It takes some planning to design something that is harmonious with the curves and flow of your yard. Once a plan is determined you can decide if you want to do the work yourself or have someone else come and do it.

Stone walls are a good addition to any yard. Stone walls will last almost as long as time itself.

How to Grow Beautiful Roses

by

Millions of people enjoy the look and fragrance of roses.  Growing roses add color and beauty to any area.

Adding a few rose bushes or many to your landscaping is a good choice.  They make a great addition to any yard and serve a variety of purposes in your landscape design. 

To have the best looking roses on the street you will need to learn how to prune them the right way.  You can simply use your pruning sheers to guide your rose bushes where to grow.  Make your roses grow where you expect then to otherwise they will grow wildly and not where you want. 

With you directing them as to where to grow, you have the control over width and height.  Only allow them to grow in the space you have set for them.  You must keep in mind that roses need some space to grow in.

There are different ways to prune your rose bushes to direct their growth.  When you prune your roses in different ways it makes then want to grow in different directions.  Be sure to plant your rose bushes in a sunny spot, as they enjoy the sun.

You should use garden stakes to help encourage your roses to grow to your walls or walkways.  Climbing roses are very pretty growing up a trellis or on an archway and having these helps the roses grow upwards.

It takes lots of time and patience to grow roses and if you choose this for a project stick to it. It is worth it in the long run.  When you are getting started growing roses, it requires a lot of your time and patience. Knowing how to do it helps a great deal.

As you can see, roses take more time to grow properly than other flowering plants, but the results can be stunning. So utilize the ideas given here and get started growing roses.

How to Choose the Correct Grape Variety

by

So you decided to grow grapes then.

How do grapes grow is a good question.

But beware, this is where most of the grape grower make their first mistake.  Choosing the correct grape variety is one of the most important decisions any home grape grower needs to take, when it comes to growing grapes. The precise variety will stand between being a successful grape grower or failure.

In the past, choosing a grape vine variety that suits your climate, soil and growing conditions, was much harder than today. On this current situation, there are more than 20 000 known grape varieties in the world, people living in climates, previously thought not suitable for growing grapes, can now plant varieties that was specially bred for to survive in harsh grape growing conditions.

Backyard grape growing is becoming more and more popular by the day, as people more and more strive to live healthier and look after our planet more carefully. Unfortunately, not all backyard is suitable for grape vine planting. You will have to do some research on what varieties suits your climate, your soil and the availability of good quality water.

The next major concern for most home grape grower is a disease called Phylloxera. During the late 1800’s, there was a phylloxera epidemic (a sap-sucking insect that feeds on the roots of the grape vine) destroyed more than two thirds of all the vineyards in Europe. The breeding of Phylloxera resistant/tollerant rootsock, interferred or stopped this disease from killing all grape vines. he preferred method today is planting grafted varieties because the rootstock does not interfere with the development of the grapes.

When choosing the correct grape variety, it is best to visit vineyards in your area and see what varieties are successfully grown there. Most of the time, this is a surefire way of knowing that you have chosen the right variety.

Cold damage to grape vines is another grape growing problem that will influence the choice of grape varieties. If cold damage is an obstacle where you live, choose a variety with a short growing season, so the grape vines have enough time to harden off before winter comes.

A final word of advice; if nobody grow grapes in your area, it doesn’t mean grapes can’t be grown there. Probe first and choose wisely. There is nothing more gratifying than enjoying grapes, grown on your own grape vine and prepared by your hands.

There is a lot of growing grapes book that you can find in a bookstore.

Best of luck!

 

Meta

Connect With Us