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Saturday, November 27, 2010
Organic Vegetable Gardening
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Creating a Wildlife Garden
In order to create a garden that draws and sustains wildlife, the garden must feature food sources first and foremost. Many times by planting native plant species, you will automatically draw wildlife who will feast upon the berries, nuts, fruits and seeds that these plants produce. Flowering plants are also beneficial as they help attract birds and other creatures that use the nectar, sap or pollen as food.
In addition to food, animals also need a water supply. The water supply might be a natural resource such as a nearby creek or lake, or it can be much smaller and manmade such as setting out a birdbath or a shallow dish in the garden for butterflies to drink from.
If you watch out your window next time it rains, don’t be surprised to find birds or butterflies splashing about in mud puddles. No matter the source, animals will make use of water in any form they can find it.
Just as we do, animals need shelter. Again, plants, shrubs and brush provide this well.
It is also nice to leave hollow logs or tree stumps available for animals to nest in or raise young in, protected from the elements and predators. Ground cover and evergreens make good year-round shelter for a variety of creatures, particularly in winter when other trees and plants are sparse. Rock walls or mounds make good homes for lizards, and beneficial snakes. Leaf or straw mulched areas are an excellent spider habitat.
If you have a very small garden, you might wish to place a roosting box in your yard to offer a home for various creatures. Fennel or parsley plants make great homes for hungry caterpillars.
In order to create an organic variety wildlife garden, it is important that pesticides or other chemicals not be introduced into the garden. Organic gardening not only benefits the wildlife, keeping them safer and healthier, but also the environment, keeping our air and water cleaner and safer too. Instead of chemical fertilizers, organic gardens rely upon compost, which is a natural means to fertilize any garden, chemically free, while recycling food wastes, all at the same time. Composting is a great way to be both earth-friendly and wildlife-friendly.
Wildlife gardens can be watered in an eco-friendly fashion via the use of conservation measures. Rain barrels are an excellent way to collect and reuse rainwater for both plants and animals. Soaker or drip hoses make great alternatives to more wasteful watering or irrigation systems. Consider relying upon one or more of these methods to be as efficient as possible when watering your wildlife garden. You can naturally reduce your water needs via the use of native plant species, as native plants inherently require less water than non-native plants.
Another way to be environmentally aware when creating a wildlife garden is by reducing lawn space to create a sustainable garden. Allowing for less lawn and more natural habitat will naturally draw more creatures to your garden and is a more green way to live, requiring less water and no harmful chemicals.
In addition to food, animals also need a water supply. The water supply might be a natural resource such as a nearby creek or lake, or it can be much smaller and manmade such as setting out a birdbath or a shallow dish in the garden for butterflies to drink from.
If you watch out your window next time it rains, don’t be surprised to find birds or butterflies splashing about in mud puddles. No matter the source, animals will make use of water in any form they can find it.
Just as we do, animals need shelter. Again, plants, shrubs and brush provide this well.
It is also nice to leave hollow logs or tree stumps available for animals to nest in or raise young in, protected from the elements and predators. Ground cover and evergreens make good year-round shelter for a variety of creatures, particularly in winter when other trees and plants are sparse. Rock walls or mounds make good homes for lizards, and beneficial snakes. Leaf or straw mulched areas are an excellent spider habitat.
If you have a very small garden, you might wish to place a roosting box in your yard to offer a home for various creatures. Fennel or parsley plants make great homes for hungry caterpillars.
In order to create an organic variety wildlife garden, it is important that pesticides or other chemicals not be introduced into the garden. Organic gardening not only benefits the wildlife, keeping them safer and healthier, but also the environment, keeping our air and water cleaner and safer too. Instead of chemical fertilizers, organic gardens rely upon compost, which is a natural means to fertilize any garden, chemically free, while recycling food wastes, all at the same time. Composting is a great way to be both earth-friendly and wildlife-friendly.
Wildlife gardens can be watered in an eco-friendly fashion via the use of conservation measures. Rain barrels are an excellent way to collect and reuse rainwater for both plants and animals. Soaker or drip hoses make great alternatives to more wasteful watering or irrigation systems. Consider relying upon one or more of these methods to be as efficient as possible when watering your wildlife garden. You can naturally reduce your water needs via the use of native plant species, as native plants inherently require less water than non-native plants.
Another way to be environmentally aware when creating a wildlife garden is by reducing lawn space to create a sustainable garden. Allowing for less lawn and more natural habitat will naturally draw more creatures to your garden and is a more green way to live, requiring less water and no harmful chemicals.
Chemical vs Natural Pesticide Control
Applying chemical pesticides to your plants may not only be toxic to your plant, but also to you. On the other hand, using natural pesticides to rid your vegetable garden of unwanted bugs can be time consuming, and not all natural remedies work for every gardening situation.
To control pests in your vegetable garden without using any form of pesticide, natural or chemical, you need to physically pick the bugs off the plants several times a day. Some of these plant-eating bugs feed at night. Therefore, you would need to patrol your garden 24 hours a day picking bugs. This method of pest control is very unlikely. So, if plant-eating bugs have invaded your vegetable garden, you need to decide how to handle the pests; use chemical pesticides or a find a natural organic remedy.
Chemical pesticides will work in ridding the garden of unwanted bugs. If used correctly, chemical pesticides claim to be safe for use on foods that are consumed. The question remains, what the long-term affects of these chemicals are. What are the chemicals doing to the soil and the area around your garden where rainfall and runoff occur? Could this pesticide affect your water source? Can the chemical pesticide harm animals or children if they come in contact with it? These questions should be considered before choosing which chemical pesticide you use.
On the other hand, while a chemical free, natural organic garden, may take more time and effort, natural remedies for pest control are less expensive. Most of the ingredients and tools you would require are probably in your kitchen, or lying around your house.
Vinegar is a very popular choice as a natural pesticide for bug control in your garden. Vinegar has been tested as a weed and grass killing herbicide with wonderful results. Therefore, take caution when spraying on your vegetable plants. The vinegar may indeed kill the bugs, but may also kill your plant as well.
Also insecticide soap has been proven to kill and deter pests. Precautions must be taken when using soaps. If sprayed onto the plant in full sun, it could burn the leaves. Also, the soap is meant to be sprayed directly on the bugs. This remedy may take several days to actually kill the bugs so keep an eye on the plant destruction.
Garlic is also known to be a natural deterrent to the plant eating bug population. Some bugs find their food through smell. Garlic has a pungent odor and therefore bugs and plant eating critters stay away.
Used coffee filters also deter bugs. Place the filter around the base of the plant. Bugs don’t like the feel of the paper or the grounds, and won’t venture to the plant. Also, the filters are biodegradable and the coffee that remains on the filters contains beneficial Nitrogen.
Choosing natural methods of pest control in your garden will take more time to maintain. But the fact remains, chemical free gardens are better for you, your family, and the environment.
To control pests in your vegetable garden without using any form of pesticide, natural or chemical, you need to physically pick the bugs off the plants several times a day. Some of these plant-eating bugs feed at night. Therefore, you would need to patrol your garden 24 hours a day picking bugs. This method of pest control is very unlikely. So, if plant-eating bugs have invaded your vegetable garden, you need to decide how to handle the pests; use chemical pesticides or a find a natural organic remedy.
Chemical pesticides will work in ridding the garden of unwanted bugs. If used correctly, chemical pesticides claim to be safe for use on foods that are consumed. The question remains, what the long-term affects of these chemicals are. What are the chemicals doing to the soil and the area around your garden where rainfall and runoff occur? Could this pesticide affect your water source? Can the chemical pesticide harm animals or children if they come in contact with it? These questions should be considered before choosing which chemical pesticide you use.
On the other hand, while a chemical free, natural organic garden, may take more time and effort, natural remedies for pest control are less expensive. Most of the ingredients and tools you would require are probably in your kitchen, or lying around your house.
Vinegar is a very popular choice as a natural pesticide for bug control in your garden. Vinegar has been tested as a weed and grass killing herbicide with wonderful results. Therefore, take caution when spraying on your vegetable plants. The vinegar may indeed kill the bugs, but may also kill your plant as well.
Also insecticide soap has been proven to kill and deter pests. Precautions must be taken when using soaps. If sprayed onto the plant in full sun, it could burn the leaves. Also, the soap is meant to be sprayed directly on the bugs. This remedy may take several days to actually kill the bugs so keep an eye on the plant destruction.
Garlic is also known to be a natural deterrent to the plant eating bug population. Some bugs find their food through smell. Garlic has a pungent odor and therefore bugs and plant eating critters stay away.
Used coffee filters also deter bugs. Place the filter around the base of the plant. Bugs don’t like the feel of the paper or the grounds, and won’t venture to the plant. Also, the filters are biodegradable and the coffee that remains on the filters contains beneficial Nitrogen.
Choosing natural methods of pest control in your garden will take more time to maintain. But the fact remains, chemical free gardens are better for you, your family, and the environment.
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