How to Establish an Organic Garden

There are several ways in which you can make a garden organic. If you follow these simple steps, you can have an organic garden:

Soil Conditioner

Many people use synthetic fertilizers to condition the soil of their garden. This can be harmful to the environment. In an organic garden, instead of using a synthetic fertilizer you would use organic matter as a soil conditioner. Organic matter includes things such as decaying plants and animal waste. Things such as dried leaves, grass clippings, and food scraps are all examples of organic matter.

Feeding the Soil

It is important in organic gardening to feed the soil because the soil is what feeds the plants. The soil needs to be conducive to plant health. By conditioning the soil with organic matter you will improve the soil's texture. You will also attract vital soil organisms that will help to create much needed nutrients in the soil.

Pest Control

Synthetic pesticides are not used in an organic garden, so this means that you will have to be extra vigilant in your pest control. Plants in an organic garden may not look as perfect as those plants in a garden that uses pesticides, but you have to recognize the trade off. By inspecting your plants regularly you can help keep pests off of your plants.

If further pest control action is required, ways to control garden pests include:

* Organic pesticides – can be used when necessary

* Determine if insects are the problem or if the plant is stressed for some other reason (lack of water or nutrients)

* Diversify your garden – do not put all of the same plants on one row. Try interplanting.

* Barriers are important – yellow sticky strips, row covers, and foil collars can be helpful

About the Author

Emma Spivey writes for Solar fountains, her personal hobby blog focused on tips to design an eco-friendly garden to protect wild fauna (mostly birds).