All about Mulch

When you are in need of mulch it is not necessary to get in your car and drive to a garden center. Mulch is readily available at your own home and free for the taking. Read on to learn how to make your own mulch which can not only save you time and money, but also be more earth-friendly.

Grass clippings are great for annual gardens including herb and perennial gardens. They are free and abundant in summer when lawns must be cut frequently. Simply attach the bag to your lawn mower and collect the clippings as you cut the grass. When you are finished, simply spread the clippings over the garden bed. It is important, however, to never use grass that you think may have been treated with herbicides.

Leaves are mulching superstars. Leaves from most any deciduous tree will do the job nicely. Be sure to shred them first by running over them with a lawn mower to help keep them from blowing around. Spread them 2 inches deep and be sure to replenish the supply as the leaves decompose. Leaves will attract earthworms, which in turn will help convert the decaying leaves into wonderful fertilizer for your soil.

Pine straw or pine needles make excellent mulch. It looks nice and smells great. Straw can be piled up to 8 inches thick. If you live in a wet climate, avoid straw mulch as it can draw slugs.

Wood chips work well, but should not be used too close to homes, as chips can draw termites. Chips work nicely to cover paths easily. If you have to get a tree stump ground ask that the chips be left behind. Some tree trimming companies or arborists will allow you to haul off wood chips for free.

Newspaper can work surprisingly well when layered as a weed barrier. Thicknesses of 4 layers should be laid wet in the garden. You may then cover with a more decorative form of mulch such as wood chips. Do not use paper sections that feature colored inks or slick advertising papers in vegetable or herb gardens.

What are Beneficial Insects?

Some people might hear the phrase “beneficial insects” and think this is clearly a misnomer. How can insects possibly be helpful? Isn’t that why they are called “bugs” after all?

But in actuality, some of these pesky critters can prove immensely helpful to your garden.
Insects have natural enemies. By introducing beneficial insects to prey upon destructive insects that are eating plants, you have laid the foundation for an organic garden.

Ladybugs are an excellent example of a beneficial insect. These spotted beauties prey upon aphids and other similar soft bodied insects. Ladybugs are drawn to flower pollen and nectar which they need for reproduction.

All spiders eat insects, therefore proving to be extremely important to organic gardening.

Straw mulch is a huge draw to spiders, encouraging them to take residence in a garden. Garden variety spiders are not poisonous, and prefer to remain outdoors, so you need not worry about them following you inside.

Flower flies, which look a lot like little honeybees, are attracted to flowers and their pollen and nectar. These flower flies prey upon aphids and are able to get into tight spots other beneficial bugs can’t fit into. Flower flies are also active earlier in the season before other bugs, getting a head start warding off aphids in the spring. Flower flies are also helpful to pollinate berries such as strawberries and raspberries.

Wasps are an extremely important category of “good bug”. They are known to attack the eggs of other detrimental insects, keeping populations of “bad bugs” under control. They are attracted to gardens by flowers for pollen and nectar.

Ground beetles prey upon slugs, snails, cutworms and root maggots. In order to draw beetles to your garden, consider growing perennial ground cover or placing logs, stones or rocks nearby for them to burrow under.

With a little thought and planning you will attract the right kind of bugs that help you to sustain a beautiful garden chemically free.

Choosing The Right Organic Fertilizer

Organic gardening revolves around the concept of using all natural products to grow your garden. Organic gardeners depend on Mother Nature to rid their gardens of unwanted byproducts, forgoing their chemical counterparts that have devastating effects on the Earth. 

Decomposing plants and animals are excellent fertilizers for enriching the soil.  Enriched soil allows plants to grow and thrive using the available nutrients from the dead organisms, all while increasing the soil's microbial life.

Organic gardeners know that it is important to know a fertilizer's nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium ratings.  These micronutrients promote leaf growth, fruiting, flowering and rooting.  The N-P-K fertilizer compound can be applied by either the method known as top dressing, which is a process in which the gardener adds the fertilizer to the top couple of inches of soil by the root zone and mixing it to avoid run-off, or by brewing a tea of fertilizer mixed with water.  Either method will encourage increases in microbial life.

Worm castings are also a great, natural fertilizer.  Worms eat the compost and soil in the garden and excrete castings that are five times as rich as what they had eaten.  They also aerate and oxygenate your garden by digging tunnels as they eat.  This act provides much needed oxygen to the roots of the plants.

Compost is often used as an organic garden fertilizer and can be created easily with home items such as grass clippings, table scraps, and dead plants.

Of course, these are just a couple of natural fertilizers that can be used in your organic garden.  A gardener could also use such fertilizers as manure, bat guano, fish emulsion, seaweed, and many products that are available commercially now.  If every gardener would use one or many of these methods to fertilize their fruit or vegetable garden, they will surely reap the benefits of their organically grown produce.

Controlling Insects without Pesticides

Besides being deadly to insects and plants, pesticides can be unhealthy for humans and dangerous to the environment.   While it may be tempting to buy a bug killer from the local hardware store or nursery to get rid of those pesky insects that seem to be invading your garden, there are other ways to control garden pests and insects without risking your health or hurting the Earth.

By spraying your plants with chemicals, you are defeating the purpose of pure and organic gardening.  Organic gardening entails growing plants by using only what nature provides.  An important part of this gardening system is insects and beneficial predators.

Most insects actually help keep their ecosystem running smoothly, but there are exceptions.  The best way to make sure that unwanted pests stay away and the good bugs can live in harmony with the plants, is preventative measure. 

By growing plants that are best suited to your climate, you will produce plants that are healthy and less stressed than plants that have to work harder to thrive within their environment.  This will deter insects since they tend to attack plants that are in distress.  Also, it is important to maintain the correct moisture and sun/shade level of your plants and to be sure that there is a diverse selection of plants so an infestation of a certain plant won't destroy your entire garden.

By encouraging beneficial insects such as ladybugs and spiders, nature will take it's course and keep the harmful bugs at bay.  Creating an environment that invites frogs, birds, and even some snakes to cohabitate in your garden is another great way to control the pests in your garden.  

By controlling climate and using natural insect and pest control methods, it is possible to manage our gardens without chemicals or pesticides, making our harvests truly a bounty from nature. 

What is the Difference between Perennials and Annuals?

Many gardeners will take the time to select different plants and flowers each year to place in their gardens. Others have old favorites they have enjoyed year after year, and therefore only want to have to plant once every few years.

Selecting different plants for your garden each year can be fun. It is a nice surprise to try out different types and species of flowers and see what they look like in full bloom. If this is the avenue you would choose, then annual flowers is what you are looking for.

An annual flower will last only one year, or season. The flower will complete its entire life cycle during this span. Annual flowers you may consider planting in your garden would include Petunias, Sage, Geraniums, and Marigolds. Take care to properly compost and fertilize the soil to ensure maximum foliage and color from your annuals.

If you have a favorite flower that you want to see in your garden year after year, then your selection in flowers and plants would be Perennial. Perennials don’t really reproduce year after year, but they have been known so last from 2 to 5 years without replanting. The strength of the plant to reproduce will depend on the soil and the nutrients available to the perennial plant. Adding compost and organic fertilizer every year to your garden will help to promote a comeback of color year after year.

Some perennials you many like to add to your garden would include Chrysanthemums, Columbines, Phlox, and Aster.

Whether you choose annuals, perennials, or a combination of both to decorate your garden, it doesn’t matter. Plant what makes you happy. Try out new varieties of flowers and mix them in with your old favorites. But most importantly, don’t forget enjoy the beauty of your garden.

Eco Friendly Gardening Products

While most of us think that gardening is good for the environment, growing our own gardens can have a negative impact on the Earth if we do not watch how we garden and the products we put into the ground.  For instance, it is easy to purchase a fertilizer from the local nursery without even thinking of the harmful effects the chemicals in the fertilizer can cause to the soil, plants, and the garden's ecosystem.  However, today's garden marketplace offers many products that are Earth friendly and chemical free.  These products help us grow a garden we are proud of, while helping us reduce our carbon footprint on the world.

It seems to be a trend in today's day and age to "go green" and companies are responding to this trend by offering eco-friendly products that did not exist just a few short years ago.  Some of the green products offered to gardeners on the market today consist of such things as biodegradable garden film, which acts to protect fruit and veggie plants from weeds and the elements such as frost and wind.  This film is made of animal fats and cornstarch, which will turn to compost.

Other Earth-friendly gardening products on the market today include seed pots made entirely from composted manure.  These pots break down once planted in the ground providing the plants with the renewable resources they need to thrive.  Fertilizers, herbicides, and insect repellants have even become biodegradable.  There are even garden decorations that are made from 100% recycled materials. 

With so many options out there today, there is no reason why every gardener cannot become an organic gardener.  Not only are you saving the Earth, you are growing healthier vegetables for your family.  That alone should be your motivator to use green products on store shelves today.

Great Herbs for Cool Weather Planting

When spring first arrives, outdoor temperatures are still running on the cool side and can fluctuate wildly, so it’s good to plant herbs that can tolerate some cool weather. There are many herbs which thrive in this type of weather and make excellent choices for a spring herb garden.

Cilantro can be planted by seed a week or two prior to the last anticipated spring frost. The pretty green leaves have a bold flavor that is excellent when used to enhance Mexican style dishes. Cilantro grows best in full sun, but enjoys some afternoon shade in more temperate climates.

Parsley which comes in two main varieties, flat-leaf Italian, or curly leaf, is a hardy addition to any herb garden. Parsley is flexible in that it can tolerate up to full sun, but also grow well in partial shade. Some great uses for fresh parsley include tabouli salad, and homemade soups. Parsley also always makes a pretty garnish.

Dill adds a beautiful flourish to the garden with its delicate wisps. It is also is quite a flavorful addition to the kitchen perfectly seasoning fish and vegetables. Dill also is great when used to make dips. Dill grows best when planted in full sun.

Chives enjoy cool weather and are a pretty addition to the garden. Enjoying an onion-like flavor profile, chives are a classic topping for baked potatoes. If you prefer a less oniony flavor, try planting garlic chives instead. Chives can be easily grown from seed, transplants or divisions. You can divide chives every 2 to 4 years to make new plantings.

Chervil looks a lot like parsley, but features a light anise like flavor. It is a very popular cooking ingredient in French cooking. Seeds should be planted approximately 3 to 4 weeks prior to the last frost. Chervil thrives in partial shade.

Give these cool weather tolerant herbs a try for both a cool looking and tasting garden.

Greenhouse Gardening

Greenhouse gardening can provide you with fresh vegetables year round. Building or owning a greenhouse doesn’t have to cause a shock to your wallet, or take up a large portion of your yard.

Greenhouses come in many sizes and are available in kits that you can assemble yourself. Manufactures of greenhouses also offer onsite construction, although a little pricey, will save you the time and trouble of putting in all those screws. After they have constructed the green house, all you have to do is add the vegetable plants and flowers.

Every flower and vegetable that you grow normally outside in your garden can be grown in a green house. The key is to optimize the space you have inside the green house. Include layered shelving in the green house. This will allow you to grow tall and short plants without one interfering with the other.

When greenhouse gardening, it is important to remember that without pollination, the vegetables won’t produce. Although most vegetables are self-pollinating, there still needs to be air movement. Using a small fan in the greenhouse, if electricity is available, will aid in the process. If no electricity is available consider leaving the door open for a short time every now and then to allow a breeze to aid in the pollination process.

Using a trellis system that hangs from the ceiling, will allow your vegetables such as tomatoes, squash, or any plant with vines, to be entwined in the trellis, therefore keeping the vegetable off the ground, and it keeps these plants from getting entwined in the other plants, resulting in a difficult harvest.

You can use your greenhouse to get a jumpstart on the next years planting, or by adding heat to your green house, you can grow vegetables and flowers all year long.

Grow An Organic Salsa Garden the Easy Way

Whether you are new to organic gardening and are not quite ready to delve into an entire vegetable garden, or you just love the taste of tomatoes, onions and peppers mingled together with a little cilantro and fresh garlic, an organic salsa garden may be the perfect garden for you. A salsa garden does not have to take up a lot of room either.  As a matter-of-fact, you could plant a salsa garden in a few containers and grow them right on your porch or deck. 

A basic salsa garden should consist of a couple of tomato plants, one or two varieties of pepper plants, onions, garlic, and maybe some cilantro.  To begin your garden, you will need either a small plot of land you would like to grow your vegetables on, or a three or four containers placed in full sun.  Your land should be tilled and the soil mixed with high quality compost.  If you plan to use containers for your garden, fill them with the same soil/compost mixture.

When planning your salsa garden, it is important to note that some vegetables may need to be planted at different times throughout the year.  Garlic for instance, should be planted in the fall so that they can be harvested in mid-to-late summer, while tomato plants will only  survive if planted after the last frost of the season.

An easy way to keep bugs at bay without using pesticides is to plant your vegetables in a certain order.  Onions and garlic naturally repel bugs, so it is a good idea to plant them next to the tomatoes.  Also, be sure to keep your garden moist and not soggy.  This also deters unwanted visitors.

By following a few simple steps, you will be enjoying spicy salsa by late summer and for months to come!