Go Green with an Organic Garden
How to your own organic fertilizer.
Have you considered growing an organic
garden? If you’re like many homeowners, you have concerns about the chemicals
you use daily. Preserving our plants and protecting are bodies can be as simple
as growing an organic garden. With so many effective organic fertilizers and
pesticides, you can easily protect your plants, the environment and yourself.
Bad
Chemical Fertilizers
What are the problems with chemical
fertilizers? Most chemical fertilizers provide a rapid release of nutrients
that’s short-lived. Your plants will experience a growth spurt, then the
nutrients fizzle out. This uneven growth can lower the yield and quality of
your harvest. The chemicals in the fertilizer can leach deep into the soil when
there’s a hard rain, thus making them inaccessible to the plant’s roots and
possibly polluting the groundwater. Chemical fertilizers broadcast a salty
environment, which is damaging to soil. In addition, chemical fertilizers can be
harmful to the soil’s microorganisms, such as earthworms.
Why
We Love Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers improve your soil
by allowing it to retain nutrients and moisture better. Organic fertilizers are
added to the soil. As microorganisms break them down, the nutrients are
released which feed your plants. Since this decomposition occurs slowly, your
garden is nourished slowly and steadily. You never have to worry about
overfertilizing your plants and burning them, which often occurs with chemical fertilizers.
Plus, organic fertilizers ensure the long-term fertility of your soil by
stimulating the growth of microorganisms. Since organic fertilizers are
all-natural, they are safer to use around your children, pets, and family.
Going organic is the natural solution.
Making
your own Organic Fertilizer
Of all the recipes that I’ve tried,
this is the organic fertilizer mix that works best for my garden. Since the
basic composition of soil varies from region to region, some experimentation
might be necessary for you to find the combination that works best. These
ingredients can be bought at your local farm supply and feed store. If kept
dry, the organic fertilizer you mix today should be good for a few years. Want
a great organic fertilizer for your lawn without the trouble of making you own?
Ringer Lawn
Restore is the perfect choice. It feeds your turf the appropriate mix of nitrogen,
phosphorous, and potassium, releasing nutrients only when the conditions are
right.
Organic
Fertilizer Mix
4 parts seed meal
1 part dolomite lime
½ part kelp meal
½ part bone meal
½ part rock phosphate or high-phosphate
guano
Make
Your Own Organic Compost
Recycle your grass clippings and yard
debris to make your own compost. With an organic
compost starter, you can be composting in no time,
thanks to the specifically designed microorganisms that rapidly and efficiently
start the process of decomposition.
Fertilizing
with Your Organic Fertilizer
Knowing when to apply an organic
fertilizer will depend on where you live and how early spring has sprung. Three
weeks prior to planting your garden is the best time to add organic fertilizer,
manure and compost to your soil. Your local lawn and garden store can advise
you when the time is right.
Let’s consider a garden that’s 100
square foot. You will want to add from ¼” to ½” of compost or manure plus 5
quarts of organic fertilizer mix. Then till the soil to distribute the
additives evenly. This involves digging down the length of the shovel, lifting,
and turning the dirt over. This loosens the soil and prepares the area for
planting. After your garden is in the ground, you can add small amounts of
organic fertilizer every few weeks to the individual plants as needed.
Controlling
Pests in Your Organic Garden
With organic fertilizer and compost,
your garden is off to an excellent “green” start. You’ve come too far to resort
to a chemical pesticide, so be prepared to defend against bugs with an organic
insect killer. These
products break down naturally into elements that are beneficial to plants and
the environment. Look for an organic tomato
and vegetable insect killer that’s all-natural with no synthetic
or man-made chemicals. Be sure to check
for the Organic Materials Review Institute-listed®(OMRI) and
USDA-approved National Organic Program seals, because these are the only products approved for organic
gardening. The most effective insect killers have the ingredients Pyrethrins
and potassium, and kills a variety of insects, including caterpillars, aphids,
bean beetles, tomato hornworms, asparagus beetles, and leaf hoppers.
You deserve a bountiful garden free
from chemical pesticides. With the right organic fertilizers and pesticides
you can enjoy the true tastes of your produce. Good luck and happy gardening!
Article Tags:
Organic Garden, Organic Fertilizers, Chemical Fertilizers, Organic Fertilizer
