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Tips for Chemical-Free Gardening



Tips for Chemical-Free Gardening

This time of year, gardeners are re-evaluating the season they had, talking about what worked or didn't work and the problems they had with their online groups and social networks. With this in mind we feel it is important to look at how we intend to garden next year.

Every year, thousand of chemicals are poured into the environment and millions of gallons of water are needlessly wasted. How? By growing plants. Sure, most of this is done by large agricultural producers, but some of it is still done in personal gardens. And that means that you can make a difference by changing your gardening practices. There are many agricultural producers who have done it, and you can use the same tricks to help your own garden, and the planet.

Pick appropriate plants. Not all plants are appropriate for the area you live in. While you might be able to control the temperature, humidity, and rain conditions inside your house, you cannot do it out in the garden. If you pick appropriate plants for your area, you may be able to avoid using fertilizers and saving on water too. Research, what plants are native to your surrounding areas and try planting them in your own garden. Wildflowers, are just that, they can pretty much be left alone and will thrive in most areas.

Plant intensively, using plant companion charts, and this will not only increase your yield and the diversity of those harvests, it will keep the soil in production. Open soil is where those weeds will try to grow. Mulch where you can as well, and this will keep that soil soft and moist, making any weeds that do breach the mulch barrier easier to pull.

Pick natural repelling plants. You do not need poisons to keep away garden ruining pests. Many flowering and herbal plants produce chemicals that repel these animals naturally. By putting them in or around you garden, you can keep your garden safe with little effort and no chemicals, while attracting pollinators.

Those same plants that act as natural repellents can often be used as an ingredient for home-made pest control sprays. Rhubarb leaves (unless you have pets), hot pepper, vanilla, garlic cloves, lemon balm, marigold, and lavender can help repel insects from your garden. The more flowers and herbs you grow, increases the diversity in your yard and that diversity of flowers will bring in natural pest controls (wildlife that eats your pest) - also, mono-crops are a huge attractant to pests.

And, simply - pull the weeds. All to often gardeners look for a quick and easy way to safely get rid of weeds without chemicals, but the good old fashioned way is still very effective. It you take time every day to pull a few weeds as you harvest, or plant or walk by - you'll find it only takes a few minutes so it won't seem like a lot of work since you are not trying to weed the entire yard at once. You can even get the kids involved, just be sure to do it properly so seeds are not spread around. There are even some common weeds that are edible, if there are no pesticides on them.

Farmers all over the world use crop rotation to naturally fertilize plants. The concept is to change what crop you are putting in a certain field each year. Plants use different nutrients and put other nutrients back into the soil. If you rotate crops that replace the nutrients the other plants use, you will have to fertilize the soil less. You can use this same concept in your garden by planting different plants every year, or just rotating where you put specific plants in the garden.

So, you've made all these changes and are using a low-water, chemical free garden? Fantastic!! - now the most important thing to be done: pass it on! One garden can make a dent, but more can make a bigger difference. Tell your friends, teach your kids, you can even visit their school and teach your kids friends! Every little bit helps make a better world.

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