This post has been contributed by Diana Smith
Being a gardener is like being able to grow your own piece of heaven. These private green areas are a safe haven for those who want to relax, meditate, and contemplate. However, merely wishing to have a part of your property which is suited for this beautiful form of escapism is clearly not enough, it requires constant work throughout the seasons to maintain a garden and to keep nature’s wild expanse at bay. A lot of people are also returning to organic methods of gardening, so if you want to do yours in an economically sound way, too, here are a few guidelines which will help you understand what it takes.
Being a gardener is like being able to grow your own piece of heaven. These private green areas are a safe haven for those who want to relax, meditate, and contemplate. However, merely wishing to have a part of your property which is suited for this beautiful form of escapism is clearly not enough, it requires constant work throughout the seasons to maintain a garden and to keep nature’s wild expanse at bay. A lot of people are also returning to organic methods of gardening, so if you want to do yours in an economically sound way, too, here are a few guidelines which will help you understand what it takes.
Do a little manual labour
Yes, earth and grass harbour all manner of slimy creatures like slugs and snails, but do not shy away from using your own two hands to humanely remove them. They usually come out either during the night or after rainfall, so grab a torchlight, or a raincoat and go get them. Natural ways to repel snails are to sprinkle crushed eggshells on the earth surrounding the plants. The egg shells have sharp edges which feel unpleasant under the snails' soft bodies, so they will avoid climbing over them to get to the plants. Coffee is also effective at repelling snails and slugs. It can be used in one of two ways, you can place cooled coffee in a spray bottle and use it to spritz plants, leaves and soil or sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of the plants you wish to protect from snails. This will also help to enrich the soil.
Also, aphids should be eliminated as soon as you spot them because they can become a major infestation if unattended. Just cut them off and throw them away on time.
Yes, earth and grass harbour all manner of slimy creatures like slugs and snails, but do not shy away from using your own two hands to humanely remove them. They usually come out either during the night or after rainfall, so grab a torchlight, or a raincoat and go get them. Natural ways to repel snails are to sprinkle crushed eggshells on the earth surrounding the plants. The egg shells have sharp edges which feel unpleasant under the snails' soft bodies, so they will avoid climbing over them to get to the plants. Coffee is also effective at repelling snails and slugs. It can be used in one of two ways, you can place cooled coffee in a spray bottle and use it to spritz plants, leaves and soil or sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of the plants you wish to protect from snails. This will also help to enrich the soil.
Also, aphids should be eliminated as soon as you spot them because they can become a major infestation if unattended. Just cut them off and throw them away on time.
Garden hygiene
It may sound strange for having to think about your garden’s “hygiene”, but clean and tidy gardens drastically reduce the chance of disease spreading to plants from rotting vegetation. Wherever there is organic rot, it is, in fact, a breeding ground for fungi, so this way toxic fungicides won’t be a necessary solution. Keeping things in order will also reduce the food supply for snails and slugs, and leave them homeless/defenceless. The moment you round up dead leaves in a pile, dispose of it on time, because pests won’t have a place to eat and hide.
It may sound strange for having to think about your garden’s “hygiene”, but clean and tidy gardens drastically reduce the chance of disease spreading to plants from rotting vegetation. Wherever there is organic rot, it is, in fact, a breeding ground for fungi, so this way toxic fungicides won’t be a necessary solution. Keeping things in order will also reduce the food supply for snails and slugs, and leave them homeless/defenceless. The moment you round up dead leaves in a pile, dispose of it on time, because pests won’t have a place to eat and hide.
Some animals are your allies
Just as cats are good for chasing away mice and other rodents, so do birds like tits feast on aphids, while thrushes eagerly devour snails and slugs. If you want help from such winged creatures, than install a bird feeder on a nice tall tree and welcome them as your guests. You can make their refuge your own little carpenter project, which can be both artistic and fun. Also, frogs can be of great assistance in keeping the pest population under control, especially those pesky insects which thrive during warm months of the year. You just need a pond for them to hang out and breed.
Just as cats are good for chasing away mice and other rodents, so do birds like tits feast on aphids, while thrushes eagerly devour snails and slugs. If you want help from such winged creatures, than install a bird feeder on a nice tall tree and welcome them as your guests. You can make their refuge your own little carpenter project, which can be both artistic and fun. Also, frogs can be of great assistance in keeping the pest population under control, especially those pesky insects which thrive during warm months of the year. You just need a pond for them to hang out and breed.
Organic wood preservatives
Making a fence and other wooden instalments always require protection from decay and the weather. Buying natural paints and wood covering from local suppliers is definitely a must if you want to keep things organic, just make sure that the seller is authorized and that the wares are certified.
Making a fence and other wooden instalments always require protection from decay and the weather. Buying natural paints and wood covering from local suppliers is definitely a must if you want to keep things organic, just make sure that the seller is authorized and that the wares are certified.
Organic pest control
This is a bit of a pickle because not only are some products expensive (like lime and copper sulphate), but treating your garden with them can be rendered useless in bad weather. Also, there is a chance you can kill beneficial creatures this way, so consult a professional and gather sufficient information to estimate what approach will do you justice the most.
This is a bit of a pickle because not only are some products expensive (like lime and copper sulphate), but treating your garden with them can be rendered useless in bad weather. Also, there is a chance you can kill beneficial creatures this way, so consult a professional and gather sufficient information to estimate what approach will do you justice the most.
Supply yourself with tools
No gardener is complete without a nice set of tools, so shovels, hoes, gloves, pruning shears, spray hoses, and other items are simply a must-have. Digging deep, cutting, watering, fertilizing, fencing; there are all manner of activities that need to be done if you want to maintain your personal meadow properly, which is why a trip to the local store for supplies is an inevitable part of gardening. Oh, and focus on purchasing a compost bin because unless you have a dog that is a bottomless pit when it comes to food, kitchen scraps can produce nice compost to nurture your soil.
Conclusion
Having a plain, trimmed lawn is, in fact, easy compared to having a beautiful, lush, and tranquil garden. However, a little effort goes a long way because being surrounded by nature has more benefits than we can imagine. Just keep things organic and you’ll see how everything can bloom.
No gardener is complete without a nice set of tools, so shovels, hoes, gloves, pruning shears, spray hoses, and other items are simply a must-have. Digging deep, cutting, watering, fertilizing, fencing; there are all manner of activities that need to be done if you want to maintain your personal meadow properly, which is why a trip to the local store for supplies is an inevitable part of gardening. Oh, and focus on purchasing a compost bin because unless you have a dog that is a bottomless pit when it comes to food, kitchen scraps can produce nice compost to nurture your soil.
Conclusion
Having a plain, trimmed lawn is, in fact, easy compared to having a beautiful, lush, and tranquil garden. However, a little effort goes a long way because being surrounded by nature has more benefits than we can imagine. Just keep things organic and you’ll see how everything can bloom.
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