Gardening has its rewards and bounty, but it can also get expensive sometimes. Water bills, fertilizer, plant food, and pesticides, are just some of the common expenses related to gardening; add to that gardening tools and containers, and you may understand why some gardeners are looking for methods to garden that are pocket friendly as well as green.

One expense that some gardeners face is mulching. If you have a big area, it can become expensive. There are many ways that you can handle this expense and get your mulch free. One way is to start in your own garden. It is there for you to pick up and reuse. Your grass clippings and small pruning’s are perfect mulching material. Spread them around in your yard to reap the benefits. Your lawn will require less watering since it will retain more moisture. Most lawn mowers now have the capacity to mulch the grass while cutting it – a great investment. Read the rest of this entry »

The ever growing interest in organic gardening starts with the premise– you are what you eat. Gardeners have developed a
plethora of methods for planting, growing and nurturing their crops, all without using chemical (fertilizers or pesticides). The results are a garden-fresh and chock full of nutrients taken directly from the soil, organic gardeners believe. Organic farmers also are concerned about the pollution of the environment by an accumulation of chemicals.

The growing popularity of organic gardening magazines can be traced to the increased use by farmers of insecticides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers. All are produced by companies catering to farmers who desire to have a crop easy to harvest and sturdy enough to withstand rigors of shipping. Frequently, the treated product is picked and then allowed to ripen in a warehouse weeks later. Taste is ignored completely.

While the health benefits of organic gardening are the subject of debate with both non-organic growers and within the industry itself, there is no denying the tender care given each crop produces a vine-ripened tasty product.

But just shunning the use of chemicals is far from all that is required to become a successful organic gardener, according to
The choice of the word “organic” to describe the process is misleading because it means anything containing carbon.

Organic gardening is best defined as only using substances that at one time were alive. The staple of organic garden is compost, basically garbage and plant residue that has decayed to the point that its original form is unrecognizable.

Horse manure is a main source of fertilizer, often turned into a manure tea that can be poured in liquid form around a plant. The organic gardener also believes in chasing insects. Methods other than chemical pesticides exist to combat nasty little plant-eating aphids and other insects, organic gardeners insist.

The most popular method, though, is by growing healthy plants that are naturally pest-resistant and by intermixing different types that can assist each other in dealing with potential problems.

Vanquishing aphids can be accomplished with a mixture of soap, water and a little garlic pepper. Here is an anti-aphid recipe: Mix a quart of water with one tablespoon of Ivory liquid soap. Add to the mixture a blenders ground concoction of hot peppers and garlic. Spray it on the leaves plant under attack, and the aphids will leave. Read the rest of this entry »

Gardening is a pleasant activity, one to enjoy while reaping the benefits of beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables. However, gardening comes with responsibilities too. These refer to proper gardening techniques, following city restrictions when there is a drought, using friendly methods to the environment when handling pesticides to control pests, and of course conserving water as much as possible.

When planting, mind your soil. The type of soil will determine how much water it will adsorb. If you plant in containers, mind the type of container as well. Plastic containers retain more water than clay or cement pots. If your soil absorbs a lot of water, mix it with compost. This will make the soil retain the water and will be an excellent fertilizer for your plantings.

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