Afternoon Everyone!

This post is the final in my short series on Organic Gardening.  It will cover Organic Fertilizers and Compost. I have enjoyed writing it for you and I hope you have found it useful.

Organically fertilizing your plants is not quite as simple as it is when you use chemicals in your garden.  Chemical fertilizers are certainly convenient, although not environmentally friendly.  Most of them come in a form that only needs to be mixed with water and sprayed onto plants, yet they still provide a very real danger of toxins for both humans and animals alike.

Organic gardeners need good, organic fertilizers and compost for fertilizing their plants.

So here are some steps you can take to help you in your selection and use of the correct products:

1.         If you’re going to purchase a pre-made organic fertilizer, you need to pay careful attention to the information on the package.  Plants generally need nitrogen, phosphorous, and potash.  Some are high in one of the major plant nutrients, but low in the other two.    You should first research which of these nutrients your particular plants need, so that you purchase the correct type.

2.         Some common types of organic fertilizers include blood meal, fish emulsion, cottonseed meal, compost, manure, and seaweed fertilizer.  Many of these can be purchased, but a lot of them can also be made at home.

3.         You must be mindful that it is best to fertilize when the ground is warm enough.  Organic fertilizers need organisms in the soil to break them down and release the nutrients they contain.  So make sure the soil is warm and moist so the organisms in the soil will be active.

4.         Cottonseed meal is one of the common organic fertilizers. It is a byproduct of the cotton manufacturing process.  It is great for acid-loving plants, because it has an acidic reaction in the soil.  It generally contains about 7% nitrogen, 3% phosphorous, and 2% potash.  Cottonseed meal is usually used for flowering plants like azaleas and rhododendrons.

5.         Fish emulsion is a very popular organic fertilizer.  It is made of a blend of decomposed fish.  It is a high-nitrogen fertilizer, and contains a lot of trace elements which are very beneficial for plants.  Fish emulsion is a nice, balanced fertilizer.

6.         Blood meal is the blood of cattle that is collected from slaughterhouses and then dried and powdered.  This is high in nitrogen, and care must be taken to ensure it doesn’t burn the plants.  Be most careful not to exceed the recommended dose, as this could really harm your plants.  Blood meal is also high in several trace elements like iron.

7.         Manure is a well-balanced fertilizer, however it is relatively low in the nutrients it contains.  Although it is a very popular fertilizer, it just isn’t high enough in these important nutrients to make it a viable or strong choice for home gardeners.

8.         Seaweed fertilizer in the form of a seaweed tea is popular and often used by organic gardeners.  Dried seaweed is added to water and steeped like tea, then applied to plants like other liquid fertilizers.  This can be a very good fertilizer, and won’t burn plants.  It is very high in nutrients.  Use dried seaweed, and be sure it’s not roasted or seasoned.

9.         This one generally raises a few eyebrows.  Some people use sewer sludge for their fertilizer.  It is made from recycled material from sewage treatment plants.  You can purchase activated sludge, which is higher in nutrients, or you can buy composted sludge, which isn’t quite as good.

It is generally found in a granular form. There is some concern over the safety of sewage sludge, because it can contain buildups of heavy metals like cadmium.  This can build up in the soil in potentially harmful levels. So if you are going to include this as one of your fertilizer choices then make sure you are clear about its use and application.

Image by Becoming Green via Flickr

Well, that is about it from me on the Organic Gardening advice train. I hope you have found this little series helpful and if you have any questions….or, hey! if you have any advice you would like to share with us or our readers, please go to our contact page or use our Submit A Post. We would really love to have your input.

On that note, if you enjoy a cold larger or a good pint or,  like Sherry and Margarita, a smooth Sherry or a well mixed cocktail, then this surely is the time to do it.

I am!!  Bottoms Up People!

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Ask any gardener what their biggest problem is that they face with organic gardening – without fail they will say…’dealing with pests’.

I know of some top gardeners who know first hand that an infestation of aphids or cutworms can absolutely devastate a garden!  They have at one time or another, been victim to these ‘garden nasties’ and have had an entire row of plants wiped out in days, sometimes hours.

Now, far be it from to tell a fellow gardener this, but…it’s important to try to prevent infestations, rather than just treating them when they occur.  So what you are going to have to do is spray your plants with solutions that will deter many of the most common garden pests.

There are many organic solutions available, but like me, you can make your own.  Now you probably are asking the question ‘Where do I find recipes for homemade solutions?

Well, we have some here on our site at RoseGardenMania.com. There are also quite a few interesting potions in  Sherry n Margarita’s long awaited but soon to be released new book called ‘Growin Roses with Sherry n Margarita’ which will be available here on our site in October 2009.

You could also use recipes that can be found in most organic gardening books

Generally most of them are sort of like a tea, made with things like hot pepper sauce and garlic. Oh..and worms!!

When you can, you should try to plant species that are native to the area in which you live.

These plants have natural immunity to many common diseases in the area.  There are also plants that are pest-resistant, and won’t have as many problems with pests as other varieties. If you plant early enough, you may be able to avoid the worst part of the bug season.

Insects have just a short period of each year in which they will be active and eating your plants.  If you plant early, you may be able to harvest before those pesky insects terrorize your plants.

Do everything you can to encourage natural insect predators like ladybugs, praying mantis, ground beetles, and birds.  Some types of plants like mint and rosemary can attract many beneficial bugs that can help you keep other insects under control.

Always, always keep a close eye on your plants

Try to spot potential problems before they have a chance to get out of control.  If you see a hornworm on your tomato plants, pluck it off quickly and drown it by sending it off without water wings for a swim in some soapy water.  By watching your plants daily, you will have the best chance to stop these ‘garden terrorists’ before they become too difficult to handle.

If you’re having trouble with a particular pest, a good idea is to take pictures and then try to identify the pest.  You can go online and try to search for it.  If you can’t identify it, take your pictures to your local plant/nursery centre or library and ask for help to identify it.

Once you’ve identified the pest, you set about to getting the correct advice on how to control or eliminate it.  Just be sure to bear in mind to tell whomever you are asking for advice, that you are an organic gardener, and ask them if they have any ideas for you.

Now I have some gardener friends who prevent some pests by installing netting over their plants.  Although this is probably a last resort, you may be able to save your plants from utter devastation if you have a particularly bad season of beetles or other such bugs.

Just remember, netting will also prevent beneficial insects from reaching your plants, so if some pests make it through, it may be harder to detect them. It may also prove difficult for predator insects to control them as well.

Pest control can be a very challenging part of organic gardening.

If you lose a crop to insects, you may be tempted to abandon organic gardening and rush out to buy a chemical spray.  A lot of organic gardeners experience this!  Don’t feel bad.  It can certainly be very frustrating to deal with pests, especially when you’ve worked very hard to take care of your plants all season.

But just remember, organic gardening has so many benefits that it’s really worth it to go through all of the extra work.  Your family will be rewarded with healthy food that is safe to eat and you will also be able to give yourself a huge pat on the back for the help that you will be providing to the environment as well!

Help and encouragement for the organic gardener is everywhere.

So chin up guys.  Stay cool.  Stay strong.

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Garden Riff Raff!! We all hate them. We all cus at them.  With pure evil in our hearts, we all go to extreme lengths to rid our precious gardens of them.  Let us take a serious look at how to organically control weeds in an organic garden.

Weeds are the bane of any gardener, but they can be especially bothersome to organic gardeners.  Many gardeners choose to use weed killer to get rid of weeds, but if you have made the decision to ‘go green’ then you can’t be doing that in an organic garden.  So what can you do?

Well, first you need to identify your most troublesome culprit (weed), and then you are going to have to show it your muscles and deal with it in the way that best gets rid of it.

Take a look with me at a few of the most common troublemakers, and let’s discuss what you need to do to rid your garden of them.

Image via Wikipedia

1.   Dandelion is one of the worst offenders.  This guy is the garden riff raff ‘gang leader’. Although some people choose to grow dandelions for their greens, most gardeners just want to get rid of them.

To get rid of dandelions, you need to dig out the entire taproot.  Always pull them up with a hoe before they flower.  You can spread corn gluten over the areas you wish to keep free from dandelions in the early spring.  This will help keep a lot of the seedlings from growing.

2. Crabgrass is a major pest in many yards and gardens.  It is a pretty tough customer and very tough to pull up, this guy is especially hard to get rid of.  You are going to have to pull up the entire plant, including all of its roots.  Be serious in declaring war against this maniac and suppress further growth by spreading down corn gluten in the early spring.  You should also mulch to prevent the seeds from germinating.

3.    Poison Ivy is just awful, is undefeated in, and consistently wins, the ‘Horrible Plant Award’.  It can cause terrible rashes even with very mild exposure.  Please always ensure that you wear gloves when handling this horror, and don’t ever let it touch any part of your skin.

Importantly show this guy you are serious and cut the plant at the base, then let it dry out completely.  Bury the vines, or throw them away in the trash.  Never, ever burn poison ivy, because the smoke can be fatal!  Oh…..and….Do not compost poison ivy.

3.   Lamb’s quarters – no this is not a cut of meat.  This is an edible wild green.  Some people grow these for food, but most people think of them as common weeds.  They can be difficult to get rid of.  You can hoe or pull up the plants when you see them.  Then you should mulch heavily to suppress the seedlings.

4.    Ragweed is a plant that many people fervently want to get rid of.  It’s a very common allergen, and its pollen is a major cause of hay fever.  Hoe up seedlings, and use a mower to mow down full-sized plants.  Use mulch to cover the areas where it grows.  Interestingly, you can compost ragweed if it hasn’t yet gone to seed.

5.   Purslane is an edible plant.  Simply remove individual plants by hoeing.  Now you need to know that if you pull the plants, they can re-root themselves if you then leave them lying on top of the soil.  The seeds of this plant are industrious little pests and can mature after the plant has been pulled, so don’t compost them.  You can mulch to prevent these from growing.

6.   Prickly lettuce is an annoying little begger.  It can cause itching and burning if it comes in contact with skin, so wear gloves when you handle it.  Pull or hoe plants, or cut the taproot below the soil.

You might wish to leave it alone, as it can attract beneficial insects, but it can carry lettuce diseases.  Be sure to keep it away
from your lettuce patches.

7.  Cocklebur is poisonous to livestock, so be sure to keep it away from your animals.  Hoe or pull plants beneath the soil line.  You can compost it if it hasn’t yet gone to seed.

Alrighty now fearless fellow organic gardeners of the world…declare full all out organic war against these Garden Riff Raff.  You have what you need to get started ….so, go on!…..

Put the fear of the irish into your garden enemies, march fearlessly into the garden yelling confidently….’Feed..Prune…Protect!!’

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Droves of people are turning to organic gardening and organic produce as a way to feel safer and more confident about the foods they eat.  In truth I suspect most of us are just a tickle worried about the foods we put into mouths and how they may affect our bodies.

Have you too noticed the increase in reports of food poisoning caused from fruits and vegetables? Is it any wonder then that so many are so worried about what they are eating.

Ok, so finally the penny is dropping in relation to just how dangerous all of those chemicals that we spray plants on can be. Did you also know that many chemicals used on plants have been banned because they are suspect if not proven to cause cancer?

So, that makes us all feel better, right?  Wrong! …some dangerous chemicals have not yet been banned, and there may be plenty of hidden dangers that haven’t yet been discovered.

This brings me to why it makes sense to garden organically. For starters we can feel safer about the food we eat.  We can feel confident that the food we are feeding to our families is safer and healthier than the questionable stuff found in supermarkets and grocery stores.

We all deserve to eat food that won’t give us all cancer!

Organic gardening is also extremely beneficial to the environment for several reasons.

Consider for a moment, this less than attractive or palatable ‘chain reaction’ that occurs when we do not garden organically:

1.    Every time you spray your plants with chemicals, those chemicals are washed from your plants and onto the ground.  From there, those chemicals wash down into the ground, and eventually make it into the groundwater!

2.    When the insects on your plants are poisoned, they very likely will be eaten by birds or other animals.  These animals may then become sick and die.  If the toxicity was high enough, any animals that ate those animals might also perish.  This situation is now well on its way to having a very strong environmental impact.

3.    By killing too many of a certain species of insect, you can also cause an imbalance in the local wildlife.  If you and your neighbors kill off a large portion of the population of one insect, then anything that depends on that insect for food might also start to die off.

4.    Now, ….Wow look what we have created. Things are starting to get pretty serious – anything that depends on the second species for food ”may also soon begin dying”.  This could spin out of control if the problem becomes too widespread.  However unlikely this could be, it is not impossible.

Ok, so enough of how bad things can be, let us take a look at how good and even tastier things can be if we change what we have always been doing in the garden..to “What We Should Be Doing In The Garden!”

Organic produce gardening is safe and,….organic produce is well known for its superior flavor.

For example, organic carrots are widely known for being much sweeter than traditionally-grown carrots.  They don’t have the same bitterness that other carrots can have.  This is a very good reason to grow your produce organically, even if you aren’t worried about the chemical effects to your body and the environment.

There are obviously a few drawbacks to gardening organically, too.  You have to deal with pests differently, and it may be a somewhat more complex process to rid your plants of certain pests.

So let’s consider some of those necessary changes:

1.    Instead of picking up some chemicals, you will in some instances have to pick off insects by hand and drop them into soapy water.

2.    You are going to have to spray your plants with solutions made of things like hot peppers and garlic to prevent some bugs from eating them.

3.    You also have to stick to organic fertilizers, rather than using easy chemical fertilizers.  But, chin up guys….Organic fertilizers can actually be cheaper, because you can make them yourself.  Fish emulsion is another common organic fertilizer.  It’s a sort of tea made from dead fish.  Seaweed fertilizer is another tea-like fertilizer that many organic gardeners swear by.  There is also Worm Tea that rose gardeners are famous for making.

4.    Of course there’s natural compost that can also help you make use of your kitchen waste!

The benefits of organic gardening far outweigh the few drawbacks.  It may be a bit more work, but my-oh-my it is so rewarding!  So go to it my fearless garden friends.  Help yourself, your health and that of those you love and feed on a regular basis.

Help our environment and the wonderful creatures that God provided to help us create healthy flora and fauna on this our truly beautiful plant earth.

Go Green….Go Organic…Go start Organic Gardening today!!

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