Garden Maintenance Articles
How to Stop Your Dog from Digging Up Your Garden
Let’s face it. If your lovable little furry friend is creating craters in your yard, he’s only doing what comes naturally. Digging is a natural part of puppy hood and some adult dogs dig because it is part of their genetic make up.
So Is It The Dog or The Garden?
If your furry friend is digging his way to China it is possible you will never stop his digging completely. But many people have dogs and …
Create a Backyard Habitat-Make a Haven For Feathered and Furry Friends
If you live in a city or suburban area, the idea of creating a backyard habitat for birds and other wildlife is a responsible thing to do. As residential areas grow, and woodlands are lost, there are fewer places for birds and animals to take up residence, forage for food, and to retreat to in response to dangerous predators. It is not a difficult task, does not use many resources that you do not already …
Organic Lawn Renovation
Fall is a good time to renovate the lawn, if your lawn needs lots of work. Cooler temperatures and shorter days allows the grass seed to sprout and grow a strong root system before the winter. Organic lawn renovation is not terribly different than conventional lawn renovation, with the exception of removing or knocking down any existing lawn grass. Conventional practices call for spraying an area to be renovated with roundup before …
Using Mulch in Your Garden
There are many individuals who automatically think of mulch as being the shredded bark that is colored red, brown or black and is used primarily to beautify the landscape in flower gardens. This method of mulching has its benefits which should not be discounted. Any type of mulch retains moisture and suppresses weeds. However, this should not be the only type of mulch that is used in the garden. What other types of mulch are …
Pollination 101
“Let me tell you about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees and the moon up above. . .”
The birds and the bees, huh? It is time for a refresher about pollination, because this is the time of the summer when many vegetable/fruit plants are at their peak of producing, and it is very important that everyone understands what that means for them, as gardeners. Especially, organic gardeners.
Where’s the Bees?
You’ve probably …
Conventional vs. Organic Growing
There are a number of reasons why organic gardening is better than conventional or commercial growing. Some of the reasons are more obvious than others. As small scale backyard gardeners, there is a tendency to focus just on the plants and practices in our own yards and on our own tables. However, conventional vs. organic growing is a hot topic and has more global ramifications.
What Do …
Learning Self Sufficiency Through Community Organic Gardens
Look around your neighborhood. In a ten block drive, how many places can you count that could potentially become a community organic garden? Are there vacant lots, or abandoned buildings that are otherwise serving no purpose? What would it look like instead if there were garden plots, and neighbors working together in those spaces?
There are a number of towns and cities in the nation who are attempting to find out what that would look like; while educating …
Using Natural Insecticides in Your Organic Garden
Unless you began your life as an organic gardener, this time of year can get frustrating as you try as hard as you can to keep bugs, insects, worms, and caterpillars from chewing through your precious crop.
You really want to do the right thing, but the pull toward the ”just this once”, application of mass-destruction full spectrum insecticides and toxic chemicals are calling out to you. Perhaps you still have some lurking in the corner of garage, …
Watering Your Garden – Proper Techniques
Many gardeners don’t think about how they water – they just go out, turn the hose on the sprinkler, and forget about it. Either that, or they use a watering can and give a gentle sip every morning.
However, there are proper techniques that will not only keep your garden healthier, it’ll teach them to grow stronger roots, disease will be less prevalent and, most importantly, you’ll save money by wasting less water….
Plan Your Garden For Fall Color
Your yard and garden can look just as great in the fall as it does during the spring and summer, if you plan ahead and plant accordingly.
Setting the Stage
For the super stars of your fall color garden spectacular to show up, you need a nice background. In beautiful, mountainous regions with spectacular fall color (think Vermont), evergreen trees scattered throughout the mountainside provide a bit of …
