[ Home] [ Up ] [ Are Cheap Chemical Fertilizers really Cheap? ] [ Gardening on a Budget ] [ Organic Weed Control ]
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| There is a lot of
discussion these days about the merits of organic fertilizers. The
benefits of natural fertilizers such as manures and compost has been known
for years. However, it's been a costly proposition to produce and
distribute organic fertilizers. Chemical based fertilizers are known to be
cost-effective and can accurately supply plants with the proper balance of
Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash (NPK). With much attention to application
methods and proper crop rotation, they can be very effective. At first glance, it seems like the discussion would end right there. Cost efficiency and effectiveness, case closed. But, of course, it can never be that simple. As Paul Harvey might say, "in a moment you're going to hear the rest of the story." First let's consider organic fertilizers. Organic growing is based on the theory that plants should grow in a chemical free environment, just as they do in nature. A study of some of the richest soils in the world finds that they are teeming with microscopic life. Humus, or living soil is the perfect growing environment for plants. Not only do plants thrive in this environment, they are also healthier and less stressed. Less stress means that they are better able to fight diseases and pests. Organic soils are naturally aerated by the microbes living within, and therefore hold more water. These organisms create what has been tagged the "Soil Food Web". The Soil Food Web is a microscopic ecosystem that breaks down nutrients and minerals so they can be made available to your plants naturally. Unlike chemical fertilizers, that tend to evaporate and leach into the ground water, these micro-organism's literally retain the nutrients in their own "Food Bank" and allow the plants to use what is needed now, while storing the rest for future seasons. Your plants are not only able to access the NPK they need but also the wide range of trace minerals that are so important to healthy plants. Now let's take a second look at chemical fertilizers. With the NPK in chemical fertilizers we also get salt. Salt can be a big problem to your soil. Salt will actually kill many of the living organisms in your soil. With repeated applications, your soil is unable to supply the plants with their basic needs. Soon you have plants that are solely dependant on the fertilizers, not the soil! As your plants become stressed, disease and pests become a problem. We now need more chemicals like pesticides to battle the problems we created in the first place. As you can see, this is like a dog chasing his tail. Where does it all stop? Fertilizers, pesticides, fertilizers, pesticides, and on and on. That doesn't sound cost-effective to me. So what is the answer? First, let's agree that organic growing makes the most sense. Regardless of how careful and conscientious we are we can never be assured that chemicals won't find their way into places they were not intended to go. Being a good steward of our environment is just plain common sense. But the question still remains; can organic growing methods produce results? Ask John Evans of Palmer, Alaska if organic growing works. John holds nine world records for giant vegetables and swears the secret is in building a healthy soil. Today, many people are uncovering easy and cost-effective methods that replenish our soils with billions of microbes and rebuild the soil food web that nature intended. So lets take another look at what we are really doing when we grow organically. We are building our soils up with natural nutrients, creating a living soil that is teeming with microscopic organisms that are doing the job of providing our plants with the nutrients they so desperately need. We are building a soil that will sustain plants for many generations instead of just one crop at a time. We find that our soil will hold more water, reducing the need for constant watering. We find healthier, less stressed plants that are strong and able to use their own natural mechanisms to fight pests and disease. We are growing natures way, using only organic, environmentally friendly soil additives that provide us with more nutritious plants for human consumption. We eliminate the risks that come with chemicals, both to ourselves and other creatures in nature. The benefits are many and the alternatives just don't make good long-term sense. Your choice of fertilizers really should be an easy one. Growing organically is a win-win situation. Do your homework, and learn what is really happening in and to your soil. I think you will find that organic fertilizers are better for our environment, more productive, and very cost-effective. |
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Sid Richards contributed this article. Visit Sid's site at www.akbounty.com for more information on organic growing methods. |
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Gardening can get expensive. Soil, fertilizer, flowers, plants and shrubs can
cut into your tight budget yet there are ways you can garden and stretch your
money. Shop around. Plant nurseries are not the only place to purchase plants. Local grocers, farmers markets and flea markets are places to find great deals. One idea is to shop end of season sales with nurseries or garden departments since they get rid of current stock to make room for new plants and shrubs in season. Plants are marked down significantly at end of season sales. Try shopping during weekday mornings and cultivate relationships with nursery salespeople who can be valuable in your quest for items and markdowns. Trading bulbs and plants with friends, neighbors and family is a great way to garden with little or no expenses. You can swap plant clippings, bulbs and other plant material. Just clip a portion of your plant to swap with your friend or neighbor. That is one way I got many of the houseplants I have today. They started out as clippings from my mother and now they are full grown plants! Try gardening with creative containers. Let's face it store bought containers can get pricey so why not use what you have at home? Try wheelbarrows, tool boxes, wagons and other things you have lying around your home. Drill holes in your container and add pebbles or stones before adding any soil to insure good drainage. Recycle what you have on hand. An old nursery changing table can be transformed into a potting table for your gardening materials and tools. All you need is a coat of plant and water sealer for it. Unused bricks and/or rocks make good flower bed edges. Dig around your flower bed and place bricks diagonally along the edges. Don't forget and leftover paint you have around the house can decorate pots and containers. When you think about it, you have many resources to choose from to garden on budget, so why not starting gardening today? ~ Happy Gardening ~ |
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About the Author Sandra Kuykendall-Lombard is a free-lance writer, craftswoman, artist and homeschooler as well as a SAHM to a special needs child. As a free-lance writer, her content focuses on gardening, crafts, relationships and family life. She is currently working on writing a children's book for Special Needs on Bedtime stories while maintaining a position as a Moderator and Community Leader at Baby University, an online parenting community. http://www.babyuniversity.com |
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Weeds can spoil the look of a flowerbed, rob valuable nutrients from the soil and can be a general nuisance. If
you don't keep up with them, they can be even more troublesome to get rid of. While they can be difficult to get
under control, don't lose hope, it just takes a little persistence and know how. Here are some organic methods for controlling weeds: Use of a stirrup hoe: The best method I have found for controlling weeds works best in a vegetable garden planted in rows and on young weed seedlings. You use a stirrup hoe to cultivate the ground at least once a week. This hoe is like a regular hoe, but instead of the flat surface, there is a round or squared off metal hoop at the end. The side closest to you has a sharp edge, which cuts the weeds roots as you are hoeing through the soil. It doesn't take much time to go out and work your hoe down each row and by doing this, no weeds can grow because seedlings are uprooted or cut off before they have a chance. You will have to weed by hand up close and in between garden plants because the stirrup hoe can uproot or damage them if worked too close. Use of a pitchfork: By using a pitchfork in a new and/or large bed with little or no existing plants, you will be able to get most of the roots of long rooted weeds. It also enables you to cover a large area faster. To use a pitchfork for weed control, push it under a group of weeds and lift them. Shake the soil off the weeds and dispose of them in the compost pile. 
Vinegar or boiling water: If you spot a weed growing in the sidewalk cracks of your sidewalk or in your driveway, try pouring boiling water or vinegar over them. Don't do this in your flowerbeds because it could also kill neighboring plants. Mulch: Use lots of mulch. As long as mulch is applied thick enough to keep sunlight from reaching the soil, it will keep new weeds from sprouting. You can use grass clippings, shredded and chipped branches, beauty bark, hay, leaves or compost. Hand picking: Take a walk through the yard equipped with a bucket and gloves as often as possible and hand pick weeds. Try to pick them before they flower to prevent them from going to seed and seeding themselves all over the yard. Also, be sure to get all the roots; if you don't, the weed will more than likely be back in a couple of weeks. I hope this guide can help you in controlling your weeds. The key to getting and staying weed free is persistence. You have to stay on top of it by checking your gardens regularly and maintaining what needs to be done. Copyright ©, 2000, Monica Resinger |
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About the author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of Creative Home Ezine, a fun ezine written by its readers! After each twice-weekly issue, you'll surely be inspired to organize your home, cook mouth-watering recipes, entertain your friends and family, beautifully decorate your home and much more! Don't miss another issue - join now! Send a blank e-mail to: CreativeHome-subscribe@yahoogroups.com |
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