When you're learning about something new, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.

Organic gardening is one of the fastest growing facets of gardening, and more and more people are discovering that it is possible to enjoy a beautiful, thriving garden while still keeping the use of chemicals and pesticides to a minimum.

One reason to avoid the use of chemicals and pesticides is that long term use of such chemicals can deplete the soil and leave it unable to sustain further growth. In many cases beds of perennials suddenly stop blooming for no apparent reason, and the culprit is often found to be the overuse of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.

Concern for the health of the gardener's family members, pets and the environment as a whole is another reason many people choose organic gardening methods. Runoff from many commercial pesticides and chemical fertilizer can leach into ground water, damage wells, and cause problems with fish ponds and other parts of the landscape.

In addition, a well planted and well landscaped home interior has been shown to improve the value of the home, and when that garden is an organic one its value is further enhanced. A beautiful organic garden can be a great way to provide a cost effective enhancement to any landscape.

Pest control is one of the places where organic gardening can actually be superior to chemical methods. Instead of using harsh pesticides to get rid of garden pests, it is often better and more effective to use beneficial insects to get rid of harmful ones. Harmful insects are often unable to compete once more beneficial insects have been brought in to the organic garden.

One of the most common pests encountered by gardeners, and one of the biggest reasons they use chemical pesticides, is aphids. These common garden pests can be organically controlled by spraying the infested stems, leaves and buds with a diluted mixture of soapy water, then an application of fresh, clear water. This technique has been used by organic gardeners for many years, and it is effective even against heavy infections of aphids.

If you find yourself confused by what you've read to this point, don't despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Selecting the right plants is also important to success as an organic gardener. Choosing the right fertilizer is an important consideration as well, since there are organic equivalents for just about every type of chemical fertilizer. When choosing plants and fertilizers, be sure to research the best plants and organic fertilizers for your own area. If you have an organic gardening club in your area, you may want to join in order to swap tips about the best types of plants and fertilizers.

One great element of any organic garden landscape is a good ground cover. Planting ground covering plants in areas where grass has a hard time taking hold not only enhances the beauty of your home, but it provides better soil drainage and water retention as well. Many homeowners have discovered the power of using native species as natural ground cover.

Flowering vines are another popular centerpiece of many organic gardens. Flowering vines are great for enhancing the beauty of fences, walls, sheds and other structures, since they can easily be trained to grow along these structures.

These any many other plants and flowers can enhance any organic garden and make it the showcase of the community. Growing an organic garden is a great way to protect your home, your family and even the environment.

The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you'll be glad you took the time to learn more about organic gardening.



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B. Keith Johnson is a contributing author for
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Organic Pest Control

We're all searching for ways to live in a more earth-friendly fashion. But when it comes to gardening, it's difficult to find out how to kill or prevent garden pests in a safe way. Organic pest control has come a long way, and we're lucky to have many more effective tools to resolve this problem.

Create Natural Barriers

Picking off grubs and other critters by hand is an easy way to reduce your pesky problem. You can also build many types of barrier environments which entrap the insects. Plugging holes is also fundatmental. Snails can be caught hiding in damp places under rocks and towards the base of plants with straplike foliage. Simply exploring your garden and adjacent areas for potential insect hideaways is one of the most useful forms of organic pest control.

Use Biological Control

Encourage predatory insects such as green lacewings and dragonflies to feed on aphids and other pests that attack your plants. You can do this by placing a shallow bowl of water in the garden. Beneficial insects such as dragonflies will hover around water. Bacterial insecticides such as B. thuringiensis could also be used against caterpillars.

Finding the Safest Repellents

How to kill or prevent garden pests? Organic pest control methods can be effective and the ingredients for most of the recipes can be found in your kitchen cupboard. If chemical repellents are truly necessary, try to use the least-toxic and apply using the manufacturers instructions. These include insecticide soaps, horticultural oils, dehydrating dust, etc.

Make It Yourself

Against Green Aphids and Mites - Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and a cup of vegetable oil. Dilute a teaspoon of this liquid in a cup of water and spray on aphids and mites.

Against Cockroaches - Dusts of boric acid can be placed on cracks or entry points around your home. Bay leaves on pantry shelves can also help in deterring these critters.

Make sure that the chemicals you use are made specifically for the insects you are targeting.

When researching how to kill or prevent garden pests, there is a world of information on the internet. Organic pest control may seem more challenging at first, but once you spend a little time creating a beneficial environment, you will be happier living in a safe, natural garden where you and your plants can flourish without the risks of unsafe chemicals and pesticides.



About the Author:

For more info, check out the articles at Grow Roses Now or Landscape Now. Ron King is a web developer; visit his website Authoring Articles.

Copyright 2008 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact and the links live.