Gardening Tips

Tip One - Organic Gardening - It is safe, healthy, preserves the soil, protects your body and loved ones from toxic poisons, protects wildlife, etc. If you don't Organic Garden, please consider doing so. Also, if you don't own a copy already, The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening by Rodale Press is a dream to have around. My hardback copy is very warn and is the 1978 edition. I have had it a long time and will never part with it. Amazon has used editions - various years - for sale very cheaply. Maybe you can even find a copy on Paperback Swap (see button on my side bar). I am sure there are other good books around as well but Organic Gardening is truly the only way to go.

Tip Two - Aerate Your Soil - If you haven't done so already, now would be a good time to aerate your soil. In poorly aerated soil few minerals are available for plant sustenance. You need sufficient oxygen in the soil to balance the carbon dioxide. Oxygen is absorbed by the roots and this is what really makes plants grow, so turn that soil over. Let the leaves and such compost into healthy dark earth before planting in May (of course this may depend on where you live but for most of the US, May is the optimum month for planting a garden).

Tip Three - Composting - If you have a garden but don't compost you might want to consider it. Early in our marriage we did a lot of composting...but then got away from it. We plan to give it another go. There are a lot of healthy things you can compost that you use daily. We start with leaves and put them in large barrels we can rotate. We add egg shells, coffee grinds, corn husks and other things that decompose easily. We rotate often to add oxygen to the mix and eventually we have beautiful soil. Oak leaves, which we don't have around here in abundance, always seemed to work the best. In fact, you can simply put leaves in large black bags, rotate them a few times during the winter months and by spring you will have gorgeous black soil. I learned this from a gal who raises daylilies. Other things to add to your compost are dried or green tomatoes, lawn clippings, nutshells, wood chips, cardboard, unprinted paper, plant debris, fish scraps, fruit skins, hay, hair, tobacco, wood ash... Compost bins can be easily made by using 2x4's. I am sure you can find many designs online but if not, send me an email. As an added plus you won't have as much garbage to throw out!

Tip Four - Companion Planting - Know which plants like each other and which do not. Yes, plants do have preferences, a lot like people. ☺ For example, tomatoes like asparagus, basil, bee balm, and parsley. And as an added plus basil and parsley will give your tomatoes added flavor. Basil also deters flies and mosquitoes. Cole crops (broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) like potatoes, carrots, cucumbers and most herbs. Beans like sunflowers. They enjoy the shade the sunflowers provide and sunflowers also attract bees and birds. Beans also like potatoes, corn and the herb Summer Savory. Strawberries like bush beans, spinach, borage and lettuce as a border.

Well, that is enough for now. Be sure and run on over to Rocks in my Dryer and find more helpful hints.

A-B-C- Meme

Labels: Meme, WFMW