Welcome to Hobby Gardening
Organic Herb Gardening Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Organic Herb Gardening. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
Organic Gardening
from:Organic gardening is the same as regular gardening except that no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used. This can make certain aspects difficult, such as controlling disease, insects, and weeds. Organic gardening also requires more attention to the soil and the many needs of plants.
Organic gardening starts with the soil. Gardeners must add organic matter to the soil regularly in order to keep the soil productive. In fact, compost is essential to the healthiness and well being of plants grown organically. Compost can be made from leaves, dead flowers, vegetable scraps, fruit rinds, grass clippings, manure, and many other things.
The ideal soil has a dark color, sweet smell, and is full of earthworms. Some soil may need more natural additives than regular compost can give, such as bonemeal, rock phosphates, or greensand. A simple soil test will tell you the pH balance and which nutrients you will need to use.
One thing that makes even gardeners that are very serious about organic gardening reach for pesticides is insects on their plants. The best way to defend plants against insects is to take preventative measures. One thing that can be done is to make sure plants are healthy and not too wet or dry because insects usually attack unhealthy plants and if healthy, they can often outgrow minor insect damage. A variety of plant types is a good idea to keep pests of a particular plant type from taking out the entire garden.
Perhaps the best way to defend against insects is to make your garden enticing to insect predators, such as ladybugs, birds, frogs, and lizards. You can do this by keeping a water source nearby or by growing plants that attract insects who feed on nectar. Other ideas are sticky traps, barriers, and plant collars. There are some household items that prevent against insects too, like insecticidal soaps, garlic, and hot pepper.
To avoid plant disease in organic gardening, choose disease resistant plants and plant them in their prime conditions. Many diseases will spread because of constant moisture and bad air circulation, so the site of your garden and the way it is watered can help ensure against diseases.
Weeds can be an annoying and frustrating part of organic gardening. Organic mulch can act as a weed barrier, but for even better protection put a layer of newspaper, construction paper, or cardboard under the mulch. Corn meal gluten will slow the growth of weeds if spread early in the season before planting, as does solarization. There's also the old-fashioned art of hoeing and hand pulling that always works. Your best bet in weed prevention is persistence. Mulch well and pull and hoe what you can; after a few seasons you can beat the weeds for good.
Organic gardening is an excellent way to assure that your plants will be free and clear of all pesticides and, if taken care of properly, will be as healthy as possible. Organic gardening may take a little more time and care than regular gardening, but after gardeners get the hang of it and figure out all the quirks of their garden, it is definitely worth the extra time.
Organic-Gardening Online News
Patriots' Loss Is Super Disappointment for Fans - ABC News
 ABC News | Patriots' Loss Is Super Disappointment for Fans ABC News Hundreds of officers who lined the streets of Boston had little to do as fans quietly mourned their team's Super Bowl loss Sunday night, but 14 people were arrested across the state at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst when police in riot gear ... Once again, Super 4th quarter is Eli time In end, Patriots lacking for big stop Spoilers: Dropped passes, interception doom Brady |
'I'm sorry. Goodbye,' Josh Powell says in e-mail before killing himself, 2 sons - CNN
 Los Angeles Times | 'I'm sorry. Goodbye,' Josh Powell says in e-mail before killing himself, 2 sons CNN By Chelsea J. Carter and Greg Botelho, CNN (CNN) -- Shortly before he set fire to his Puyallup, Washington, house and killed himself and his two sons, Josh Powell -- a suspect in the 2009 disappearance of his wife -- apparently sent a three-word e-mail ... Josh Powell blows himself up with two young children Tragic turn in case of missing Utah woman Could Wash. have done more to protect Powell boys? |
China defends Syria veto, doubts West's intentions - Reuters
 Telegraph.co.uk | China defends Syria veto, doubts West's intentions Reuters By Chris Buckley | BEIJING (Reuters) - China defended on Monday its rejection of a UN resolution pressing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to abandon power, with state media saying Western armed intervention in Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq exposed the ... Syrian Forces Shell Cities to Crush Revolt After Russian UN Veto Russia hits back at 'hysterical' Western response to Syria veto Russia Rejects Criticism of Its UN Veto on Syria |
Questions on Romney Give Obama Boost - ABC News
 ABC News | Questions on Romney Give Obama Boost ABC News Mitt Romney has solidified his position for the Republican nomination but lost ground in the main event, with improved economic indicators and questions about Romney's wealth and taxes lifting Barack Obama to a head-to-head advantage for the first time ... Obama holds edge over Romney in general election matchup, poll finds Tea Party 'Is Dead': How the Movement Fizzled in 2012's GOP Primaries Obama leads Romney in general-election support, new poll finds |