Introduction to Organics
An Introduction to Organic Gardening and Yard Care

Today's average homeowner has become accustomed to using dozens of potentially harmful chemicals to treat plant pests and diseases in the yard and garden. Many gardeners also rely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to grow their grass, flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

Unlike large scale farms, which tend to measure and use fertilizers and pesticides as they are intended, many homeowners overuse pesticides and fertilizers, hoping that if a little bit is good, then more must be better.

According to the National Academy of Sciences, even though farmers uses pesticides more widely, homeowners uses 10 times more per acre.

Chemicals we use in our yards can, over the long run, negatively affect the environment and the health of our loved ones, neighbors, and pets. Particularly if they are used incorrectly.

Also, many of the chemical fertilizers and pesticides can degrade the health of our soil, garden plants, lawns, and trees over time, making the use of strong chemicals even more necessary just to keep our plants alive.

Once you kill off all the beneficial organisms, then you are stuck with sterile, dead dirt and chemicals instead of rich, organic soil.

With that in mind, we hope to introduce you to some organic gardening techniques and products that apply to the average homeowner who isn't necessarily a gardening or yard care professional or fanatic.

Organic gardening can serve as a healthy alternative to the use of chemicals in the yard and garden.

Perhaps you don't think that it’s entirely necessary or practical for you to stop using all chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides completely in your yard. By adding a few environmentally friendly techniques and products in your daily gardening routine, you can save money by reducing the amounts of chemicals and pesticides that you need.

If you plan on continuing with chemicals, please follow the instructions and don't overuse them! It doesn't help to use more than recommended, and it can definitely hurt you and your lawn.

Even if you adopt just a few of these garden practices, you can have big impacts on your yard, the environment and the health of your family and neighbors.

And by using these organic gardening techniques, you will over time create a stronger, healthier garden that will require less maintenance.

After a few gardening seasons, you might find that organic gardening techniques are easier and more effective than you ever imagined.

What’s Wrong with Chemical Gardening Products?

While most chemical gardening products pose limited risk if used correctly, many of these products actually kill helpful insects and soil organisms and can damage a plant’s natural ability to fend off pests and diseases.

Chemical fertilizers can also build up in the soil and eventually reduce productivity. As the soil quality gradually declines, more fertilizer is necessary to replace vital nutrients that should be naturally present in your garden soil.

Additionally, chemicals used in the lawn and garden have been scrutinized by a variety of academic and scientific studies. The results don’t exactly inspire confidence in the pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers many of us routinely use in our yards. These products have been linked to birth defects, cancer, and environmental degradation.

Organic Gardening as an Alternative to Chemicals

Organic gardening is a method of gardening that has existed for centuries. It wasn’t until the advent of chemical gardening products that organic gardening began to be pushed aside as an "alternative" or "luxury" form of gardening. As this happened, those who practiced organic gardening had to redefine themselves.

Gardeners generally define organic gardening as working to create a natural balance of healthy soil and healthy plants in the garden. We can look to nature for ideas on how to grow healthy plants and how to utilize more natural processes instead of chemicals to keep our gardens healthy.

Organic gardening focuses on building up the soil, using native plants and plants appropriate for your garden, and looking for a natural balance in your garden. Pathogens generally attack weak plants that are not properly adapted to their environment, and those that live in poor soil.

So, if we work our soil and encourage the presence of beneficial soil organisms, our plants will generally be stronger and more resistant to pests and diseases. When we integrate organic techniques into our gardening, we’ll help to ensure cleaner neighborhoods, cleaner water, and healthier families.

Recommended Gardening Products and Techniques

Organic gardening methods are constantly evolving. New technologies and new techniques are coming out every day. Remember that one of the great things about organic gardening techniques is that they apply to any kind of garden you grow, from flower gardens, to herb gardens, to your vegetable garden.

• Composting

Composting is one of the best ways to build up the soil, attract beneficial soil organisms, improve soil drainage, and provide your plants the nutrients that they need to thrive.

• Mulching

Mulch reduces evaporation rates, adds nutrients to the soil, keeps weeds at bay, and protects your soil from erosion. A 3 to 4 inch layer of mulch is ideal for your garden beds. Replace the mulch as needed.

• Grasscycling

Leaving grass clippings on your lawn will actually improve the health of your turfgrass. Read all about grasscycling at this government website. If you like to collect your grass clippings because you don't like the way they look on the lawn, be sure to keep them and add them to your compost pile. Don't throw them away!

• Native Plants

Native plants are naturally adapted to your area, which means that they need less water and less maintenance. They are also more resistant to native pests. Try and use at least a few native plants in your garden.

• Biodiversity

A diverse garden is a happy garden. Using a wide variety of plants in your garden means a higher number of beneficial insects and soil organisms. Biodiversity also means that pests are less likely to eat up all your plants!

• Companion Planting

Companion planting is the concept of using certain plants in combinations to keep pests away or otherwise strengthen plants.