Have a positive, healthy, and beneficial effect on the environment by practicing some simple organic gardening techniques.

What Is Organic Gardening?

The state of the environment has gained prominence as a world issue in the last decade. As a result, we have learned more about the negative impact our modern lifestyle can have on the natural world. Many people have decided to take positive action in whatever way they can, be it sorting items for recycling or making their homes more energy efficient. In short, we are all finding ways to incorporate environmentally-friendly habits into our busy lifestyles and gardeners are no exception. Many have embraced the practice of organic gardening. But what does this mean exactly?

Organic gardening is a method of garden maintenance that rejects the use of synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. Instead, the gardener works with the elements and rhythms of nature itself to gain the same results.

For example, imagine a lawn with weeds. The standard approach to dealing with this problem is to have the lawn sprayed with a chemical weed killer. Typically, the chemicals used are so powerful, that pets or barefoot humans are not allowed on lawns 24 to 48 hours after a spraying. Another unfortunate side effect is that a rainfall will wash any residual chemical off the lawn, allowing it to run into the street drain where it will negatively impact the water supply.

The organic method of dealing with lawn weeds is decidedly different and there are a number of healthy approaches to take. The first is to simply continue cutting the lawn as usual, prior to weeds developing seeds. Weeds are therefore deprived of new leaf growth on a regular basis, and they will not receive proper nourishment causing them to eventually die off. Once they do, the grass will take over naturally.

Large patches of weeds can simply be covered with mulch or a few layers of wet newspaper weighted down with rocks. This instantly deprives the weeds of sunlight and again, they'll eventually die off. They can then be easily pulled out and you can replenish the soil with grass seed, sod or a flowerbed.

Another trick against weeds that organic gardeners use is planting items close together or growing a lot of ground cover in their gardens. Weeds can't grow where there isn't room.

Simple Steps to Get You Started

If you find this healthy, environmentally-friendly approach appealing and would like to let nature take its course in your garden, there are some simple, organic gardening principles you can put to work in your garden right now:

Get a rain barrel. You can use stored rainwater in a watering can and give your plants a healthy non-chlorinated drink. You'll also re-use water effectively and save money on your own water bills.

Practice prevention. Consult websites, magazines or books for a number of environmentally-friendly pest sprays you can make at home for regular use in the garden.

Attract wildlife. Use a birdhouse or feeder to attract more feathered friends to your garden. They'll eat bugs that would otherwise eat your plants. You can also install a hummingbird feeder, which will encourage this bird to spend time in your garden pollinating flowers.

Compost! Gardeners call it "black gold" for a reason. You'll not only cut down on your garbage, but you'll gain one of the most potent fertilizers around, all natural and free of charge.

Put beneficial bugs in your garden. For example, ladybugs eat aphids, which is a bonus for roses. Consult with your garden centre about the beneficial bugs you can order through them.

Use chicken wire. Instead of using poisonous chemicals, cover your fall bulb plantings with chicken wire to prevent local squirrels from feasting on them.

Bundle up berries. Wrap netting around your berry bushes to prevent birds from devouring the harvest before it's ripe.

Practice companion planting. Books are available on this subject. Using this method, plantings are done so that the features of one plant compliment or aid the other. Planting a shrub that naturally repels the insect pests of another plant is one example.

Plant according to your zone. Items that naturally occur in your area are less fragile, require less maintenance, and respond well to organic care.

Practice organic gardening and you benefit your garden and the environment as a whole. It requires a bit more effort and some patience, but the benefits are well worth it. Populate your garden with plants that have not been weakened by chemicals and are more resistant to pests and disease. Gain a greater knowledge of what your garden does and doesn't need as you become more familiar with the organic methods and natural solutions that help it flourish. But most importantly, enjoy a beautiful garden knowing that your impact on the earth's environment has been positive and beneficial, not damaging.