Detroit Area Lawn Care Guide

Many gardeners wonder what exactly organic gardening means. The simple answer is that organic gardeners don’t use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on their plants – this is the easiest organic gardening tip

But gardening organically is much more than what you don’t do. When you garden organically, you think of your plants as part of a whole system within nature that starts in the soil and includes the water supply, people, wildlife and even insects. An organic gardener works in harmony with natural systems and to minimize and continually replenish any resources the garden consumes.

The other key to growing organically is to choose plants suited to the site. Plants adapted to your climate and conditions are better able to grow without a lot of attention or input; on the other hand, when you try to grow a plant that is not right for your site, you will probably have to boost its natural defenses to keep it healthy and productive.

Soil and the Health of Your Garden

Most people, brought up in a world of chemicals and pesticides, do not realize that adding more chemicals to their lawn and garden is like living on a diet of donuts and soda pop. Sure, you’ll get a quick, energetic sugar rush, but soon afterwards you feel even more tired and listless.

Adding chemical fertilizer only gives it a quick boost, but does nothing to improve the soil in the long run. Organic gardening is basically organic soil building. 90% of all garden failures are caused by poor soil, so by improving the fertility of the soil, the organic gardener prevents the major cause of poor gardening results.

As a real organic gardener you have to plan ahead. Realize that it will take a few seasons for your garden to renew itself. Consider that you are embarking on a new adventure – a voyage of discovery into the world of nature’s wonders. You are going to create in your garden a place for healthy plant life that is supremely fertile and natural.

You are going to grow plants that are superior in size and in nutritional quality to the average product available in the market place. You will also be creating the cleanliness and spirituality of nature’s design for life on this planet.

In a nutshell, you will follow the patterns set down by nature. With millions of years of refinement, nature definitely knows best!

An organic gardener uses natural mineral and organic fertilizers to build up the soil.

Compost is by far the best fertilizer for your soil. You can use ordinary household waste such as fruits, vegetables, lawn clippings, coffee grinds and even hair and dryer lint in your compost bin. The more variety of ingredients (so called “green” and “brown” materials), the better the results of your composting.

Mix composted manures, bone meal and other organic fertilizers into your soil as well. Your lawn, vegetable garden and flowering plants will each need different types of fertilizer, so learning which plants grow best in which type of soil is part of your success.

Read more about heirloom organic seeds and heirloom seed catalogs tips here.