Eating and living organically is becoming quite the trend in today’s lifestyle. If you are a fan of organic fruits and vegetables, then you will love these ideas to help tend to your garden and keep the weeds out in a more organic and eco-friendly way. Since I have become more aware of gardening organically, I have also become more aware of my home environment. By choosing to weed organically–using organically grown material for weed prevention–I have noticed a large difference in the persistence and accountability of my plants’ growth. What’s even better is that organic gardening gives us an opportunity to create spectacular gardens at a low cost while having a good conscious about what we are laying on our flower beds and the tools we use to accompany the gardening process.
I have become such a fan of using mulch as a base on top of the soil. Using mulch is a fantastic way to recycle organic materials that we can easily find–sometimes even for free! One type of mulch that I’ve come to love is a basic leaf mold. When I rake up the fallen leaves from a large oak tree in my backyard, I collect those leaves and use them for the mold. Sometimes when it is a fairly rainy season, I’ll use a mulch that is a little heavier like straw or shredded bark, in order to prevent decaying or molding. The mulch acts as a way to prevent sunlight and water reaching the weeds that are under the soil. Shredded newspaper is also another way to prevent contact between the weeds and nutrients. In fact, newspaper (approximately a 4-6 inch layer) below the mulch has proven to barricade the production of weeds for multiple seasons.
Another way I use the free organic energy is to literally cook-out the weeds with solar power. This technique takes a little more commitment however because I typically have to start in the early summer months in order to have a significant “baking” time. I begin by hoeing my garden thoroughly, getting all the weeds out that I can, and then I moisten and cover the soil with clear plastic wrap, weighing down each of the corners. A recent technique that I have picked up is mixing corn gluten-meal with the soil, as it helps prevent the growth of weed seeds. After 2-3 months, I have used the solar power to cook the weeds below the surface! It’s a great way to prepare for your harvesting season.
Finally, being consistent has been my main weapon of choice. Tending to my garden on a constant time frame is overall the easiest aid that I have during my gardening season. If it helps, don’t think of working in your garden often as “work.” Think of it as a way to catch some sun, have a healthy habit, or a way to include your kids. Asking your kids to be apart of your garden’s progress will make them feel very involved and helpful. In other words, treat your garden like you would a child!
