Create the Right Natural Ecosystem in Your Garden for Best Results

The main goal of any gardener that desires to garden organically is to eliminate the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. We need only to mimic what nature does to be able to not only provide what plants need, but to also save a yourself a good deal of work in the process. These techniques will work equally well whether you garden in raised beds, containers or directly in the ground. In this article, I will attempt to outline simple techniques that will help to promote a natural balance that keeps your plants happy. Keep in mind that different plants require different soil conditions, and if you are a serious gardener, you will probably already know what those conditions are. The trick is to create and maintain these optimum conditions for your plants.

To Till or Not to Till, There is No Question

In nature, soil is aerated and tilled by a variety of creatures that make their home in the soil. However, I do one deep tilling, or "double digging" of about 24 inches if planting directly on the ground to loosen the soil and to incorporate compost. After that, I try to avoid walking on the soil that I plant in. This can be accomplished by making permanent walkways in the garden, and designing the planting area so that all of the work such as weeding, planting and picking can be accomplished from the walkways. This practice creates a favorable environment for soil dwellers like earthworms, redworms, and other creatures to live and thrive. This is just the first step in creating the ideal home for these creatures. Again, let's take a cue from nature to see how to optimize this environment we are attempting to establish.

Mulch

Now that we have loosened the soil, and are keeping it loose by not stepping on it, we need to control the temperature and provide food for our soil dwellers and plants. You'll notice that nature always provides for soil covers in the form of plants or mulch to help control soil temperature and provide food for plants and animals. Of course since we are trying to establish a similar environment, it is always a good practice to use mulch in the garden. Mulch controls soil temperature, retains moisture, prevents erosion, and provides valuable nutrients for plants and soil dwellers. The type of mulch you use will depend of the needs of your plants. Acid loving plants, like blueberries and azaleas like acidic soil. This calls for a good mulch of peat moss and / or pine needles. Other plants can benefit from just a good layer, about 4 to 6 inches, of oak or maple tree leaves. Grass is also good mulch for lots of plants. Compost is also excellent mulch, probably one of the best. I try to avoid store bought mulches since they may be treated with chemicals which could have a detrimental effect on the very soil organisms I'm trying to protect.

Use No Artificial Fertilizers

While a regular dose of fertilizer may seem to be the right thing to do, you may be doing more harm than good. Many of these fertilizers seem to benefit the plants, but they can cause harm to earthworms and microorganisms in the soil. If you are using the natural mulches mentioned above, your plants are already getting all the nutrients they need. There is no need for supplemental fertilization. Compost is one of the best soil amendments available, and it is free. Every garden should have a compost pile. I also find one of the best fertilizers if rabbit manure. It can be applied directly onto the garden without composting, and redworms can't get enough of it. I have kept a couple of rabbits just for that purpose. They are like a living composter. You feed them scraps from the garden; they give it back to you in a form you can immediately use to grow plants. It's a win-win situation.

Use No Pesticides

While this may seem almost impossible, it can be done. In fact, once you have the right environment established in your garden, insect pests should be at a minimum. Since they are a part of nature, there will always be some pests in the garden. The key is pest control, not elimination. Hand picking works fine for a lot of these pests like the tomato hornworm, which are fairly easy to find. Soap solutions work for others, and provide phosphates to the soil at the same time. Do your research, since there are many books written on natural ways to manage pests.

Encourage Native Pollinators

We are all familiar with honeybees and the role they play in pollination. Many of us are also aware that honeybees are in trouble and on the decline due to colony collapse syndrome. But did you know that honeybees are not native to the U.S? Honeybees were brought over by the original colonists to help pollinate crops, and they quickly became established in the wild. However, there are also many native pollinators that are not affected by the numerous parasites and diseases that affect honeybees. Bumble bees and Mason Orchid Bees are just two of the native pollinators that can make sure that you have apples and tomatoes. In fact, they pollinate about 70% of the plants in your garden, whether you know it or not. I'll provide a couple of links that will show you how to encourage them to visit your garden.