04 September 2008
Organic Gardening
I myself am trying to learn more about going green in my garden by trying to go organic. I have been reading up on it for a little while now and I will share with you some of the things I have learned.
Gardening organically isn't just gardening without chemicals. You, the gardener, must work with nature to develop an ecosystem in your garden. That means you have to learn about and encourage healthy bugs like ladybugs, lacewings, and other predatory insects to come into your garden and feed on your pests. You can do this by planting fennel, dill, allyssum, ammi majus, and cumin.
Help your soil feed your plants. Add as much organic matter as you can in order to feed soil organisms. These organisms will break down organic matter and will eventually feed your plants. Try to make your own compost. Not only does compost nourish the soil, making it reduces kitchen and garden waste immensely! I have my own compost and that’s where I throw most of my kitchen scraps. I have to keep the top covered up because I don’t want the night time animals to drag it all back out.
Finally, learn to tolerate a little bit of damage by insects here and there. If you wipe out all your pests, what will the ladybugs feed on? Being a long time gardener growing up with a garden and always using some sort of pesticide its hard to break the habit especially when you’re used to going out to the garden seeing some bug bites on the leaves and spraying everything. Hopefully by trying to go organic I will be doing my part to help out the planet.
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About Patt M. Judd
Landscaping
If you are going to plant trees and shrubs around your home, here are some guidelines: In Tennessee, if you desire morning shade, plant trees on the Southeast exposure of the the house. If you desire afternoon shade, trees should be planted on the Southwest exposure of the structure. A good choice for summer and winter energy savings is to plant deciduous species (those that loose their leaves). These will allow for shade in the summer and heating from the sun in winter. Also, we encourage you to carefully select the type the tree being considered. Decide what you really want from this tree or shrub – shade, fall color, or just eye appeal. Do you need a deciduous tree to shade an outside air-conditioning unit in the summer, while letting sunlight through in the winter? Do you want a line of evergreens to provide a windbreak in the winter and privacy the rest of the year? Another factor to consider is maintenance. Are the trees or shrubs drought resistant, or will they require large amounts of water? Along with these considerations, you should also think about their location in relation to plumbing lines, power lines, your foundation, roof, and gutters.
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