My friend says my garden and landscape would grow better if I would practice organic gardening methods. You have written about both approaches in your columns. What do you recommend?
Since my readers include both types of gardeners I need to write about best practices for both. I have become more and more organic over time. Although I am not yet a completely organic gardener, I use organic methods and supplies more and more.
There are two areas where I tend to hold onto my old chemical practices.
Although I use mostly organic fertilizers, I still use some chemical fertilizers. I am finding less and less need for chemical fertilizers as I add more and more organic matter to the soil. As organic matter breaks down, it releases nutrient elements into the soil, so there is less need for additional fertilizer. I also use manure that adds organic fertilizer nutrients.
Although most of my weeds are removed by pulling and hoeing, I find certain weeds are resistant to physical removal and others are much more easily removed with chemicals.
Wild blackberries and other perennial weeds that spread by underground rhizomes can be controlled by chemicals that are translocated to the roots and completely kill the plants.
Broad leaf weeds in lawns are easily controlled by weed killers that selectively kill the broadleaf weeds without damaging the grass.
By using organic fertilizer and raising the mowing height, my lawn has a lot fewer weeds. As a result, I can dig the dandelions and other weeds using a forked weed tool. I now spend less than a half hour about three times during the spring and summer to remove the few weeds in my lawn.
There is no question in my mind that avoiding exposure to chemical pesticides is a healthier choice. When chemical pesticides are used, safety precautions should be used to avoid exposure to the applicator, pets and children.
So many more organic and natural products have been developed over the last few years that it has become a more practical choice. Whenever possible, I opt for natural organic pesticides (or no pesticides).
For example, Neem oil, a natural extract from the Neem tree, has become a favorite pesticide because it controls such a wide range of insects and plant diseases. Spinosad is another more recent organic insecticide. It is very effective on chewing insects, including boring insects in trees.
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