Are you a home gardener looking for an alternative to traditional gardening? If so, organic gardening may be the perfect solution! Organic gardening not only uses natural and eco-friendly methods but can help to build healthier soils, create a more sustainable garden environment, and reap rewards of delicious homegrown veggies. Find all the tips and tricks that you might need from our plant experts down below.
Starting an organic garden might seem like a daunting task, but with a little planning it’s much simpler than you may think. Nature provides everything from pest control to natural fertilizers, but it’s up to the gardener to employ green systems and discard synthetic ones. Get started with organic gardening now.
Cover crops offer a smart and sustainable way to produce healthy, vibrant soil for robust, happy plants without using synthetic fertilizers. They also control erosion, suppress weeds, bust pest cycles, and improve water retention. Learn all about the art and science of beneficial cover cropping right here.
Bacillus subtilis can control a range of fungal and bacterial pathogens in the soil and on leaves. It directly inhibits other microbes and also stimulates the plants to control pathogens using their own natural resistance mechanisms. Read on to learn more about these versatile bacteria.
Trichoderma harzianum T-22 is a highly developed fungal strain that effectively controls a number of fungal pathogens of plants. This fungus colonizes plant roots and does not affect other beneficial microbes like mycorrhizae or Rhizobium. Read on to learn more about this fascinating organism now on Gardener’s Path.
If you don’t like the idea of pouring expensive and harmful chemical fertilizers all over your garden then try making a homemade liquid fertilizer using comfrey. Homemade comfrey tea fertilizer is an organic, easy, and completely free way to feed your plants and recycle nutrients back into your soil. Read more now.
Are you looking to recycle your food trash and improve your garden soil at the same time? Try vermicomposting, aka worm farming. Using worms to break down kitchen scraps provides you with worm castings and valuable compost that can be applied straight to your plants. Learn how to start your own worm farm in this guide.
Ready to learn some new gardening uses for your beloved borage? This blue-flowered herb can be grown as a cover crop to improve your garden in a number of ways, from soil amendment to pest protection, and it can even be used as a green manure. Discover how to grow borage as a cover crop in your garden. Read more now.
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a microbial insecticide that is highly specific for certain kinds of insects and safe against people and non-target animals. Certain strains control caterpillars, mosquitoes, black flies, and a few kinds of beetles. Read on to learn how to use this novel but natural insecticide.
Did you know that appearance, disease, growth stage, and more reveal what nutrients plants need? Like us, plants need a wide range of nutrients, and they can gain them from many sources. Learn how to master plant nutrients, diagnose deficiencies, and restore balance here at Gardener’s Path!
Want to use eggshells in your garden? Learn the best techniques for breaking them down in your compost and using them as a soil amendment. And find out the truth about whether eggshells really repel garden pests. To learn more about turning eggshells into garden amendments instead of landfill waste, read more now.
Did you know that not all insects are pests? Many beneficial varieties may already be living in your gardens, helping to control populations of bugs that enjoy feasting on veggies, herbs, and flowers. Read on to discover who your friends are, and how to encourage them to work and thrive in your yard.
You may have already learned many great companion plant combinations, but do you understand the science behind why they work? From controlling pests to preventing soil erosion, companion planting is a key element among organic backyard gardening practices. Read our guide on the benefits of companion planting now.
Beneficial nematodes may be used to control soilborne insects in their larval and nymph stages. These tiny, worm-like organisms penetrate the body of their host, introducing a strain of bacteria that kills the host insect. Learn how to use beneficial nematodes for garden pest control in this guide. Read more now.
If you’re new to the world of vegetable gardening, you’re in for a treat! Fresh veggies have a flavor that can’t be beat, and they’re healthy and nutritious. Plus, growing your own is friendly on the budget, and gardening is an excellent way to reduce stress. Learn all about these positive benefits right here on Gardener’s Path.
Ready to learn how to get the most beautiful and productive results from your garden? Our article gets to the root of the problem. The soil type in your yard is the key to happy plants. From woodland to seashore and acid to alkaline, this piece will guide you to success. Read more on Gardener’s Path.
When life gives you leaves, why not make compost? Autumn’s falling leaves are perfect for making a well-balanced compost bin. Often treated as “waste,” dead leaves are a valuable natural resource that you can turn into black gold for your garden. To learn how to create compost and mulch with fall leaves, keep reading.
Whether or not to compost tomatoes is a controversial topic in the gardening world. Fears that composting tomatoes will encourage pathogens, create messes, and cause trouble the following season lead many gardeners to trash their plants. Read on to examine these concerns and learn how to safely compost tomato plants.
Sex appeal comes in all shapes and sizes, but in insects, it’s often rooted in trace amounts of a pheromone. Gardeners and growers use this to their advantage by luring and trapping the males or preventing them from finding their mates. Read on to learn how to use these hormones to control pests in your garden.
Don’t let your kale get overrun with pests. If you’re growing kale in your vegetable garden there’s a good chance you’ve got some insects damaging your plants. If they get out of control you’ll want to take action. Learn how to identify who’s chomping on your greens and kill these bugs naturally. Read more now.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens colonizes plant roots and stimulates plants to both grow and to activate their immune systems, resulting in resistance to pathogens. These bacteria also outcompete other microbes and inhibit both bacterial and fungal plant pathogens. Read on to learn more about this biocontrol agent.
The bacteria Streptomyces lydicus colonize plant roots and protect them against fungi and bacteria that cause disease. They can also be sprayed on plant leaves to control foliar pathogens. These bacteria are safe for people and beneficial insects. Read on to learn how they work and how to use them in your garden.
Are you itching to get into the garden, but it’s still too cold outside? Satisfy your craving to play in the dirt by starting seeds indoors. With an egg carton and potting medium, you can grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables to transplant outside when the weather warms. Learn how on Gardener’s Path.
For vertical gardens, leafy greens, and especially root crops, or if you simply want improved soil and drainage, a raised bed is the best option. But buying these from the store can really make you question the frugality of gardening. Check out this simple plan to build a small, economical version. Read more now.
Raised beds are excellent for those with hard clay or soils with too much sand. They assist with drainage for climates with too much rain and help retain moisture for those who don’t get enough. And they are ideal for those with back and knee problems. Read more about the benefits of these gardening enclosures now!
Teaming With Microbes was a landmark guide for raising awareness of the soil food web in 2006 – and promoting more environmentally aware, chemical-free gardening techniques – fueling an organic food revolution. Does it still apply today? Read more on Gardener’s Path now, and find out why you should toss out those chemical pesticides and fertilizers!
Have you decide to make the jump to a more organic lifestyle & want to know how to recycle your kitchen waste into compost? Read our guide and find out.