Is Organic Gardening Difficult?

By Nova Person

Many gardeners shy away from organic gardening because they believe it to be more difficult. While organic gardens do typically require a little more up-front care, this pays off in the long run. Because you spent a little time preparing your garden, it requires less care over time. The ultimate goal of an organic garden is to let Mother Nature take over, making the garden self-sustaining.

One of the most critical factors in organic gardens is the soil. It has been said that as many as 90% of gardens failures are due to poor soil. Considering how easy it is to improve soil quality, this is perplexing. A healthy soil is better capable of supporting plant life.

To enrich your soil, provide it with organic material. In the fall, add dead leaves, grass clippings or hay to your gardens. When spring arrives, these materials will have decomposed into the soil, substantially improving the quality while doing so. If you have access to compost, mix it into soil for another boost in quality.

Location is another key factor. No matter how good you have made the soil, a location that does not offer appropriate amounts of sunlight will usually not do well. Likewise, if you intend to plant shade-loving plants, you need to be sure that your location offers the right amount of shade.

Some thought needs to go into your plant selection. You want to choose plants that are well suited or adapted to your local area. This will greatly reduce the amount of effort you will have to expend in keeping your plants happy. If you are not sure what plants to use, ask a local gardener or one of the workers at your local nursery. They can usually offer you additional gardening tips as well.

Think ahead to potential problems your plants may face. If some of your plants are known for attracting harmful garden pests, consider companion planting to naturally attract the predators of the pest in question.

Make sure plants have adequate spacing between them in order to prevent diseases. If you have plants that are especially susceptible to disease like roses or lilacs, give them an extra cushion of space to ensure they have good air circulation.

Mulching can substantially decrease the amount of weeding you have to do. It can also help soil retain water and temperature. Choose your mulch with care, though. In wet regions, an organic mulch may not be the best choice as it can hold moisture which attracts slugs. Typically, you want to use a one inch layer for ornamental plants up to a three inch layer for trees and shrubs. Do not mulch too close to plants as this can potentially cause problems.

While the initial planning of an organic garden may take a little longer than a regular garden, the benefits more than make up for this. With good planning, your garden will take care of itself with little attention needed from you. You will be able to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.