Each and every day, large quantities of toxic chemicals are poured into the soil of millions of backyards around the world. By whom? By millions of un-informed, unsuspecting, ill-informed and yes, even uncaring backyard gardeners. How? By growing plants in home gardens. More specifically, by using commercially manufactured, chemical and organic fertilizers to enhance the growth of plants in home gardens.
Gardening has always been a popular backyard activity and its appeal has increased dramatically in recent years. This increase in the number of home gardens is unfortunately, accompanied by an increase in the use of commercially manufactured fertilizers and the needless wasting of millions of gallons of water.
Yes, most of the environmental threat still comes from the large commercial gardeners, but an increasingly significant portion of it is coming from personal, home gardens. And that means that you can reverse this trend and make a positive difference by changing your current gardening practices.
Many of the commercial gardeners are doing it, and you can use the same tactics to help your own garden, and reduce its impact on the environment.
Reduce your use of commercial fertilizers
Before you apply any fertilizers to your garden, or your yard, you should test your soil. A soil test, even a basic one, will tell you which nutrients are present in your soil, and at what level. A basic soil test will also tell you the acidity level of your soil. This is important because even though a particular nutrient is present in your soil, it may be unavailable to your plants if your soil pH is outside a certain range.
You can perform this test on your own by purchasing and using one of the inexpensive testing kits available online, or locally at most lawn and garden centers. You can also use the services of your county extension office to get your soil tested. This will usually result in a more detailed analysis of your soil, and some specific recommendations for adjusting and improving your soils condition.
Read and follow your fertilizer product instructions and recommendations
Knowing how much fertilizer to apply and when to apply it is important information for you to consider. In fact, it is essential that you read and follow the manufacturers recommendations for the amount needed and the appropriate timing of your fertilizer applications.
Applying too much fertilizer, the wrong formulation of fertilizer, or applying fertilizer at the wrong time can cause serious health risks to you and your plants, and create an additional burden on our already overburdened environment.
Avoid unnecessary watering
One effect of the misuse or misapplication of commercial fertilizers is plant dehydration. In an attempt to remedy this effect, many home gardeners over-water their gardens. This is wasted water, and it is unhealthy water, for both you and the environment.
Unfortunately, water is not an an antidote for fertilizer-poisoned plants. Water will not make your plants healthy again, some may even die. Those that live will not produce, or will produce a product full of chemical or nutrient toxins. And that is not good for you or the environment.
Where does all the excess water go? It goes into the soil and eventually into the groundwater, and with it goes a majority of the fertilizer residue containing those same chemical and nutrient toxins. From the groundwater system, it will make its way to the creeks, streams, rivers and lakes, and poison you and all of the other marine, plant and animal life on the planet.
Practice green gardening; protect yourself, your plants and the environment
Green gardening is a modern approach to organic gardening. It effectively combines the "natural" elements of organic gardening with the "conserve and replenish" elements of the green movement.
To that end, green gardening uses more naturally created, organic materials in place of commercially manufactured, chemical and organic fertilizers to foster healthy plant development and growth.
Naturally created, organic materials such as home-made, or home-grown compost and mulch add nutrients to soil in a more natural way and over a more relaxed and beneficial time frame. Liberal amounts of natural, organic compost and mulch applied on top of your garden soil and around plants helps to conserve water by retaining moisture in the soil and promotes a healthy environment for beneficial insects and microbes.
Since the chemicals and nutrients produced are used and replenished in a more natural cycle, there is virtually no risk of them accumulating to toxic levels. And therefore, little or no risk to you, your plants or the environment. Green gardening really is a modern approach to organic gardening!
Learn more great, green gardening tips today! Visit lifeinthebackyard.com now!
Dave Harding is a writer, blogger and avid organic gardener. He writes primarily about ideas and projects that will improve and transform the average backyard into a "personal paradise."
Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Harding
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
How to Plant a Variety of Vegetables in Your Garden
It is common knowledge and it is well known that home grown fruits and home grown vegetables tend to taste much better than ones bought from a supermarket. It is more psychological than anything else but home grown produce are much tastier then those fruits and vegetable that have been grown and are processed by companies. Some of the pleasure is derived from growing and producing your very own fruits and vegetables. This is the case especially if the whole family is involved and it can be done as a family and it can be done together.
The best way to plant a variety of plants in your garden takes a bit of patience, perseverance, and careful planning. There are quite a number of things that must be taken into consideration. A lot of planning is required and some people believe that winter is the best time to plan your garden. This gives you ample time to adequately prepare so that once summer comes around you are ready and rearing to go. When it comes to planning a variety of plants in your garden a lot of things must be taken into consideration. You may opt to have a very large garden or you may settle for small containers in and around your patio area. There is more to gardening then just planting seeds, it is an art with many things to consider and this art must be carefully studied, practiced, and mastered.
In order to plant a variety of vegetables in your garden you must consider:
Climate-you must understand and identify the type of climate in and around your area. The nature and type of climate you have will definitely influence and affect the type of crops and plants you will plant. The climate will affect the number of varieties that you can grow in your garden. You must grow crops or plants that are favourable and will do well with the kind of weather and climate you have in that area. Hard vegetables tend to do well in cool and cold climates while tender plants and crops prefer warm and hot weather. Frost and cold will definitely damage and destroy certain plants. Take note of the local climate and weather since it has a huge bearing on the variety of vegetables you will be able to grow.
Soil-the nature of the soil composition will play a very huge and crucial role in the variety of vegetables that you can grow in your garden. Certain soils favour certain types of vegetables. So you must pay very close attention to this and get the soil tested and checked. The fertility of the soil will determine the type of vegetable that you can grow in that particular area or you may be forced to invest in top soil and improve the nature and soil composition.
Vegetables-the gardener must decide what type of crops he or she may want to grow and in what quantities. This is also crucial because without this info it is almost impossible to begin planning and preparing for the vegetable garden. There are so many varieties of vegetables and they all have different properties. Be wary to avoid areas that are hidden, under big trees, building or shrubs when it comes to choosing the area or location of your garden.
Design-by designing the garden it helps you both mentally and physically visualize the nature and type of your garden. You will be able to really see the size and space that you really have. This also helps you plan and allocate the space you have both efficiently and effectively. Designing also helps you draw up a scaled map and this helps you plan the layout and nature of your vegetables and garden.
Healthy eating habits are very effective in improving the overall health of you and your family. Learn how to easily implement a healthier lifestyle by visiting my website at http://EverydayHealthGirl.com
Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becki_Andrus
The best way to plant a variety of plants in your garden takes a bit of patience, perseverance, and careful planning. There are quite a number of things that must be taken into consideration. A lot of planning is required and some people believe that winter is the best time to plan your garden. This gives you ample time to adequately prepare so that once summer comes around you are ready and rearing to go. When it comes to planning a variety of plants in your garden a lot of things must be taken into consideration. You may opt to have a very large garden or you may settle for small containers in and around your patio area. There is more to gardening then just planting seeds, it is an art with many things to consider and this art must be carefully studied, practiced, and mastered.
In order to plant a variety of vegetables in your garden you must consider:
Climate-you must understand and identify the type of climate in and around your area. The nature and type of climate you have will definitely influence and affect the type of crops and plants you will plant. The climate will affect the number of varieties that you can grow in your garden. You must grow crops or plants that are favourable and will do well with the kind of weather and climate you have in that area. Hard vegetables tend to do well in cool and cold climates while tender plants and crops prefer warm and hot weather. Frost and cold will definitely damage and destroy certain plants. Take note of the local climate and weather since it has a huge bearing on the variety of vegetables you will be able to grow.
Soil-the nature of the soil composition will play a very huge and crucial role in the variety of vegetables that you can grow in your garden. Certain soils favour certain types of vegetables. So you must pay very close attention to this and get the soil tested and checked. The fertility of the soil will determine the type of vegetable that you can grow in that particular area or you may be forced to invest in top soil and improve the nature and soil composition.
Vegetables-the gardener must decide what type of crops he or she may want to grow and in what quantities. This is also crucial because without this info it is almost impossible to begin planning and preparing for the vegetable garden. There are so many varieties of vegetables and they all have different properties. Be wary to avoid areas that are hidden, under big trees, building or shrubs when it comes to choosing the area or location of your garden.
Design-by designing the garden it helps you both mentally and physically visualize the nature and type of your garden. You will be able to really see the size and space that you really have. This also helps you plan and allocate the space you have both efficiently and effectively. Designing also helps you draw up a scaled map and this helps you plan the layout and nature of your vegetables and garden.
Healthy eating habits are very effective in improving the overall health of you and your family. Learn how to easily implement a healthier lifestyle by visiting my website at http://EverydayHealthGirl.com
Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becki_Andrus
How to Plant a Variety of Vegetables in Your Garden
It is common knowledge and it is well known that home grown fruits and home grown vegetables tend to taste much better than ones bought from a supermarket. It is more psychological than anything else but home grown produce are much tastier then those fruits and vegetable that have been grown and are processed by companies. Some of the pleasure is derived from growing and producing your very own fruits and vegetables. This is the case especially if the whole family is involved and it can be done as a family and it can be done together.
The best way to plant a variety of plants in your garden takes a bit of patience, perseverance, and careful planning. There are quite a number of things that must be taken into consideration. A lot of planning is required and some people believe that winter is the best time to plan your garden. This gives you ample time to adequately prepare so that once summer comes around you are ready and rearing to go. When it comes to planning a variety of plants in your garden a lot of things must be taken into consideration. You may opt to have a very large garden or you may settle for small containers in and around your patio area. There is more to gardening then just planting seeds, it is an art with many things to consider and this art must be carefully studied, practiced, and mastered.
In order to plant a variety of vegetables in your garden you must consider:
Climate-you must understand and identify the type of climate in and around your area. The nature and type of climate you have will definitely influence and affect the type of crops and plants you will plant. The climate will affect the number of varieties that you can grow in your garden. You must grow crops or plants that are favourable and will do well with the kind of weather and climate you have in that area. Hard vegetables tend to do well in cool and cold climates while tender plants and crops prefer warm and hot weather. Frost and cold will definitely damage and destroy certain plants. Take note of the local climate and weather since it has a huge bearing on the variety of vegetables you will be able to grow.
Soil-the nature of the soil composition will play a very huge and crucial role in the variety of vegetables that you can grow in your garden. Certain soils favour certain types of vegetables. So you must pay very close attention to this and get the soil tested and checked. The fertility of the soil will determine the type of vegetable that you can grow in that particular area or you may be forced to invest in top soil and improve the nature and soil composition.
Vegetables-the gardener must decide what type of crops he or she may want to grow and in what quantities. This is also crucial because without this info it is almost impossible to begin planning and preparing for the vegetable garden. There are so many varieties of vegetables and they all have different properties. Be wary to avoid areas that are hidden, under big trees, building or shrubs when it comes to choosing the area or location of your garden.
Design-by designing the garden it helps you both mentally and physically visualize the nature and type of your garden. You will be able to really see the size and space that you really have. This also helps you plan and allocate the space you have both efficiently and effectively. Designing also helps you draw up a scaled map and this helps you plan the layout and nature of your vegetables and garden.
Healthy eating habits are very effective in improving the overall health of you and your family. Learn how to easily implement a healthier lifestyle by visiting my website at http://EverydayHealthGirl.com
Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becki_Andrus
The best way to plant a variety of plants in your garden takes a bit of patience, perseverance, and careful planning. There are quite a number of things that must be taken into consideration. A lot of planning is required and some people believe that winter is the best time to plan your garden. This gives you ample time to adequately prepare so that once summer comes around you are ready and rearing to go. When it comes to planning a variety of plants in your garden a lot of things must be taken into consideration. You may opt to have a very large garden or you may settle for small containers in and around your patio area. There is more to gardening then just planting seeds, it is an art with many things to consider and this art must be carefully studied, practiced, and mastered.
In order to plant a variety of vegetables in your garden you must consider:
Climate-you must understand and identify the type of climate in and around your area. The nature and type of climate you have will definitely influence and affect the type of crops and plants you will plant. The climate will affect the number of varieties that you can grow in your garden. You must grow crops or plants that are favourable and will do well with the kind of weather and climate you have in that area. Hard vegetables tend to do well in cool and cold climates while tender plants and crops prefer warm and hot weather. Frost and cold will definitely damage and destroy certain plants. Take note of the local climate and weather since it has a huge bearing on the variety of vegetables you will be able to grow.
Soil-the nature of the soil composition will play a very huge and crucial role in the variety of vegetables that you can grow in your garden. Certain soils favour certain types of vegetables. So you must pay very close attention to this and get the soil tested and checked. The fertility of the soil will determine the type of vegetable that you can grow in that particular area or you may be forced to invest in top soil and improve the nature and soil composition.
Vegetables-the gardener must decide what type of crops he or she may want to grow and in what quantities. This is also crucial because without this info it is almost impossible to begin planning and preparing for the vegetable garden. There are so many varieties of vegetables and they all have different properties. Be wary to avoid areas that are hidden, under big trees, building or shrubs when it comes to choosing the area or location of your garden.
Design-by designing the garden it helps you both mentally and physically visualize the nature and type of your garden. You will be able to really see the size and space that you really have. This also helps you plan and allocate the space you have both efficiently and effectively. Designing also helps you draw up a scaled map and this helps you plan the layout and nature of your vegetables and garden.
Healthy eating habits are very effective in improving the overall health of you and your family. Learn how to easily implement a healthier lifestyle by visiting my website at http://EverydayHealthGirl.com
Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becki_Andrus
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Welcome to gardening for self sufficient homesteaders. At Gardening for self sufficient homesteaders blog, we will have the best articles and information oabout gardeing for self sufficiency, organinc gardening, homesteading and everything about Gardening for Self Sufficient Homesteaders.
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