April 2008: Green Gardening Tips

Green Gardening Tips

Finally – spring is here! Here are some simple ideas and recipes to keep your garden beautiful and chemical-free this year:

Homemade Insecticidal Soap

To eliminate the cost and more importantly the use of chemicals in your garden, why not make a great homemade insecticidal soap: two tablespoons of your favorite dishwashing detergent to one gallon of water. Pour in a spray bottle and you are good to go. A drop or two of cooking oil can be used to make the soap stick if you'd like. Be sure to spray both the top and the bottom of the leaves. And do not spay in the heat of the day because sun scald might occur. This is also an excellent preparatory spray for bringing in houseplants for the winter.

Weed Control

Use a layer of newspaper to prevent weed seed from germinating. It's safe and works wonders. It will decompose nicely.

Pour boiling water into cracks and near buildings to help kill weeds. Be sure to get as much of the root when weeding. Weed after a rain or after watering for easier results.

Compost Tea

Compost tea is quite easy to make - almost like making a real cup of tea only on a larger scale. Shovel in some compost in an old pillow case or burlap bag. Sink it into a large bucket or barrel of water. Cover the container and just let it steep for a few days. Remember, the longer you steep the stronger it is. You may use this as a light fertilizer to give your plants a little boost.

Be Water Wise

The principles of efficient water use in the garden make great sense--indeed, they're simply good gardening practices.

Plan and design your garden with water conservation in mind. For example, group plants with similar moisture requirements close together. Thus, you can water the thirsty plants as they need replenishing, rather than the whole garden.

Mulch your plants with compost, straw, dead leaves or shredded bark to conserve moisture.

Improve the water-retention capabilities of your soil by adding lots of compost.

Place plants that require the greatest amounts of water in areas that receive run-off from slopes or downspouts.

And remember to leave your grass clippings where they lay – this helps retain moisture and give you a beautiful lawn.

For more tips on organic pest-control visit Canadian Living Magazine.

The Metro Vancouver website also has additional information on Natural Yard Care.

Happy Gardening!