NATURAL ORGANIC ALTERNATIVES IN THE LANDSCAPE

Why go organic?  Although there are countless reasons for transitioning to organic gardening practices, at Marvin’s Organic Gardens, we have narrowed it down to a four point code: Safety, Cost, Results and Simplicity.  Organic gardening practices are not only safer for the environment, but also for human and animal health.  All materials certified for organic gardening are derived from natural sources such as plant and animal remains, which eliminates soil and water pollution.  As for cost, it is a common misconception that all things grown organically cost more.  In fact, landscape plants grown organically cost less than conventionally grown landscape plants due to no dependence on chemical pest and disease controls.  We let our beneficial birds; insects and microorganisms take care of the pest problems for us, which also helps to reduce labor cost. Also, much time and cost savings can be attributed to sustainable cultivation methods for lawns and gardens. All these savings go right back to the customers.  The results of “Going Organic” can be seen immediately with brighter foliage, longer lasting blooms and berries; but the long term results are much more extensive, such as better insect and disease resistance and increased environmental stress tolerance.  The secret is in the soil.  Healthy soils contain billions of underground helpers (generically termed microorganisms) that keep both plants and soil functioning normally.  Lastly, organic gardening keeps the simple system simple.  Because nature is a checks and balance system, there is rarely a need to spray or sprinkle plants with even naturally derived pest controls.  Simply put, most plants require compost as a soil amendment.  Compost is oil for the soil, and helps inoculate existing soil with many beneficial organisms that help eliminate the need for complicated timing and measuring of chemical pest controls.

Compost is in a sense, replicating was happens in nature, and the base for all organic gardening.  We take debris such as wood, leaves, animal manure and kitchen waste (non meat), and mix it together.  In time, this debris breaks down into a high quality soil amendment which can help to reduce soil compaction and erosion, enrich the soil with many nutrients, attract beneficial organisms, feed plants and much more.  It’s recycling at its finest.  One of the best ways to restore a worn out lawn or garden is to top dress the area with an application of compost.  Soil organic matter (SOM) is the key to healthy soils, and ultimately healthy plants.  Any good compost has high to moderate levels of this SOM, which is the stable component of compost that helps to hold and release nutrients more efficiently for plant root uptake.  Often macro and micronutrients are plentiful in our soils, but unavailable for plants due to the absence of other important nutrients.  Compost acts as a catalyst for nutrient absorption.  Also, the higher the SOM content of a soil, the fewer pest and disease problems we have in the garden.  If your lawn or garden plants have a serious insect pest or disease problem, typically an application of compost will amend the issue, and help to reduce future pest problems.

Compost aside, there are many environment friendly techniques we use to increase the efficiency of our landscapes.  For example, one can manipulate soil grade to better conserve rainwater and lessen soil erosion throughout our lawn and gardens.  Also, one can replicate the naturally occurring glacial moraines, (earthen mounds or low berms), to buffer noise pollution, lessen wind and regulate temperature extremes.  Another method used by organic landscapers is to cater to natural habitat gardens.  It’s the, “If you build it, they will come”, technique.  By using native plants of an area, one can attract many beneficial birds, insects and animals to their garden, which can help to reduce pest problems naturally.  Although there are countless habitats one could build in our area, a few of the more popular styles are: prairies, wetlands and bogs, woodland, water gardens and dry land (xeric) gardens.  When gardening with native plants, one becomes a conservationist, preserving both plants and animals whose natural habitat may be few and far between. 

We might consider selecting plants based on the following criteria.

1. Plant that can be reasonably maintained without gas powered equipment
2. Plants that provide climate control, noise control, wind protection, moisture control, erosion protection, enrich the soil with nitrogen and biomass and provide wildlife habitat
3. Plants that frame or screen views, create structure within the garden and add a feeling of harmony to ones garden
4. Balance between vertical and horizontal interest, and display shape, color and texture contrast
5. Plants that animate ones garden by swaying, shaking, rustling or rattling in the wind and rain

For fertilization, select a fertilizer that is plant or animal based, and has a low, balanced nutrient analysis.  (For example: 8-3-3, 3-3-3, and 5-4-2)  The highest natural source of nitrogen is blood meal at 10% by weight, which is the first number in the analysis.  If your nitrogen level is higher, there is a chance it’s probably chemically derived.  Organic fertilizers are superior to chemical fertilizers for many reasons:

1. Low to no soluble salts or harmful inert ingredients that may pollute soil and water or harm tender plant roots in times of drought
2. Derived from natural sources, so very little fuel is needed in the manufacturing of such fertilizers
3. Balanced, low nutrient analysis fertilizers can be immediately utilized by microorganisms and plants
4. Excess nutrient leaching is one of the leading causes of water pollution, and is the result of high analysis fertilizers not able to be utilized by plant roots
5. Natural, organic fertilizers are high in carbon, helping to feed the vast diversity of soil organisms.  Chemical fertilizers have low to no carbon content.
6. Organic fertilizers most often have a great diversity of micro and macronutrients, which cater to most plants full nutrient needs.  Most conventional fertilizers only contain three basic nutrients, which lead to many plant nutrient deficiency symptoms.
7. Because organic fertilizers are derived from natural sources, there is limited health danger to the applicator, those that may come in contact with these fertilizers, and are much safer for our environment

An annual fertilization program will help to strengthen plant stand density, which will lessen weed issues.  Ultimately, ones soil structure helps to determine the quantity and number of applications of a given fertilizer in a season.  The more clay bound the soil, the less one needs to fertilize.  Sandy soils typically need more fertilizer.

As for weed control, many studies have been conducted on the harmful affects chemical herbicides have had on our environment, human and animal health.  There are many ways to control weeds without using toxic herbicides.  In field and vegetable garden application, try using cover crops such as: Winter Rye, Clover, Lespedeza, Lupine, Cow Peas and Hairy Vetch (NOT CROWN VETCH!).  Many of these cover crops contain chemicals that  naturally suppress germinating weed seed, while others enrich the soil with not only biomass, but also by fixing atmospheric nitrogen in root nodules.  Rotation of field and vegetable crops confound weed by varying the timing and spacing of plantings from season to season.  As for garden application, there are several options such as mulching with organic debris such as pine straw, shredded hardwood and pine bark, wheat straw, fallen leaves, cocoa bean shells, gravel, etc.  For maximum control of weeds with mulches, turn or “rough up” the mulch with a hard rake several times through the garden season.  In landscape areas where the weeds have overtaken, you may simply cut the weeds as low as possible, place 5-8 sheets of moist newspaper atop the area, then top dress with desired mulch at appropriate rate.  There are also many perennial and woody groundcovers (Living Mulches) that will help to smother or lessen weed competition.  Essentially, a groundcover is any plant that stays relatively low to the ground and fills an area, whether it’s one foot or one hundred feet, vigorously.  Larger perennials, trees and shrubs can be planted in these living mulches, acting as vertical accents amongst the groundcovers.  Also, these larger trees, shrubs and perennials can themselves help to shade and crowd out rivaling weed competition.  A natural pre-emergent weed control that has hit the market recently is known by the name of corn gluten. This is a byproduct from the corn products industry that has been discovered to contain weed-suppressing chemicals that inhibit germinating weed seed.  Although the spring is a good time to apply corn gluten due to the large number of germinating weed seed, this product can be put down any time during the active growing season, because weeds continually germinate throughout the growing season.  Corn gluten is safe for humans and animals, and has no harmful affects on our environment.  Another weed control method is to spray them with household vinegar on a warm, sunny day.  Vinegar is approved for organic gardening use, and will quite literally burn back the weeds before your very eyes.  There are improved vinegar products such as Burn Out, which have the added benefit of Clove Oil and Yucca juice as a means to adhere more affectively to weed surfaces. 

For every landscape related challenge, there is always a natural, organic alternative.  The secret to healthy plants is in the soil.  We shouldn’t  treat our soil like dirt, it is alive!  One application of a chemical fungicide, insecticide or herbicide can throw off the natural balance of our yard and gardens.  If your garden plants seem malnourished or ridden with insect or disease problems, conducting a soil test is best.  Don’t guess, take a soil test.  A single compost application will usually correct any pest related issue by returning balance to the soil.  It is a simple solution to a very complex problem.  Remember, organic gardening is safer, more cost affective, wrought with positive results and certainly a simple system.