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Steps Involved in Organic Gardening |
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Organic gardening, however, is not just about adding organic fertilizers and pesticides. If you want to see good results in your home garden, you should look at the different aspects of organic gardening, which include the following:
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Maintaining a healthy soil: Most of us mistaken soil as small inorganic particles which are formed by weathering of rocks. However, apart from these inorganic particles, soil constitutes organic matter, both living and dead. There are numerous microorganisms present in soil, the absence or dearth of which makes the soil unhealthy for plant growth.
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Testing the quality of soil: In order to maintain a healthy soil, you should first test the quality of soil present in your home garden. Search for soil testing laboratories in your vicinity, call them, and find out the procedure for testing soil there. Take a sample and get a soil quality report from the laboratory.
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Adding nutrients: The next step is adding appropriate nutrients in the soil. The way you require good food, your home garden also requires excellent nutrients. Compost and organic fertilizers should be added as advised by the soil testing laboratory. Inorganic nutrients such as lava sand, basalt, etc., can also be added. You should also add organic matter such as molasses or dried grass as this helps in maintaining moisture in the soil and favors growth of the microorganisms.
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Tilling: We have been accustomed to machine tilling since the past few decades. But experts of organic gardening suggest that the best tool for tilling is the hand spade. Why you ask? Because hand tilling retains the soil structure which is essential for a healthy soil.
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Sowing: You should use organic seeds for sowing. Nowadays you can easily get these seeds in the market. Numerous online organic stores also sell organic seeds.
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Controlling the pests and diseases: In organic gardening, pests and diseases are controlled by using organic fungicides, insecticides, and pesticides. You can also make use of certain beneficial insects and birds which feed on the pests and control them naturally. Pests can be controlled with the help of certain trap crops, and companion planting as well. Bugs can be controlled with the help of frogs, toads, etc.
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Controlling the weeds: Organic gardening experts often recommend organic herbicides for controlling weeds. Weeds can also be controlled by employing a process called mulching, which is piling up organic matter such as dry grass and leaves on the soil surface. Mulching does not allow any space for the weeds to grow.
Further Reading: Main.org
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