Gardening

Growing in containers provides a great deal of flexibility and solves problems that might otherwise limit the creativity and enjoyment of organic gardening. Containers provide the essential platform in garden locations without soil such as patios, paved courtyards, and roof areas. They may offer the only means of gardening for individuals living in flats or apartments with limited space. Many urban dwellers have enriched their lives by growing collections of herbs in pots and containers on a windowsill. Most importantly, containers can sustain a range of plants that will struggle or fail in local soil and conditions. For example, in climates where the winter would normally kill a lime or tangelo, these can be grown successfully in containers,...

Many volumes have been written about the subject of garden pruning. It might be defined as an essentially creative form with practical applications, one that utilises a series of technical skills. There are many ways to approach a pruning task, the differing philosophies and techniques often become the source of heated debate amongst gardening enthusiasts. While I don’t recommend getting too hot and bothered about the topic, I do suggest you gain a basic understanding of pruning and pinching techniques. Pinching Pinching is the removal of unwanted growth by the fingers, usually when such growth is tender enough to readily succumb. Recall the expression “nipping something in the bud”. It provides a verbal illustration for the action...

An organic philosophy encourages us to move beyond a narrowly hostile attitude toward plant species identified as weeds. In the first instance it is a vague category that tends to shift according to location, seasonal influence, established farming and other cultural practices. With a shift in any of these, one persons weed will become food or medicine for another. Interestingly, many common garden weeds are neither noxious nor dangerous. Some such as lemon verbena or dandelion can just as easily be defined as herbs. Most of them, however, are plants offering little in the way of food or obvious beauty so are quickly dismissed and considered a drain on precious garden resources. Controlling weeds It is true that an abundance of weeds will compete...

Having access to good quality tools and equipment designed for the tasks you need to accomplish will make your time in the garden more efficient and pleasurable. While it is neither necessary nor practical to own every garden implement, there are at least several that you’ll find indispensable from the beginning. Later on, experience will help you determine which additional items should be added to your basic tool kit. Let’s take a look at some of the routine tasks you’ll be getting into in the garden and the basic tools you’ll need to get the job done efficiently. Digging While extensive digging is generally best avoided in an organic garden, there are selective tasks like composting and tree planting which require the temporary displacement...