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The majority of herbs are easy to grow organically, requiring only a modest amount of maintenance to keep them healthy and disease free. Much of the effort associated with common herbs is expended to ensure they remain confined within a reasonable space and do not spread uncontrolled like weeds. Mint, nettle, nasturtium and others will quickly dominate the garden, choking out rival plants when unattended. Containment strategies must address the method of reproduction. Herbs like nasturtium and nettle multiply rapidly through seed scattering unless the heads are removed early enough to prevent this. A single specimen of Vietnamese mint is capable of releasing multiple root runners every season. Once these runners extend past the plants designated...

Pruning is required to regulate the growth and shape of fruit trees, vines, and bushes. Because many of these are expected to support heavy crops, they need to develop a strong and resilient framework. This can usually be achieved through a combination of variety selection, and effective management which utilises a range of organic cultivation techniques such as soil enhancement, biological controls, companion planting, regular pruning, and fruit thinning. Immature trees and bushes are pruned to stimulate the correct orientation and solid growth of supporting limbs and branches. Over several seasons, the foliage is pruned into a shape which will eventually provide good protection for developing fruit while maintaining a reasonable degree of...

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...