| How's your garden doing? Is it rich and thriving or are | | | | readily. |
| you constantly dealing with pest insects and bugs? | | | | Here are some resources you can apply over the |
| Are you spending more money than you want buying | | | | years to create organic rich soil without using |
| chemical fertilizers and pest-be-gone substances from | | | | chemicals or unnatural means: |
| the garden store? Are the weeds the only thing | | | | 1. Make your own compost, and spread it to an |
| thriving? | | | | eventual depth of 1 foot. |
| Perhaps it's time to take a look at a natural, and | | | | 2. Use natural microbial fertilizers (i.e. Ringer Restore). |
| ultimately more effective (and environmentally | | | | 3. Apply composted cow manure |
| friendly) way to rid your garden of detrimental bugs | | | | 4. Use steamed bone meal or ground rock phosphate |
| and insects. | | | | for phosphorus sources. |
| Most people only think about pest control when they | | | | 5. Try cottonseed or soybean meal for nitrogen |
| are already having problems. Unfortunately, it's often | | | | sources |
| harder to eradicate an existing problem than to | | | | 6. Apply green manure and mulches |
| prevent one from taking root in the first place. You | | | | 7. Use granite dust or green sand, which interact with |
| can go a long ways toward creating a | | | | a high organic matter content in your soil, creating a |
| pest-insect-free lawn or garden by following some | | | | potassium source. |
| simple steps. None of these steps include using | | | | Try some or all of these natural techniques for |
| unnatural, man-made substances in your garden. | | | | creating rich soil and a healthy, pest-free garden. |
| First, it's important to realize that insects attack | | | | You may be noting that I included all organic |
| weak, diseased plants. They're "nature's pruners" in a | | | | resources. What about chemical fertilizers and the |
| way. On the other hand, strong and healthy plants | | | | variety of concoctions you can buy from the garden |
| can often resist insect attacks. It's a bit like how | | | | store? |
| your immune system, when strong and healthy, can | | | | Before you consider those manmade resources, |
| thwart many parasites that would cripple someone | | | | consider that soil isn't just dead, inert particles. It also |
| with a weakened immune system. | | | | contains living micro-organisms, fungi, bacteria, etc.. |
| So, how do you grow healthy plants with good | | | | The chemical fertilizers kill soil micro-organisms (the |
| "immune systems"? | | | | good along with the bad) and contribute to nitrate |
| Believe it or not, much of it boils down to the soil. | | | | contamination of surface water and water wells. |
| Find out what kind of soil is optimal for the plants | | | | Why contribute to a problem that is growing steadily |
| you want to grow and take steps to create that | | | | worse: adding toxins to the water we need for daily |
| environment. For instance, some plants require more | | | | use? It's not worth it when you can develop |
| nitrogen in the soil than others. By knowing your | | | | nutrient-rich soil naturally. Just be patient. A good |
| plants' nutritional preferences, you can create | | | | garden, and good soil, is something that will take |
| stronger healthier plants that resist insects more | | | | many seasons to perfect. |