How to Maintain your Garden Organically
You’ve successfully planted a beautiful patio vegetable garden — check. In fact, you may or may not, be feasting on homegrown heirloom tomatoes, right this very second, congratulating yourself on your environmental contributions. But before you get too cocky, a true defender of the planet would maintain their garden organically.
That’s right, we went there. Not only is it the right thing to do (no pressure!), maintaining your garden organically is actually very easy. All you’ll need is a little slug tape, some fish emulsion with kelp, Neem oil, and a few ladybugs. (How’s that for a unique shopping list?)
These are some of the organic product options for soil care, pest and weed control. And it is as simple as a quick consult with a nursery or garden center professional about what makes more sense for your specific garden.
Watch our video for a quick how-to and then dig in and get down with your organic self!
Materials List
1. Organic potting soil
2. Organic fertilizer
3. Neem oil
4. Trowel
5. Organic fertilizer
6. Organic plant food
8. Beneficial insects
9. Copper slug tape
Steps
1. Soil Matters: Be sure to use organic potting soil when you plant your patio garden. You can improve your soil and keep it healthy by adding compost or organic soil amendments. Any nursery or garden center professional can point you in the right direction and help you determine what’s best for your specific garden.
2. Feed Me: Keep your plants healthy and happy with organic liquid plant food such as fish emulsion with kelp. There are lots of options at any local nursery or garden center.
3. Fight Insects with Insects: Deploy an army of aphid eating beneficial insects such as ladybugs to help keep your garden pest-free.
4. All Natural: If you find evidence of a pest problem that beneficial insects can’t control or signs of a fungal disease on your plants, spray them with a natural fungicide and pesticide such as neem oil.
5. Snail Away: Help keep the slugs and snails away with copper slug tape.
6. Be Water Wise: If you want to go all out, consider installing a drip system to conserve water and save money.