Even in the tiniest backyard, roof garden, paved patio or even a balcony, you can create a beautiful natural space with organic container gardening. People who have a bigger yard also use containers for sensitive plants that need to be brought indoors in the winter. Container gardens are for most everybody!

Containers have the advantage that they protect the plants from many ground-based pests. Slugs who would be all over your flowers in the garden beds are much less likely to climb up into your container to reach them. Pests that attack the roots are not likely to be found in your container either, if you use organic potting soil. This is recommended because it is better aerated than garden soil and has all the nutrients that container plants need.

When using organic fertilizer and plant food on your organic container plants, be careful not to use too much. It tends to remain more concentrated in a container and it can burn the roots if overused.

Another advantage of container planting is that you can move your plants around. Young plants can be kept in sheltered spots and moved to a more exposed part of the yard when they are stronger. You may find that different parts of your garden catch the sun at different times of year, and you can rearrange your container garden accordingly.

You can also move plants around to provide a good display visible from your windows at all times of year, and to create a garden that is always well arranged with bigger plants at the back. You will not have the problem of something that you planted overshadowing everything else because it grew bigger than you expected!

You can operate a container garden on a shoestring budget. Plants will grow in anything that can contain soil and has drainage holes in the base. This can include wooden buckets and tubs that you can drill holes in, barrels, rain water tubs, and even old kitchen sinks, basins and bathtubs.

To keep your garden organic, you need to consider the material that the containers are made from. Avoid the types of plastic that may leak chemicals into the soil. Be sure that wooden containers have not been weatherproofed with non-organic treatments.

It is important to choose the right size of container for each plant. A container should be about the same width as the full-grown plant, and slightly taller than the length of its roots. You can grow most vegetables in containers and also many fruits including strawberries and tomatoes.

Plants in containers need more water than those that are planted out in the garden. This is because they cannot draw water up from deep in the ground. If you are away on vacation in summer, it is best to have someone come and water your containers every day.

Many people like to use hanging containers too. This is great if you have an overhanging outdoor porch, or if you can fix extending hooks onto your walls. Hanging baskets provide excellent drainage and the plants will get plenty of air to the roots. Summer-flowering annuals with trailing flowers are ideally suited to baskets.

If you are limited for space or want the flexibility that containers offer for your organic vegetables, fruits and flowers, organic container gardening is the perfect choice.

Any reliable seed house can be depended upon for good seeds; but even so, there is a great risk in seeds. A seed may to all appearances be all right and yet not have within it vitality enough, or power, to produce a hardy plant.

If you save seed from your own plants you are able to choose carefully. Suppose you are saving seed of aster plants. What blossoms shall you decide upon? Now it is not the blossom only which you must consider, but the entire plant. Why? Because a weak, straggly plant may produce one fine blossom. Looking at that one blossom so really beautiful you think of the numberless equally lovely plants you are going to have from the seeds. But just as likely as not the seeds will produce plants like the parent plant.

So in seed selection the entire plant is to be considered. Is it sturdy, strong, well shaped and symmetrical; does it have a goodly number of fine blossoms? These are questions to ask in seed selection.

If you should happen to have the opportunity to visit a seedsman’s garden, you will see here and there a blossom with a string tied around it. These are blossoms chosen for seed. If you look at the whole plant with care you will be able to see the points which the gardener held in mind when he did his work of selection.

 In seed selection size is another point to hold in mind. Now we know no way of telling anything about the plants from which this special collection of seeds came. So we must give our entire thought to the seeds themselves. It is quite evident that there is some choice; some are much larger than the others; some far plumper, too. By all means choose the largest and fullest seed. The reason is this: When you break open a bean and this is very evident, too, in the peanut you see what appears to be a little plant. So it is. Under just the right conditions for development this ‘little chap’ grows into the bean plant you know so well.

This little plant must depend for its early growth on the nourishment stored up in the two halves of the bean seed. For this purpose the food is stored. Beans are not full of food and goodness for you and me to eat, but for the little baby bean plant to feed upon. And so if we choose a large seed, we have chosen a greater amount of food for the plantlet. This little plantlet feeds upon this stored food until its roots are prepared to do their work. So if the seed is small and thin, the first food supply insufficient, there is a possibility of losing the little plant.

You may care to know the name of this pantry of food. It is called a cotyledon if there is but one portion, cotyledons if two. Thus we are aided in the classification of plants. A few plants that bear cones like the pines have several cotyledons. But most plants have either one or two cotyledons.

 From large seeds come the strongest plantlets. That is the reason why it is better and safer to choose the large seed. It is the same case exactly as that of weak children. 

There is often another trouble in seeds that we buy. The trouble is impurity. Seeds are sometimes mixed with other seeds so like them in appearance that it is impossible to detect the fraud. Pretty poor business, is it not? The seeds may be unclean. Bits of foreign matter in with large seed are very easy to discover. One can merely pick the seed over and make it clean. By clean is meant freedom from foreign matter. But if small seed are unclean, it is very difficult, well nigh impossible, to make them clean.

The third thing to look out for in seed is viability. We know from our testings that seeds which look to the eye to be all right may not develop at all. There are reasons. Seeds may have been picked before they were ripe or mature; they may have been frozen; and they may be too old. Seeds retain their viability or germ developing power, a given number of years and are then useless. There is a viability limit in years which differs for different seeds. 

From the test of seeds we find out the germination percentage of seeds. Now if this percentage is low, don’t waste time planting such seed unless it be small seed. Immediately you question that statement. Why does the size of the seed make a difference? This is the reason. When small seed is planted it is usually sown in drills. Most amateurs sprinkle the seed in very thickly. So a great quantity of seed is planted. And enough seed germinates and comes up from such close planting. So quantity makes up for quality.

But take the case of large seed, like corn for example. Corn is planted just so far apart and a few seeds in a place. With such a method of planting the matter of per cent, of germination is most important indeed.

Small seeds that germinate at fifty per cent. may be used but this is too low a per cent. for the large seed. Suppose we test beans. The percentage is seventy. If low-vitality seeds were planted, we could not be absolutely certain of the seventy per cent coming up. But if the seeds are lettuce go ahead with the planting.

There is nothing nicer than receiving a gift relating to one’s passion. If your loved one’s passion is gardening, then show your thoughtfulness by giving a gift that will be truly appreciated.
There are so many great gardening gifts that the only constraint is your own budget.

If your budget is small, go for things like gloves, kneepads or even a shady hat. A pretty pot (or a watering-can) filled with a small bag of potting mix, a packet of bulbs, some gloves and a small trowel or other tool will be received with delight by most gardeners. There are many hand tools at hardware stores that are reasonably priced.

If you feel that is too ordinary, how about a subscription to a gardening magazine? A tiny bit more expensive perhaps, but it will give twelve full months of delight. A book on gardening is another idea, but make sure your recipient does not already have the one you choose. Books are often heavily discounted at Christmas time, so you may get a bargain.

On the other hand, a pot that contains a flowering plant is usually a welcomed gift. Be sure to choose a plant that is suited to your climate. Sometimes plants are sent from tropical to temperate zones and kept in artificial conditions in the store. These plants will not do well once taken from their environment. Shrub roses are hardy and attractive and grow in many climates. Tulips do best in the cooler climate.

If your budget is strong, a more expensive tool may be appropriate. A pull-trolley is easier to use than a wheelbarrow and, like some electric tools, is still not terribly expensive. Small electric tools such as whipper-snippers can retail for as little as $20.00. Or if your friend has a hose but not a hose reel, then that would be a more useful gift that he would truly appreciate.

Automatic lawn mowers, electric cultivators, hedge trimmers and brush cutters are in the more expensive price range and you are the only one who can decide whether that is an appropriate gift. However, when the recipient realizes you have given a gift that complements his passion, expensive or not, it will certainly become the best gift
your friend has ever received.

More and more people are switching to organic gardening now - but exactly what is organic gardening? In this article we will look at the five vital methods that will keep your garden on the right side of the organic divide.

1. Considering The Garden As A Whole

Organic gardening takes a holistic approach, seeing the garden as one entity. Within this, different elements like soil, insects, worms, microorganisms and all of the different plants work together to create a mini ecosystem in the garden.

Everything is important, not only the fruit and vegetables. Your decorative plants, trees, lawn and even your garden furniture should be treated with a view to the environmental implications of all of the choices that you make.

2. Making The Most Of Your Garden’s Strengths

All gardens have strong points and weaker points. Consider the situation, soil type, climate, neighboring environment, sunny and shaded areas, and play on the strongest characteristics of your garden as you plan its organic development.

3. Welcoming Wildlife To The Garden

Most forms of wildlife can be seen either positively or negatively. Most people welcome birds to their gardens - until they start eating all of the delicious berries. We may not like wasps but they are predators that can be very beneficial to our gardens.

In an organic garden, all pest control will be natural. This can include:

- introducing natural predators to control your pests

- keeping seedlings and vulnerable crops protected with covers or nets

- using soapy water to wash plants that are vulnerable to aphid infestations

- selecting compatible plants that will keep pests away from neighboring plants

- removing medium sized pests like slugs and certain caterpillars whenever you see them.

If you want to kill slugs and caterpillars, drowning or squishing are the most environmentally friendly methods. You can use traps for some creatures.

4. Caring For Your Soil - Not For Your Plants

The soil is the basis of your garden. To your plants, it is both their home and their main source of food. Care for the soil well and your plants will take care of themselves.

Composting and mulching are great ways to look after your soil. Compost your kitchen waste and any other compostable matter that you have in the house. Use dead plant material too. If you are trimming trees and shrubs, cut the branches small to include them. Let your compost rot untouched for a full season.

If you have a compost tub, it should be bottomless and placed on soil so that worms and friendly bacteria can enter to process the waste and turn it into a wonderful fertilizer for your garden. When it is ready it will look like fine soil. At least once a year, you can take it out from the bottom of the tub or pile and spread it around the garden.

If you use compostable materials such as bark and fallen leaves as mulch, placed on the soil between your plants, it will both control weed growth and enrich the soil as it rots.

5. Consider The Environment In Everything That You Do

Choose organic seeds and seedlings whenever you can. Avoid genetically modified plants and over-hybridized plants that are often weaker than those based on wild varieties. Even seedless fruiting varieties are unnatural and a plant whose fruit carries no seeds may not trouble to put a lot of goodness into its fruit.

When you buy fruit and vegetables at the store, buying organic will also help to keep your garden organic. Any waste from non-organic food that is added to your compost is putting traces of chemical pesticides into your garden.

Collecting rain water saves wasting valuable drinking water and may also be better for your garden. Most water from your faucets contains chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals that are added to drinking water for sanitation reasons but are not necessarily beneficial to plants (or even humans - but that is another issue!)

Choose plants that are suited to your climate. This will save water if you live in a dry region, as well as giving you stronger and healthier plants wherever you live.

As you can see, having an organic garden is not just a question of stopping spraying your roses! Consider every aspect of what is an organic garden and you will find you have created a bower of natural beauty in your backyard.

Organic herbicides can be used in organic gardening and farming to weaken or kill unwanted plants, otherwise known as weeds.

Selective herbicides are used to manage weeds that are either growing in between rows of crops, or to kill moss and weeds in lawns. Non-selective herbicides are used in areas where no plants are wanted, such as a gravel path. They may also be used to destroy remains of plants after a crop has finished.

Most organic herbicides are non-selective, i.e. they destroy all plants, without leaving residues in the soil that would prevent another crop from being grown in the next season. Generally they will also not harm the worms, beneficial bacteria and fungi that are a vital part of the life of the soil. Many non-organic weed killers will harm these forms of life and therefore weaken the growing power of the land.

Although technically speaking an organic herbicide could be any weed killer that includes carbon, which is almost all of them, these days the term has come to mean herbicides that are approved for use on organic land. This can vary in different jurisdictions so if organic certification is important to you (for example if you are selling your produce as organic) you will need to check with the appropriate state agency.

Organic herbicides may be either natural substances, synthetic compounds or processes like burning and mulching.

Vinegar

Vinegar is often used as a weed killer. In concentrations of between 5% and 20% acetic acid it can be used to kill surface growth of plants. Most plants will not draw it down into the root, so they can regrow and will need to be treated again. Some plants need two or more treatments.

Vinegar or acetic acid is also used in most of the synthetic compound weedkillers. AllDown, Matran 2 and Xpress are examples of patent herbicides that contain acetic acid as one of the active ingredients.

Other Natural Weedkilling Agents

Other agents that are used in compound patent herbicides include clove oil, garlic, thyme oil, citric acid and plant extracts such as yucca.

Burning

Fire is a method of weed control that is used in some situations. The process of burning unwanted plants is something that has been done for centuries. It clears the land after harvest and has the advantage of producing ash which enriches the soil. It burns many of the seeds which can reduce weed growth in future years. It is also completely natural.

However, open burning on land is now illegal in many areas, because of the risk of fire spreading and/or because of the pollution caused by the smoke. Controlled burning is allowed in some countries with flame being applied to a small area at a time by tractor.

Infra-red heat treatment is another way of burning the finished crop which does not involve the dangers of flames. This is permitted in most areas.

Mulching

Mulching is the process of putting something over the ground to stop weeds from getting light and oxygen. This is an example of a selective organic herbicidal process.

All of the ground between the wanted plants is covered with plastic, canvas or other material and any weeds that sprout in the ground beneath it will not be able to grow. Putting straw between strawberry plants is a traditional example of mulching.

In a garden, and even in many organic farming environments, the most common form of weed management is simply to pull the weeds up by hand or with a hoe. This is the simplest way to control weeds. However, for larger areas of unwanted vegetation, organic herbicides can be useful.

Organic gardening for beginners is a hot topic right now as more and more people are getting into growing their own organic food. First let’s look at the benefits:

- it’s the very best way to put the healthiest, freshest and tastiest food onto your table

- it’s much more environmentally friendly to stop spraying your garden with chemical pesticides

- it gets you out into the fresh air

- it’s a fun hobby to have

- it keeps your backyard looking just great!

The first thing to do when you are planning your new organic garden is to decide what you want to grow. Most people start with vegetables because that is usually their reason for going organic - they want to eat their own home grown pesticide-free food. And it’s a great reason!

There are plenty of organic seeds available now. You can buy them at markets, nurseries or gardening stores, or online. Be sure to pick out vegetables that are suited to your garden. This means you need to check that they will grow well in your climate, soil type and the amount of sun or shade that you have in your backyard. You should also consider what time of year you need to plant them.

Seeds are normally started indoors in small containers or seed trays. You can buy special planting mix to help your seeds to sprout. Be sure it is organic and does not contain chemical fertilizers. Don’t forget to label your trays - often you will find that baby seedlings all look alike!

If you want to cut out the time taken to start your new crops from seed, you can buy small plants to put directly into your garden. This is a good option if you are starting later in the year.

Since you won’t be using standard pesticides you need to think about protecting your new seedlings from slugs and other pests. You probably know what pests are a particular problem in your area from your previous gardening experience. If you don’t, you can ask gardening neighbors.

Choosing plants that are less likely to be attacked by your neighborhood pests will give you a big advantage. You can also take steps to protect your plants while they are young. Depending on the type of plant and the pests that it attracts, you may want to use nets, upturned plastic bottles, or barriers.

It is possible to buy organic pesticides for some pests, but many organic gardeners prefer not to kill the insects that are part of the natural food chain in their local environment. Instead they will often encourage the natural local predators to come to their garden - in effect, inviting the hitmen of the insect kingdom into the backyard to do the dirty work for them!

When you look at the benefits, you will see that organic gardening for beginners is a great way to get all of the family involved in creating a wonderful environment in your backyard.

We are often asked the question: “Is my garden organic?” Many people are not sure exactly what is the definition of organic, and whether they can correctly apply it to the vegetables, fruits and other plants that they are growing in their garden, yard or small land holding.

The word ‘organic’ originally meant anything that contains carbon (in chemistry) or anything relating to living organisms or organs of the body (in biology). However, in farming, gardening and food production, ‘organic’ has come to mean food and plants that are grown and prepared without the use of chemicals or pesticides.

If you are growing food for sale, there are a lot of regulations that you must comply with before you can call your produce organic. These vary from state to state and country to country so we cannot include them all here. Generally, the land must be free of chemical pesticides, fertilizers and other treatments for a period of several years before it can be certified as organic. Your local agriculture office will be able to advise you about this.

Clearly, having an organic garden is not as simple as just avoiding using chemicals on your growing plants. You also need to think about the plants themselves, the soil that they are growing in, and what is happening on neighboring land.

For example, if you have a fruit tree orchard and you want organic fruit, you will not be able to achieve your aim if your close neighbor on the other side of the fence is spraying his orchard with pesticides. The wind will blow the spray onto your trees and it will get into the soil. Rain and living organisms will transfer the chemicals in the soil onto your land, and your trees will draw them up into their roots, trunk and eventually into the fruit.

Therefore, to have a truly organic garden, you need to have a pesticide-free barrier around your growing crops. If you have plenty of land you can easily accomplish this by not using chemicals on the surrounding land. If your yard is closely surrounded by neighbors, maybe you can persuade them to go organic too.

Organic plants must be grown from organically produced seed. You can find many suppliers online. If you buy your plants as seedlings, you will need to check that they have been sprouted and grown in organic conditions. This means using organic potting soil, fertilizers etc.

Instead of buying fertilizer, most organic gardeners use compost that they make themselves. You can pile up fallen leaves, plant matter, wood shavings, and kitchen vegetable waste either in a corner of the garden or in a specially designed compost holder. If you just have a heap you can fence around it to improve the appearance. Avoid putting any cooked food waste or meat on your compost - this can attract rats and other vermin.

Having an organic garden is a process or path that can take several seasons. Just like organic structures themselves, your organic garden will take time to get established. Keep taking steps toward what is natural in your garden and you will soon not need to ask “Is my garden organic?”

There are many new trends surfacing in gardening, and water gardening is one of the main new interests.  Water gardening can be in the form of waterfalls, ponds, fountains, all of which can be enhanced by rock work combinations and lighting, plants, and fish.  Water gardening doesn’t have to be a pond or natural water source either, it can consist of just a plastic tub, basically anything that can hold water.

The most important thing to consider in water gardening is probably the spot chosen.  Since plants and fish both need plenty of sunlight, places in direct light away from trees and bushes is the best place.  This will also help prevent leaves and debris from collecting in the water.

When planning for a water garden first decide the size you want.  This will depend on how much money you are willing to spend because water gardening can get expensive if you opt for a large garden full of plants, rocks, fish, and lights.  Also consider the size of our property, and the amount of time you want to spend with maintaining your water garden. 

When you choose what type of aquatic plants you wish to have, remember that the plants should only cover about half of the water.  Plants can be free floating, submerged, or marginal.  Which you choose is all a matter of personal preference.  Some plants are good for their scent, some provide more oxygen than others and will keep the pool health, and some are just beautiful. Fish are not only nice to look at but they are also very beneficial.  Fish help keep debris at a minimum and help in controlling larva and other insects.
     
One of the main difficulties in water gardening is keeping water clear of algae.  Algae problems are usually caused from too many nutrients in the water from feeding fish too often or from over fertilizing plants.  If ponds are made correctly and are maintained properly algae problems and control will be kept at a minimum. 
     
All garden pools regardless of size will need maintenance throughout the year. With proper planning you can ensure a healthy balance between living and decorative features of a water garden that can almost care for itself with simple maintenance inputs from you.
You can get rid of algae by reducing on the nutrients that cause the algae by cutting back on feeding and fertilizing, planting more plants, installing a filter system, or replacing existing water with fresh water.  There are some chemicals that can be used, like copper compounds, but overuse can kill plant life and fish.

Water gardening doesn’t take anymore time than regular gardening, but obviously isn’t near the same thing.  You may be the type person who couldn’t grow a flower if you tried but would be excellent at water gardening.  If you are looking for a way to occupy some time or to beautify your yard, water gardening is an excellent way.

Flower gardening is becoming more and more popular every day.  Flowers can brighten everyone’s day, they smell nice, and are a great hobby.  Flower gardening is simple, inexpensive, and loads of fun.  Flower gardening can be done for yard decoration, simply as a hobby, or even professionally.

There are some decisions that have to be made before even flower gardening can be started.  You must decide if you want annuals that live for one season and must be replanted every year, or perennials that survive the winter and return again in the summer.  When buying and planting, pay attention to what kind of flowers thrive in your climate as well ass the sun requirements.

When flower gardening, you must decide what type of look you want before planting.  For instance, mixing different heights, colors, and varieties of flowers together in a “wild-plant style” will give your garden a meadow look and can be very charming.  If short flowers are planted in the front of your garden and work up to the tallest flowers in the back you will have a “stepping stone style”.

You can order seeds for flower gardening from catalogues or buy them from a nursery.  Most people will go to the nursery and buy actual flowers and then transplant them.  After you have prepared your garden area and bought flowers, it is a good idea to lay the flowers out in the bed to make sure you like the arrangement and that they will be spaced properly.

One of the easiest processes in flower gardening is the planting/ if you have seeds just sprinkle them around in the flower bed.  For planting transplants dig a hole just bigger than the flower, pull the container off, and set the flower in the hole right side up.  Cover it with the loose soil and press down firmly, then water.
     
Maintaining a flower garden is even easier than planting one.  Although they might make it on their own, a bag of fertilizer applied in the early spring is a good idea.  Pinch back any blooms after they start to fade and keep them good and watered.  To save yourself work during the next season of flower gardening, rid your garden of all debris and spread out organic nutrients like peat moss or compost.  Don’t forget to turn over the soil to properly mix in the fertilizer and rake smooth when finished.  If you have perennials planted be careful not to disturb their roots in this process.
     
Flower gardening is as easy as 1, 2, and 3: simply decide what to plant; plant it, and water, water, water!  Flower gardening is undoubtedly gaining in popularity and gives anyone excellent reason to spend some outdoors and test out their green thumb.

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