Organic Gardening

Organic gardening has gained popularity in recent years by many home owners & businesses alike. Organic gardening helps reduce the amount of toxins in our environment as well as what we consume. It is generally associated with produce but can also play a large role in our ornamental landscapes as well. By organically gardening we improve soil structure and health, encourage beneficial insects like lady beetles, mantises and honey bees who aid in pollination and keep our ground water clean.

Many gardeners may think that switching to organic products will reduce their plants vigor, make them more susceptible to insect infestations or reduce yields of flowers or fruits. This is definitely not the case. There are many high dose and fast acting fertilizers that are organic. There are also many fungicide and insecticides that work incredibly well. And gardeners who properly amend their soils generally have healthier plants that are less susceptible to insect and disease problems.

So how does one go from being a “Scotts” gardener to an “Espoma” gardener? By simply heading down to the garden center with a list of their plants and concerns and picking up the right products. Espoma’s Biotone Starter Plus is a great starter fertilizer that contains beneficial bacteria and mycorrhiza which help break down organic mater into usable nutrients for plants and help plants take up water and nutrients more effectively, in turn, making them healthier and more drought tolerant.

By adding compost and manure to our gardens, we increase the amount of organic matter in the soil and encourage beneficials in the soil that also help with plant health. Espoma also makes a line of “Quick Solutions” fertilizers that move readily in the soil for plants to take up quickly. Dr. Earth is another brand of organics that has definitely made a name for themselves creating fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides and soil amendments. Many of their products contain macro and micro-nutrients as well as beneficial bacteria and mycorrhiza. I encourage all of you to at least give organic gardening a try. I guarantee after one season you will not be disappointed, and may even spread the word yourself. Feel free to stop in and see what we have to offer and we will be more than happy to help you get started.