Organic Gardening News

Are you planning to add a privacy screen or row of hedges to your home landscape? Why not throw tradition out the window? Instead of a row of clipped boxwoods or tall arborvitae, try a sustainable, edible hedge. Transform the old idea into a diversified border of small fruit and nut trees, berry-producing shrubs, and perennial herbs and vegetables. Growing Hedges Made of Edible Plants By making the hedgerow productive, it now is useful for more than one purpose. The food forest hedge can be staggered to incorporate more plant material, thereby increasing its sustainability. The variety of plants should keep the incidence of disease low, while attracting many beneficial insects to the hedge, as well as the whole yard. Use edible hedges to separate garden rooms, provide a privacy screen or shade, create a living fence, or hide ugly structures. Be creative! They don’t have to be aligned with

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What is a floating forest? A floating forest, as the name suggests, consists basically of floating trees in various forms. Floating forests can simply be a few trees in the water or unique ecosystems that host a variety of interesting birds, animals, and insects. Here are a few floating forest ideas from around the world. Floating Forest Ideas If you have a small backyard pond, you could recreate one of these fascinating habitats of floating trees yourself. Choose an item that freely floats and simply add some soil and trees, then let it go and grow – similar ideas include floating wetland gardens. Rotterdam’s Floating Trees A historic port in the Netherlands is home to a miniature floating forest consisting of 20 trees in the water. Each tree is planted in an old sea buoy, previously used in the North Sea. The buoys are filled with a mixture of soil

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Arborvitae (Thuja) shrubs and trees are beautiful and often used in home and business landscaping. These evergreen types are generally minimal in care and long lasting. Dense, scale-like foliage appears on sprays of limbs and are pleasantly fragrant when pinched and bruised. Arborvitae grow in full sun to partial shade. Most need at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Perfect for many landscapes, use them as single focal points or as part of a windbreak or privacy fence. If you need a different size or are interested in various cultivars, check out the following varieties of arborvitae. Types of Arborvitae Some types of arborvitae are globe shaped. Others are mounded, conical, pyramidal, rounded, or pendulous. Most cultivars have medium to dark green needles, but some types are yellow and even golden in color. The pyramidal or other upright types are often used as corner plantings. The globe-shaped varieties of

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Willows (Salix spp.) are not a small family. You’ll find over 400 willow trees and shrubs, all moisture-loving plants. Types of willow that are native to the Northern Hemisphere grow in the milder to cooler regions. If you are curious about which willow varieties might work well in your yard or garden, you’ll need to start by figuring out how much room you have and what growing conditions you can offer. Read on for an overview of popular varieties of willows. Identifying Different Willows It isn’t very difficult to identify a willow. Even children can pick out pussy willows on a tree or shrub in spring. However, distinguishing between different willows is extremely difficult. That’s because many types of willows interbreed. With almost a hundred different varieties of willow in this country, lots of hybrids are produced with characteristics of both parents. As a result, most people do not worry

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Astrology is an ancient practice of following the celestial bodies in the sky to make predictions about life here on earth and guide decision making. Many people today follow their signs if only for fun and entertainment, but some believe there is truth in the stars. One of these truths may be a preference for plants and flowers that match your astrological sign. Combining Plants and Astrology Whether or not you are a firm believer in what the stars have to say, it can be fun to use zodiac signs when making choices about plants. The characteristic traits of each zodiac sign can lead to associated flowers and plants. Choosing flowers for your astrological sign can be quite enjoyable. Use flowers of the zodiac to select a gift plant for someone. Choosing the flower associated with their sign makes a great, unique, and personalized gift. Alternatively, you may want to

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Hosting a seed swap provides an opportunity to share seeds from heirloom plants or tried and true favorites with other gardeners in your community. You may even save a little money. How to organize a seed swap?  Read on for seed swap ideas. How to Plan a Seed Swap Hosting a seed swap in your community is not too difficult. Here are some tips to help get you started: Plan a seed swap in fall, after seeds have been collected, or in spring around planting time. Determine the best place to hold the sale. A small group can gather in your backyard, but if you expect a lot of people, a public space is better. Get the word out. Pay for an ad or ask your local paper to include the sale in their schedule of events, which is often free. Print posters and flyers for distribution in the community.

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Storing seeds in containers allows you to keep seeds safely organized until you’re ready to plant them in spring. The key to storing seeds is to ensure conditions are cool and dry. Selecting the best containers for seed saving can make the difference between failure and success. Seed Storage Containers Chances are you already have plenty of containers in your kitchen, bathroom, or garage; most are easily turned into containers for seed saving. The following are some tips to help: Paper containers for seeds Paper is great for storing seeds, especially if you aren’t sure your seeds are completely dry. Paper is beneficial because it provides ample air circulation and is easy to label. You can store paper seed containers in larger containers such as plastic storage bins, wicker baskets, large glass jars, filing boxes, or recipe boxes. Keep in mind that paper containers for seed saving are best for

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To learn more about our editorial integrity policy and how we make money through affiliate partnerships, read our full disclosure here. “Organic” has become quite the buzzword in the last few years. Most people have some idea that organic things are supposed to be better for the body or the earth, but few understand what that really means. When it comes to lawn care, many providers claim to offer organic products or services. What, exactly, are they trying to sell? Here’s an overview of what constitutes organic lawn care as well as a quick look at some wide-spread lawn care providers and the organic products they offer. As you might imagine, not all companies provide the same quality of services, and they don’t all charge the same rates.  But don’t worry about sifting through a sea of lawn care providers. Gardening Know How has done the legwork for you. We’ve

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If you have trouble organizing your life, you’re not alone. Even something as simple as categorizing and storing seeds can result in mayhem if not properly managed. Smart seed storage  guarantees seed that is no longer viable gets replaced by newer seed, keeps current seeds at optimum temperatures, and allows you to easily find the variety you need in seconds. But it takes a bit of effort. Here’s where seed organization tips can keep your seed stock well taken care of and in useful array. Smart Seed Storage Does a baggie full of seed packets in your crisper drawer sound familiar? Such seed storage may be fine, but it doesn’t allow easy viewing of varieties, dates, and planting times. Organizing and storing seeds is an important step for avid gardeners. There are many space-saving ways to organize seed, and it doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor. Most seeds need

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Chlorine and chloramines are chemicals added to the drinking water in many cities. It’s difficult if you don’t want to spray these chemicals on your plants since that’s what comes out of your tap. What can a gardener do? Some people are determined to get rid of the chemicals and are using Vitamin C for chlorine removal. Is it possible to start removing chlorine with Vitamin C? Read on for information about the problems with chlorine and chloramine in water and how Vitamin C can help. Chlorine and Chloramine in Water Everybody knows that chlorine is added to most municipal water – a way to kill off deadly water-borne diseases – and some gardeners do not find this to be a problem. Others do. While high levels of chlorine can be toxic to plants, research establishes that the chlorine in tapwater, around 5 parts per million, doesn’t directly affect plant

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You may have heard of the drenching of soil. There are many reasons to drench soil, the most common of which is to remove excess salts in container plants. The soil drenching technique is also used to introduce chemicals of one sort or another into plant roots, where they can be quickly taken up. The process is not difficult, but you do have to read the directions on the product carefully to deliver the right amount of solution and avoid harming the plant. What is Soil Drenching? Trees and other plants often need herbicides, nutrients, fungicides or pesticides. While some gardeners choose to spray leaves and stems, still others use time release granular formulas mixed into soil. Using soil drenches allows quick delivery of the chemicals and avoids over spray and drift. Soil drench application is easy enough even for novice gardeners and practically fool proof. Soil drenches are usually

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If your garden soil is compacted and dense, thus incapable of absorbing and retaining water and nutrients, you might try adding zeolite as a soil amendment. Adding zeolite to soil has a number of advantages including water retention and leaching properties. Interested in learning about zeolite soil conditioning? Keep reading to learn how to add zeolite as a soil amendment. What is Zeolite? Zeolite is a crystalline mineral made up of silicon, aluminum and oxygen. These components create cavities and channels inside the mineral that attract water and other small molecules. It is often referred to as a molecular sieve and is commonly used as a commercial absorbent and catalyst. How Does Zeolite Soil Conditioning Work? Because of all the channels inside the mineral, zeolite is capable of holding up to 60% of its weight in water. This means that when soil is amended with zeolite, the moisture content of

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When trees aren’t thriving in a backyard, homeowners – and even some arborists – tend to focus their attention on the cultural care the tree is getting and pest or disease issues. The vital role the soil plays in a tree’s health can easily be overlooked. When a tree has bad soil, it cannot establish roots and grow well. That means that improving soil around trees can be the most important part of tree care. Read on for information about the effects of compacted soil around trees and tips on how to improve soil around an established tree. If Your Tree Has Bad Soil A tree’s roots uptake water and nutrients that allow the tree to produce energy and grow. Most of a tree’s absorptive roots are in the topsoil, to a depth of about 12 inches (30 cm.). Depending on the tree species, its roots can extend far beyond

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Soil microbes are an important part of the soil system and are present and varied in all soils everywhere. These may be unique to the area where they are found and adapt to changing conditions there. But, do soil microbes adapt to different regions? Soil Microbe Adaptation A group of microbes called Rhizobia are among the most important in nature’s soils and also in agricultural systems. These are adaptable to different regions in some situations. These form symbiotic relationships with a variety of plants, especially those categorized as legumes. Rhizobia helps these plants, such as peas and beans, get necessary nutrients. Primarily nitrogen in this case, most all plants need this nutrient to survive and grow. In return, Rhizobia get a free home. When growing beans or other legumes, the plant “feeds” the Rhizobia carbohydrates, an additional aspect of the symbiotic relationship. Microbes form within the root system. They become

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There is no doubt that a healthy garden is something in which growers are able to take great pride. From planting to harvest, many home vegetable gardeners are willing to invest hours of labor to have the most successful growing season possible. While tasks such as weeding and irrigation often take precedent, many are starting to take a closer look into what it takes to create healthy and thriving garden soil. Learning more about the role of microbes in the soil is just one way to increase the overall health of the garden. But, can plants benefit from soil microbes? Let’s learn more about soil microbes and nutrients. What Do Soil Microbes Do? Soil microbes refer to the tiny microorganisms living in the soil. While most microbes in the soil serve the purpose of decomposition, they can also play a major role in the growth and development of plants. Different

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For many home gardeners, nothing is more frustrating than crop loss due to unknown causes. While vigilant growers can closely monitor insect pressure in the garden which may cause diminished yields, losses due to unseen circumstances can be more difficult to diagnose. Gaining a better understanding of soil borne organisms and pathogens can help growers develop a thorough grasp of soil and garden health.  What are Soil Borne Pathogens? All soil ecosystems contain various soil borne organisms. It is not until these organisms in the soil are able to infect plants via suitable conditions or susceptibility that they begin to cause issues for garden crops. Pathogens are organisms in the soil that cause problems or disease. Diseases caused by soil borne pathogens can impact plants in a variety of ways. While pre-emergent pathogens can cause damping off or failure of seedlings to thrive, other organisms in the soil may cause

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To learn more about our editorial integrity policy and how we make money through affiliate partnerships, read our full disclosure here. Even for small yards, lawn care can be a big job, and many people turn to professional services to make sure their lawn is looking healthy and verdant. Weed Man is one of these lawn care services, a nationwide company with more than 150 locations in 38 states. The company boasts 45 years in operation and a “promises kept” philosophy. Of course, it’s easy for a big company to claim they keep their promises — but do their customers say the same thing?  In this review, we’ll take a look at Weed Man’s services, prices, availability, and customer reviews. We’ll compare it to one of its competitors so you can see how it stacks up. By the end, you’ll have a better idea of whether Weed Man is a good

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Everybody poops. Everybody, and that includes Fido. The difference between Fido and you is that Fido may, and probably does, think it’s perfectly okay to defecate in the garden. Given that pets have a natural disregard for the sanctity of your tomatoes, how do you go about sanitizing garden soil? If there are pet feces in the garden, is disinfecting contaminated soil even necessary? After all, many gardeners add manure to the soil, so what is different about dog poop in soil? Cat or Dog Poop in Soil Yes, many gardeners amend their soil with nutrient rich manure, but the difference between putting pet feces in the garden and spreading some steer manure is huge. Manures used in gardens are either treated so they are pathogen free (sterile) or have been composted and heated to kill off any pathogens. Also, most people don’t (or shouldn’t) use fresh animal feces in

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Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) is also known by the more descriptive name, coontail. Hornwort coontail is an herbaceous, free floating aquatic plant. It grows wild in much of North America in calm ponds and lakes and has spread to all other continents except Antarctica. Some people consider it a nuisance plant, but it is a useful cover species for fish and aquatic animals. What is Hornwort? The name hornwort comes from the stiff protrusions on the stems. The genus, Ceratophyllum, is from the Greek ‘keras,’ meaning horn, and ‘phyllon,’ meaning leaf. Plants that bear the surname “wort” were often medicinal. Wort simply means plant. Each plant’s characteristics would lead to its individual name. For instance, bladderwort has little bladder-like growths, liverwort looks similar to tiny livers and kidneywort resembles that body part. Hornwort in ponds protects small frogs and other animals. Fish tank owners may also find hornwort aquarium plants to

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One of the most difficult aspects of choosing plants for fish tanks or aquascapes is to understand differences between common names and scientific names. While common names can be used interchangeably for different plants, scientific names help us to better identify specific plants. By using the scientific name, growers can be absolutely certain of what to expect. Belonging to Phylum marchantiophyta, for example, liverworts are a popular addition to water plantings. But what are the characteristics of liverworts? Let’s learn more. Liverwort Information Considered some of the most primitive of plants, liverworts consist of about 6,000 to 8,000 species. These non-vascular land plants lack stomata, specialized openings that regulate air flow in the plant. Upon further research, understanding facts about liverworts may be somewhat confusing due to the large list of names surrounding this simple plant. Liverwort plants generally display one of two growth habits: flattened leaves or a moss-like

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