What Kind of Gardener Are You

Having taken into account the practical implications of your plot
and what you need from it, now think about what approach you will
apply to your newly renovated garden. There are all kinds of gardeners
in the world going about their hobby in vastly different ways and all
enjoying it immensely. I can recall a retired miner who liked his
bedding plants. In a tiny garden, he created dazzling displays of
begonias backed by fuchsias and set off by a narrow river of fine lawn
cut closely twice a week. Dead flowers and leaves were assiduously
removed, any insect that moved was sprayed, as was any disease that
dared blight his plants. In the fall, plants were cleared and the
ground rested, with nothing in it. In early spring, seeds were
germinated under glass, plants pruned and started into growth, and the
cycle repeated itself. Not my style, but you could not help but admire
what he did so well. And he loved it.At the other end of the scale,
you have gardeners whose plots are a cultivated wilderness. No garden
chemicals are used, native plants are carefully introduced according
to the habitats available, and wildlife of all kinds cherished.Many
gardeners tread a middle ground, intervening with a few garden
chemicals, but only as a last resort and having thought through all
the implications they may have on garden life. As far as my own garden
is concerned, we want to grow exotic plants, but try to match them
with prevailing conditions so we can garden as naturally as possible
without altering our soil type or using undue quantities of water.
Rather than lining plants up in rows, we experiment by trying the
naturalistic approach. You can observe and copy plant associations
found in nature, creating woodland glades or prairie-style plantings
of perennials and grasses in loose drifts.Organic gardening
The
decision to garden organically means recognizing and respecting the
small environment over which you have control. In a way, you are
making a decision to stop dominating your plot, and instead casting
yourself in the role of caretaker. You may own the land, but it is
already the home of countless other living creatures.The organic
movement started in agriculture back in the 1940s, as a backlash
against the increasing use of chemical fertilizers. The basic premise
is that you feed the soil not the plant, by adding organic matter in
the form of compost, manure, and other materials. This increases the
numbers of soil microorganisms and they in turn break down the organic
material, releasing nutrients for plant growth.You garden
thoughtfully, without polluting your environment and as a result, it
will be teeming with life. Most of this will be beneficial, and a
surprising number of problems vanish because there are natural
predators in place to keep control over pest populations. Healthy
plants, not overfed with artificial fertilizers, tend not to suffer
from diseases. When there are problems, these can generally be solved
by lateral thinking rather than reaching for a chemical solution.Most
organic gardeners extend their philosophy by trying to lead
sustainable lives, use renewable resources, reduce waste, and
recycle.To become an organic gardener
- Stop using chemical
fertilizers and pesticides, because they will jeopardize your efforts
to grow organically. Your community should have guidelines for
disposing of unwanted products.
- heed the soil with organic matter.
-
Encourage all the wildlife in your garden to flourish.