Organic gardening is a method of gardening that doesn't uses any harmful chemicals. Organic gardening is much more healthy than "conventional" is, and is very popular today among gardeners. Growing an organic garden isn't difficult either.  It is my hope that the following tips will help you to get a start and also help you create and maintain a natural pesticide free and chemical free flower, herb or vegetable garden.

There are basically four essential elements to growing a successful organic garden.  One is mulching, two is pest control, third is fertilizers, and fourth is weed control.

Mulching

Mulching a garden helps to hold water, reduces weeds and adds essential nutrients back into the soil.  You can purchase organic mulch in most home centers, but my preference is not to use any ground overlay at all and to handle weed control by hand.  Having said that however, I DO like to use mulch between the plant boxes or rows to keep down on weeds.

Pests

One of the easiest ways to deal with pests in your organic garden, is to use a simple soap spray on your plants and then follow it with a clean rinse.  It works well and I use it all the time for nearly every type of infestation.  The one thing I found that it doesn't work particularly well on is vine borers.  For those, I watch the plants (squash and other thick vine plants) and when I see a leaf beginning to turn brown, I look at the vine and can always locate where the borer is at.  They are moth pupae which are laid on the vine and when the eggs hatch they bore in and eat their way up the vine.  All that is necessary to deal with them is to take a pocket knife and cut the vine open right where the green area meets the brown (because that's where the borer is at) and pop it out.   I usually just leave them on the ground because they cannot get back to the plant and will die and add nutrients back to the soil.  Another way to keep down on certain pests is to plant Marigolds along the edges of your plants.  They work well to keep down on some varieties of bugs.

Fertilizer

When it comes to fertilizer, my preference is fish emulsion.  It can be found in any home center and makes for an excellent fertilizer.  It's sold in a concentrate, so you just add water and to the garden.  Be careful not to over fertilize because you can burn the plants.  If your plants require more acid, (you can test this with a simple ph test) you can use coffee grounds. They work wonders.. believe me.  Another thing that works well for fertilizer is to use plant rotation from year to year, or to plant a nitrogen fixing plant (such as peas) next to a plant that uses nitrogen.  This works especially well in high density gardens, such as Square Foot or French Intensive.

Weeds

Weeds can be treated with vinegar, but I've never done it.  I've always preferred getting into the garden and working, so I pull the weeds out that will come out (they are easiest to pull after a rain or watering) and for the one's that are stubborn, I just use my spade or some other tool to loosen the roots and then they will pull up easily.  After they are loose, it's usually a good idea to put them in the mulch pile, unless they have gone to seed.  Often a mulch pile will get hot enough to destroy the seeds, but I never wanted to take the chance, so on the rare occasion that one does began to go to seed I throw it away. 

Compost

Although I didn't add it to the list above, compost is also important for an organic garden to add essential nutrients. It can be made from almost anything you have on hand including ground up leftovers, leaves and grass.  You can get compost bins from home and garden centers, or you can easily build one.  I've seen them built out of everything from plywood to steel barrels.

And finally, if you want to plant herbs for organic cooking, they make a beautiful addition in the organic garden and don't need a lot of attention. 

The first thing that you need to do is to start thinking of things in terms of what can and cannot go into your compost pile. Brown materials include things like leaves and hay, but you’ll find that they also include clean shredded paper, cardboard rolls, dryer lint that hasn’t used dryer sheets, and shredded newspapers count as well. Green materials are things like grass clipping, vegetable leavings, tea bags, coffee grounds, manure and fruit trimmings. Green and brown materials can be used in your composting, while things like cat litter, colored paper, dairy products and greasy materials, should be kept away.

To make a traditional compost pile, you’ll need both green and brown materials, and you can put them into a pile that is roughly two to three feet square. You can also work with a compost bin, which will let you keep the pile more contained; some bins even give you the option of tumbling the compost to increase the heat reaction.

After you have your compost pile together, you should add a little bit of garden soil or a compost booster in order to help with the break down. You’ll find that this is something that you can do to get it started, but that you can also do it from time to time to keep things happening.

Make sure that your turn your compost pile several times a week to keep up the oxygen flow and to help things break down very quickly. You’ll also need to keep your compost pile a little damp, but not soaking wet; you’ll find that this will encourage a good breakdown of the components involved.

When you are considering composting, you’ll find that there are many things to consider, but you’ll find that with the information listed above, you can get yourself off to a great start!

The first thing that you can do is to make sure that your mower is set as high as it should go. This should leave you with a clearance of about three to four instances. You may worry that if you cut it longer that you’ll have to mow more often, but you’ll find that this is actually completely untrue. The shorter you cut your lawn the faster it will grow; when grass is cut, it will use a lot of stored sugar to grow back, and you’ll find that this expenditure of energy will make it more vulnerable to pests.

The second thing that you can do to make sure that your lawn looks great and stays natural is to check the pH of the soil. You’ll find that there are plenty of services that will help you out with this, and this can help you head off problems before they start and give you a healthier lawn in general. If the pH is under 6.0, you can add lime, and if it is above 7.0, you can add gardener’s sulphur.

If you are looking for an all around good lawn and have plenty of time on your hands, consider the topsoil. Dig a spade into your ground at various points and find out how deep your layer of topsoil is. You’ll find that four inches is about the minimum you need for a passable lawn, while eight inches or more will give you good, strong growth above it.

Finally, remember that you should always use an organic fertilizer when your garden needs a little bit of help, especially in the fall and the spring, and that you should only water when your grass is showing some signs of drought. When you water, water deeply, and take the time to make sure that everything gets a good soaking.

As you can see, taking care of lawn can be still be eco-friendly, so see how you can get started!

The first thing to keep in mind is that you can make your garden much more immune to pests simply by starting off with a good gardening structure. For instance, make sure that you rotate your plants, which will make the pests of one year completely obsolete the next. Remember that healthy soil will encourage nematodes, which will work well against soil bests, and that the use of compost and mulching can also keep pests off. Remember that plants that are native to your area will always be tougher in the face of natural pests, and that having a wide variety of plants will encourage less pests as well, due to the fact that the plants will “protect” each other.

When considering natural pest control, make it your business to encourage the natural predators of your pests. For instance, ladybugs, birds, moss, certain fungi and ground beetles are all beneficial to a garden, and you’ll find that keeping a natural garden will encourage them as well. Check at your local garden shop for any recommendations, or anything that you can do to encourage these animals and plants to help you out.

Regular garden maintenance will also help you keep the pests down. Whenever you see any small, weak or dying plants, pull them out. They may be infected, and even if they are not, they will provide a place for pests to nest. Pull the plant out and keep it from the rest of your garden. Similarly, keep your garden clear of debris, use clan mulch and weed regularly. Doing this can help with your water irrigation and keep your garden growing healthily as well.

You’ll find that natural pest control is quite easy once you learn about the pests that are troubling you. Remember that every problem has a natural solution your garden, so look around for the solutions that you need!

When considering natural fertilizers or making your own, you’ll find that they should always contain three things. Nitrogen is meant to promote the growth of better foliage, while phosphates are in place to ensure good root development. Potassium is good for the overall health of the plant. You’ll find that when you buy commercial fertilizers that they will have these three ingredients, but they will get them in ways that are harmful to the environment.

When you are considering natural fertilizers, remember that compost is a great place to start. If you don’t have a compost pile, now is a great time to start, and you’ll find that you can encourage healthy bacteria in your garden as well as increase the production of healthy nitrogen. Spreading compost on your plants is a good way to kick off your organic gardening.

You’ll also find that a mix of grass clippings, mulch and seaweed can go a long way in your garden as well. If you live near a beach, you can collect seaweed for your garden, and after it is rinsed out, you can put it directly on the soil. Grass clippings can be applied to the garden beds, but remember not to apply it too liberally, as too much grass decomposition will make the soil acidic through the creation of ammonia

Another great natural fertilizer is animal manure. Remember that the best ones to use are horse, chicken or cow manure, and that when you dig it into the soil, it will help conserve nitrogen. Don’t just spread it on the soil, as most of the nutritional potential will be washed away very easily. When using manure, remember that fresh manure should be kept away from young plants, to prevent the tender roots from being burned.

Take a look around, and you’ll be sure to find plenty of natural fertilizer options all around you. You’ll find that with just a little bit of work, you can really make your garden look great without a single chemical additive!

Composting is a natural solution that looks to fight back against the problem of landfills. When so much waste can be returned to the soil and go on to enrich it, the act of putting organic matter in a landfill can be considered quite wasteful.

You’ll also find that when you compost, you are adding something back to the soil. When organic matter breaks down, it will release valuable nutrients and bacteria back into the soil. In this way, you can greatly enrich your gardening, landscaping and any plant life that you are looking to nurture. Another further benefit is that the compost is entirely natural and there are no further chemical consequences, the way there would be if a chemical or artificial fertilizer is used. When you add compost to the soil, you are improving the soil’s structure and fertility; you will also find that you can increase it’s ability to hold water.

You should also keep in mind the fact that composting is a process that puts you squarely in the thick of things when it comes to the cycle of the earth and land. With composting, you can realize that the act of conservation and ecological stewardship is something that is very hands on, and that you are very much a part of it. This is an excellent lesson for children, especially, to learn, and you’ll find that they will have a significantly improved understanding of their place in the world when they can see this process up close.

Composting is an important step for gardeners to make, and once you have your composting project started, you’ll find that there are many, many reasons to keep it going. Take the time to see what composting can do for you, and you’ll find out first hand why so many people have turned to this natural alternative.

For instance, if you are planning on redoing the landscaping of your yard, consider the placement of deciduous and evergreen trees. If you plant deciduous on the south and east sides of your home, you’ll be able to get shade during the summer while still keeping the sun’s heat and warmth during the winter, because the leaves will not bar the way of the light. Evergreens that have been planted in the north and the west are particularly perfect for protecting your home from harsh winds during the cold months.

You may also want to consider the use of recycled materials for your green landscaping project. You’ll find that soil amendments and mulch fall under this category, and that with wood becoming more and more expensive and increasingly depleted to boot that you will want to consider making sure you can recycled plastic bender board. Similarly, you can recycle broken up concrete into great flagstones, and recycled brick for paths and patios.

When considering green landscaping, keep in mind the fact that you should also consider the water irrigation concerns. When you are deciding to put in a garden, think about how the water will flow and how you can best take advantage of the water that is around. Consider drip-irrigation and the use of drought resistant plants, which can make sure that your deep watering needs are kept to a minimum.

When you are considering getting involved with green landscaping, remember that there are many options open to you, so see what will beautify your home as well as protect the earth that it sits on!

When you are considering a very eco-conscious but still workable solution for cutting the lawn, consider an electric mower. These models are actually very reasonably priced, and can be used as long as you have cord that will run between the mower and a power outlet. You’ll find that they are most efficient for small lawns though you should keep in mind that their efficiency for energy over all depends on the practices of the nearby power plant.

If you have more cash to spend, consider a solar powered mower. These are wonderfully convenient and in addition will actually mow your lawn itself; it will wander around the lawn, using its motion sensors to avoid cutting anything but grass. This is the ultimate in convenience plus environmental friendliness, but they have to be ordered directly from Sweden.

For a more affordable mix of the two solutions above, consider getting a Solar Powered Mulching Mower, produced by Gaiam. These mowers use a mix of electrical and solar power and can be charged just by being plugged into an outlet.

Finally, you’ll find that the most eco-friendly option by far is to take a look at the old-fashioned push mowers. You’ll find that these human-powered reel mowers are great for the environment, can give you a healthy amount of exercise and can be found virtually everywhere. You’ll find that these mowers are just as efficient as the mowers listed above, and at the end of the day, they are not much more time consuming.

If you are looking for a way to cut back on the fossil fuel emissions that you are putting out, consider what to do about your lawn and how you cut your grass. You’ll find that looking at this is an important way to see how you fit into things, environmentally speaking.