But do you know that you can also go organic with your flower gardening? Even though you do not eat the flowers that bloom in your garden, organic flower gardening is still an excellent way to protect your family from harmful chemicals and safeguarding the welfare of the environment.
If you are thinking of putting up an organic flower garden here are the top tips to help you:
· Choose a site in your garden that receives full sun and has an efficient drainage system.
· Clear the area off shrubs and weeds, which may compete with your plants for sunlight and nutrients.
· Test if the soil has the right pH by using a soil testing kit. A neutral pH level of 7 is ideal soil. If your soil is too acidic, add lime to improve the soil’s pH.
· To know if the soil is neither too sandy nor too clayish, roll a handful of soil on your palm. If it sticks, it has too much clay; if it is loose, it is too sandy. Add pine bark humus to resolve this.
· Use compost to improve the structure, texture and aeration of the soil.
· Use organic fertilizers instead of chemicals because the latter incorporate toxic substances into the soil that eventually seeps into our drinking water.
· Use organic fertilizers to encourage growth of earthworms, which are highly efficient in enriching the soil.
· If you are planting perennials, add organic fertilizer and compost only at the start of the growing season while apply one or two organic fertilizer during the growing season if you are raising annual flowers.
· Read directions in the label of the fertilizer carefully. This will ensure that you apply only the right amount that will not burn the plants nor cause them to weaken.
· Allow for manure sources to compost well to avoid odors and prevent disease carryover.
· Do not apply fertilizer during winter or fall.
· Use natural mulch like bark chips, hulls, dried leaves to retain moisture as well as moderate soil temperature. Organic mulch is also excellent in preventing weed growth and spread.
· Control pest naturally by encouraging the growth of beneficial insects such as wasps, spiders, beetles, ladybugs and many others. These beneficial insects fight off the pests that destroy the plants.
· Including onions, garlic, and chives in your garden is also a great way to fight pests naturally because they attract beneficial insects as well as repel harmful ones. The best tip in organic gardening is of course to observe and understand how nature works. Once you do, putting up an organic flower garden can be a cinch.