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(ARA) - With spring fast approaching, it's time to decide what you would like to do with
your garden. Seed catalogs conjure visions of beautiful bouquets around your home, their
sweet fragrances permeating every room. Your appetite is whetted for meals prepared with
homegrown vegetables. But how can you best prepare that plot of soil behind your house to
help make your garden grow?
Remove Debris
If you didn't remove all the debris from your garden last fall, you must clear out the old
leaves and stems before you plant. This is the single-most effective pest control measure
you can take for your garden. Insect eggs or disease spores from last year's growth can
infect your new crop.
Loosen Soil
After you have removed the debris, use a shovel to break up clods of dirt and loosen the
soil to the rooting depth of your plants. You want to create a uniform, porous seedbed for
seeds and seedlings. Any plants that root below 5 or 6 inches are capable of penetrating
most soils.
If your garden plot has packed clay or sandy soil, till in organic matter such as peat,
composted leaves or lawn clippings and work them into the soil as deeply as you can. This
will form a soil structure that allows roots to breathe and grow. It will also help retain
vital moisture and nutrients. Do not use lawn clippings for this if you have treated your
lawn with a weed killer or insecticide. Residual chemicals on the clippings can damage
garden plants or make vegetables unsafe to eat. After all, leaving clippings on the lawn
recycles nutrients back to grass plants, improving your lawn's health and beauty.
Fertilizing
Melinda Myers, host of "Great Lakes Gardener," a public television show and author of
several gardening books, including her new national book, "Can't Miss Small Space
Gardening," advises gardeners to always use a fertilizer that is gentle on both plants and
the environment.
"Use a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer that provides plants with small amounts of
nutrients over a long period of time," notes Myers. "This slow release nitrogen goes
directly to the plants and not into groundwater. It's friendly to the environment and
allows plants to use all the nutrients you apply. It also promotes even growth,
discouraging insect and disease problems." Slow-release nitrogen fertilizer reduces the
risk of damage to plants and the environment in the event it's misapplied or overused. An
organic-based nitrogen fertilizer, such as Milorganite GardenCare 6-2-0, is ideal for
helping build soil while fertilizing. Information on fertilizing various types of garden
plants can be found at www.milorganite.com.
Seeding and Planting
It's exciting to watch plants grow from a tiny seed. If you plant seeds, follow the
package directions. Directions will vary for each kind of seed you plant. Be careful! The
most common planting mistake is planting too deep. This results in poor germination. Water
gently, keeping seeds moist until they germinate. Follow specific watering instructions
for each kind of seed you plant.
Plant seedlings as deep as they were in their holder. You can see the soil level on the
stem. Give the roots plenty of room by diging he hole deep and wide. If your soil is dry,
fill the hole half full of water before you place the seedling in it. Firmly pack soil
around it. Gently water over the top of newly planted seedlings. Keep them moist for a
week or so, depending on your local weather conditions. Gradually extend the time between
watering to encourage deep, drought resistant roots.
When to Fertilize
In general, fertilize when you first seed or transplant. This encourages early root and
plant growth. Fertilize again when plants begin to flower or display leaf growth that will
mature for harvest. For full-season plants, fertilize a third time in mid-to late summer.
Potatoes, tomatoes and similar plants especially benefit from this third application.
If you have any doubts as to what kind of fertilizer to use or how much to apply, or if
you would like your soil analyzed for nutrients, contact your local county horticultural
extension agent.
Those Darned Pests
Insects, weeds and disease can present problems to a healthy garden. Mike Archer, master
gardener and research coordinator for Milorganite, recommends using Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) for pest control. IPM is a low-cost, low-impact means for controlling
harmful pests.
IPM encourages the use of natural pesticides as a friendly method of pest control. "Using
commercial pesticides should be limited to times when the damage is harmful to the plant's
health and beyond using natural methods," says Archer.
"In many cases, treating a garden with pesticides kills off beneficial insect species that
keep problem species under control," says Archer. "Learn to identify these helpful
insects, so you don't kill off friends of your garden."
Other methods of environmentally sound pest control include hoeing weeds; staking tall
plants so fruit does not touch the ground; providing garden ventilation to minimize
incidence of disease through proper spacing, and trickling water on the soil, not on
foliage, when watering on sunny days so leaves don't scald or stay wet at night
encouraging disease.
Have Fun
There's no doubt about it; gardening can be hard work. But if you follow these simple
tips, your garden will prosper and your experience will be a positive one.
For more information on successful gardening, visit
www.milorganite.com.
Authors Website: http://www.aracontent.com/
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