It’s important not to get caught up in thinking an organic garden is out of your reach. Some very inexpensive and simple steps will have you on your way. Remember, an organic garden is a garden that is cared for with a more natural approach without the assistance of chemicals and pesticides.
Companion plants area a great way to repel pests. Plant tomatoes near cabbage — the pests that love to nibble on your cabbage will be repelled by the tomatoes. Another companion duo? Radishes and spinach — the radish will attract the pests from the spinach, yet the damage done above the ground won’t affect the radish below the soil.
Lady bugs will also take care of some unwanted garden pests, and you can attract them with parsley and dill, along with other nectar producing plants.
If you need to take a more aggressive route to ridding your garden of pests, use an organic bug spray, such as insecticidal soap. This soap has been used for centuries as a safe and chemical free pest repellent.
If you pests have four legs, and it’s a deer, in the end the best way to go is to replace your plantings with deer-resistant varities. Ask your local Cooperative Extension service for a list of plants that are locally deer-proof.
If squirrels and chipmunks are regular visitors, remember they like to keep a look out for enemies from the protection of their burrow entrance. If you establish a tall groundcover to block that view, they’ll seek shelter else- where. An added benefit to groundcovers? They’ll provide beautiful colors and textures to your spaces and help retain moisture in the soil. Creeping thyme and Creeping Jenny are good choices for sunny spots, and for shadier areas, tiny creeping mints such as Mentha requienii will do well. Black Eyed Susan are a good choice for those with clay heavy soil. Some nice low-water choices include Trailing Yellow Dalea and Trailing lantana.
These are just a few simple tips that will help you transform your garden space into an Organic Garden.