The Natural Route to a Great Looking Yard

In the past, gardens were havens from the wilderness, but today’s gardens need to be healthy places – free of toxins, poisons and pollutants. To maintain grounds in a natural way without relying on synthetic products, just think in terms of “nurture,” not “control.”

By over-fertilizing and frequent watering, we make lawns and garden plants dependent on chemicals for survival. When force-fed, plants develop soft, green-top growth, which attracts pests and invites disease. Given frequent shallow watering, plants send out weak roots along the surface that make them susceptible to drought conditions.

We can break this cycle by giving plants what they need: strong growth and deep root systems that enable them to fend off disease by themselves. Building a natural, healthy garden begins from the ground up. 

Prepare the soil. Cultivating a garden is like raising a child; a good foundation promotes the healthiest results. Dig deeply when you plant (even though your neighbors may look suspiciously at the craters) and refill the hole with equal amounts of organic material, such as compost or manure, and the existing soil. If your soil is heavy clay, add some coarse sand to this mixture. 

Once your plants begin to flourish, you’ll understand why manure is a gardener’s gold and a pile at the end of the driveway will become a comforting sight. Your hard work will pay off as plants thrive year after year.