How to Be A Green Gardener

Healthy Green Garden

Green gardening will require less water, less fertilizer and less bugs.

Things You'll Need

• Spray bottle
• Castile Soap
• Canola Oil
• Mulch
• Compost Material

Instructions

1. 

   COMPOST. Instead of using fertilizer to nourish the soil use compost. Make your own by using kitchen scrapes and yard debris or buy some compost.
   Lay out at least an inch thick of compost where you are going to plant.

2. 

   MULCH. Make a mixture of ground wood and leaves as a mulch to protect the soil from weeds and lock in moisture. Put the mulch on top of the compost and spread about 3 inches thick. Make sure the mulch is certified free of contaminants and no arsenic in the wood.

3. 

   DO YOUR HOMEWORK ON PLANTS. Make sure the plants you pick for your garden will grow in your area. Do not plant sunny plants when you only have shade and vice versa. Some plants attract songbirds, require less care, etc. Check out plants in your state that are indigenous.
   Avoid plants that will take over the garden and smother everything.

4. Spray. Make your own natural spray. Mix in 1 teaspoon with castile soap and a teaspoon or two of canola oil. Add a quart of water to mix and put in spray bottle. Spray directly on the bugs.

5. Water. Save rainwater if it rains near you. Save old dishwater or other creative ways to recycle water. Soak the plants early in the morning when plants have their natural dew cycle.

Tips & Warnings

• wildflower.org

• Have pruner, gloves, and hand weeder when gardening.

• Copyright Zahzel Rose