Garden & Lawn

Designed to prevent surfaces made of steel from corroding, organic zinc primers are not made of any man-made chemicals and consist only of naturally occurring ingredients.

Healthy, nutrient-rich organic soil is the most important factor in growing a vigorous, prolific garden. Building up garden soil is a time-consuming process, sometimes taking several years until a...

When you've decided you'd like to start a garden there are certain steps to take to ensure your success. It's a good idea to draw a picture of your garden, making notes on where the sun shines all...

Organic matter such as leaves, twigs, scat and insect remains are ubiquitous in soil. Larger chunks can be picked from the soil by hand, smaller quantities can be sieved or sifted, but other...

Organic fertilizer is distinct from inorganic fertilizer in that the material wasn't produced in a factory, but rather from natural materials. Organic fertilizer has advantages over inorganic...

You can use these 6 steps to prevent pests from invading your garden, without the use of pesticides.

Soil condition affects the health and beauty of a lawn, as well as water runoff and weed and pest control. Organic soil treatments help give nature a boost by balancing the lawns ecosystem.

Worm castings provide a nutrient rich medium for plants and fauna to grow. Mixed into soil, a night-crawler excrement can drastically improve the quality through fertilization. Night-crawler worms...

Plants grown in soil maintained under an organic system receive benefits from delicate microorganisms that are easily disrupted through the use of chemical fertilizers and soil improvers. Healthy...

Growing organic summer squash will not only provide you with the peace of mind that your vegetable was indeed grown organically, but it will also ensure you have a garden full of bright squash...

If your compost pile stinks, it is typically a symptom of an imbalance in the environment within the compost pile. A compost pile is a delicate environment in which microbes break down organic...

Compost is extremely beneficial for plants and having your own compost will allow you to nourish your garden without paying for expensive fertilizer. In addition, you can use a compost pile to...

Composting organic material is the process of rotting. As material decomposes, it turns into rich, black, crumbly soil. This soil can be left on the surface of the garden or lawn as a mulch or...

Worms play an essential role in creating compost. Without worms to break down organic matter, our earth would be covered with mountains of plant and animal matter; not a pretty picture to...

Compost is made from a mixture of organic waste--things that would normally be thrown in the trash heap. The resulting mixture is full of microscopic organisms and nutrients that plants love....

Two different definitions of "organic soil" exist, with a considerable difference in their composition. A proper delineation between the two meanings prevents an agriculturalist from mistakenly...

Gingerroot is known around the world for its many medicinal and culinary uses. Wild gingerroot, however, is known for its pesky infestations, which can literally overtake any type of vegetation...

Soils can take thousands and even millions of years to form. Thousands of different soils exist, comprised of varying levels of minerals and biological material highly dependent on local...

Composting, or recycling organic matter to enrich your garden soil, is a wonderful way to re-use kitchen and lawn scraps and avoid adding to overcrowded landfills. Compost can be used in your...

Summer is synonymous with sweet, juicy tomatoes. On a sweltering day, there's nothing like biting into one or making a simple salad with basil and mozzarella. Of course, the thought of chemicals...

It's a shame to waste organic waste. In fact, the term organic waste is really a misnomer, because whether you have leftover vegetable scraps, grass clippings, dead flowers or even horse manure,...

Clay soil poses many challenges for healthy turf. Like other plants, grasses prefer a porous soil structure that allows water and nutrients to move freely. High clay content usually results in...

When you turn over a shovelful of dirt in your garden, does it stick together in large, heavy clumps? If so, you probably have clay soil. Clay is made of tiny particles that pack together to...

Clay soil presents a challenge for gardeners. It holds water, compacts, and cracks when it dries. Clay soil often is fertile, but plants may have a hard time accessing nutrients because the clay...

Good topsoil comprises about thirty percent clay, thirty percent sand and thirty percent silt with an organic matter content of five to twenty percent or better. To replicate true topsoil, a...

Making a good organic fertilizer means more that simply spreading the byproducts of your compost heap into the soil of your garden. Organic fertilizers are both renewable and made of natural...

If you want a vegetable garden in your backyard but your soil seems to be made up mostly of red clay, don't worry, there are a few easy ways to prepare red clay soil for vegetables. Because red...

Fire ants come in several species, originating in both the United States and in South America. They are differentiated from other species of ants by their levels of aggression, their painful bite,...

Do you remember playing in the garden with your dolls on a warm and sunny afternoon while grandma was shelling peas in the shade of apple trees in the yard? What a sweet memory! And do you know...

Climbing roses are a gorgeous addition to any garden. Many different options exist for growing structures, such as an arbor or trellis, and climbing roses can even grow over existing fences....

Clay soil presents problems for the gardener. When compacted, it can be so hard as to be almost impermeable, even with a shovel. The coarse, clod-filled texture inhibits plant root growth, and it...

Some gardeners do not need to make much of an effort to amend their soil, but for others, especially those with clay soil, there is a lot of groundwork to be done before planting can happen. Clay...

Planting and caring for an apple tree is a rewarding and process for any gardener. But maintaining an apple tree requires a great deal of care and control. Apple trees can be attractive to worms...

Soil has various compositions and comes in a variety of forms. Natural soils consist of minerals, organic matter and living organisms that are in balance with surrounding geological features and...

Plant mildew or powdery mildew is a common disease that can affect household plants or organic gardens. A common sign that your plants have this disease is a dusty white to gray coating on the...

Black ants can be a large problem, both inside the house and outside. They come in several different sizes but are always a major pest. If you are looking to kill off the black ants but don't want...

Organic seed treatment is an effective method of seed planting. It speeds up seed germination, promotes faster growth and produces higher yield potential. It is also more affordable when compared...

Clay soil challenges gardeners. It holds moisture and does not provide good drainage. It clumps into hard, rock-like soil balls that make establishing root systems and plant growth difficult. When...

Clay soil can be difficult for gardeners, as vegetation struggles to grow in clay. However, with some work and planning clay soil can be improved. Clay also has some positive attributes, such as...

According to UK chemical regulation, a pesticide is "any substance, preparation or organism prepared or used to protect plants or wood or other plant products from harmful organisms." Synthetic...

Organic soil is natural soil that has not been exposed to chemical pesticides or treated with synthetic fertilizer. Chemicals and synthetics have been shown to deplete a plant's natural defenses...

Organic gardening is a rewarding experience and a simple way to produce farm-fresh goodness for your family. Free and clear of chemicals, pesticides and toxic soil, organic gardening is a safe...

Fertilizers can be classified into two types: organic and inorganic. Organic means that it was derived from a plant or animal source, such as composted plant or animal matter. Some fertilizers...

Chickweed is a common name for plants in the Stellaria genus of the Caryophyllaceae flower family. The plant can be found in gardens and landscapes throughout North America, and its hardy nature...

Copper sulfate is a fungicide used to prevent and control plant fungal diseases, including powdery mildew, leaf spots and blight (Reference 1). When mixed with lime and water as a preventative...

One of the best ways to ensure a thriving and fruitful garden is to have well-prepared soil before you plant. This involves removing existing sod from the planting area and adding organic...

Fertilizer contains a combination of nutrients and other elements, organic and/or inorganic, needed for healthy plant growth. When added to soil, fertilizers provide nutrients to plants that are...

A healthy, beautiful lawn can be the envy of the neighborhood, but keeping your lawn healthy can be quite a task. Lawns often deplete the soil of nutrients as they grow, and those nutrients need...

Perhaps the most important factor of a successful vegetable garden is having well prepared soil. That’s why the mantra of the organic gardener is “feed the soil, not the plant.” If you...

Unless you are fortunate enough to live in an area with nutrient-rich soil, your garden is likely to need nutrient supplementation from time to time. There's no shortage of synthetic fertilizers...