| The following lawn and garden care tips will | | | | too thick or matted then rake them up. |
| help you get the most from your garden. | | | | |
| | | | 5. Keep garden beds covered with shredded |
| 1. Different soil types have different | | | | leaves to minimize the risk of soil erosion |
| watering needs. Loosen the soil around plants | | | | and nutrient run-off. |
| so it can quickly absorb water and nutrients. | | | | |
| Early morning or night is the best time for | | | | 6. Leave the grass clippings to decompose on |
| watering to reduce evaporation. | | | | the lawn. This will provide nutrients |
| | | | equivalent to one or two fertilizer |
| Lengthening the time between watering | | | | applications. Set mower at 2 inches to reduce |
| combined with deep, heavy watering encourages | | | | water use during hot weather. |
| root growth while reducing top growth in | | | | |
| lawns. This increases the root-to-shoot ratio | | | | 7. Consider using natural alternatives for |
| and helps produce plants that are more | | | | chemical pesticides such as non-detergent |
| resistant to wilting when exposed to | | | | insecticidal soaps, garlic, hot pepper |
| infrequent watering. | | | | sprays, used dishwater, or forceful stream of |
| | | | water to dislodge insects. Also consider |
| 2. When choosing plants for your garden, | | | | using plants that naturally repel insects. |
| remember crops that are suited to your soil | | | | |
| and climate will be more resistant to | | | | 8. Organic Gardening - Since organic |
| problems. If you experiment with exotics, be | | | | fertilizer and soil conditioning materials |
| prepared to give them more care. Also, when | | | | are slow working in general, they should be |
| placing plants around the home, remember as a | | | | mixed into the soil at least three weeks |
| general rule, plants with thick leaves can | | | | ahead of planting and the soil thoroughly |
| take lower light levels than those with thin | | | | prepared for the seed or transplants. |
| leaves. | | | | |
| | | | 9. Where animal manures are available, they |
| 3. Fertilizers provide nutrients necessary | | | | are probably the best source of fertilizer |
| for plant health and growth, such as | | | | and organic matter for the organic gardener. |
| nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Test | | | | Use manure which has been aged for at least |
| your soil to find out what nutrients are | | | | 30 days, or composted. |
| needed. Choose a fertilizer that has at least | | | | |
| one-fourth of the nitrogen in a slow-release | | | | 10. Weeds are easy to control when they are |
| form, such as sulphur-coated urea. | | | | small. Shallow cultivation and hoeing are |
| | | | advised in order to reduce damage to the root |
| 4. Mow lawn frequently to chop up leaves and | | | | system. |
| recycle them into the lawn. If the leaves are | | | | |