Garden & Greenhouse May 2019 Issue | Page 26

FEATURESTORY An Organic Garden Checklist I f you’re planning an organic garden, there are a few things you should check off your list before you get started. The following items should be on every organic garden checklist. Watch the Light If you’re planting vegetables, keep in mind that most of them need either full sun or a mix of full sun and partial shade. If you are incorporating flowers or shrubs into your organic garden they also have their own sunlight needs so read the instruction tags that come with them. Observe your yard at different times of the day and note which areas are sunny and those that are shady and place the plants accordingly. Create a Blueprint Like all good things, a successful garden starts with a roadmap. Most organic gardeners start with a four-by-four-foot plot for their vegetables. If you’re growing flowers, choose a spot to dig the beds. Build a Fence Pests such as rabbits, squirrels, and deer love to nibble away at your vegetable garden and flowers. To avoid losing all your vegetables to the animal king- dom, consider building a fence around your garden. Consider building the fence before you plant the gar- den to help keep the pests out from the very start. Condition the Soil Before you start planting, you need to ensure your soil is in tip-top shape. Do a quick soil test to see if the pH level needs adjusting. Once you have the re- sults, determine how much (if any) organic material 26 such as mulch or worm castings needs to be added to make it fertile. Choose a Bed Type Do you want to till and nourish the soil in a pre- existing garden? Do you want to use a raised bed to help avoid bending down to care for the plants? Answering these questions helps determine whether to use your existing organic garden space or create a raised bed. Select the Plants Spend some time researching what will grow in your area and what time of the year plants will flourish then create a schedule. Radishes prefer cool weather and should be planted early in the spring while carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and many other vegetables are hardy enough to be planted well into autumn. Have the Correct Tools Regardless of the season, always have the follow- ing tools ready to go: ◆ ◆ Spade ◆ ◆ Garden fork ◆ ◆ Hose ◆ ◆ Hoe ◆ ◆ Hand weeder ◆ ◆ Basket or wheelbarrow for mulch Your organic gardening will be more enjoyable if you cross each of these items off your organic garden checklist. GG Background information for this article was provided by MCG BioComposites MCGBiomarkers.com. www.GardenandGreenhouse.net May 2019