Pest Control Tips That Are Safe

In years gone by pest control really had nothing to do with safety. I believe that is how I lost my best friend Shadow, after just 7 years with us. That's why we believe so strongly in pest control safety. I'm talking abut safety in terms of the plants, animals and humans.

When it comes to our vegetable garden we pay extra attention. Who want to have anything harmful on our veggies when there are other methods for getting rid of those garden pests.

Growing an organic garden would no longer be organic if we start using poisons for pest control. The whole purpose of organic gardening is to get away from harmful chemicals.

Going Organic And Stay Organic May Mean Getting Your Hands Dirty

1. Use the physical pest control process.

This may be accomplished through picking grubs off by hand, creating barriers and traps and plugging holes. Snails can be found hiding in damp places under rocks and towrds the base of those plants with straplike foliage.

2. Apply biological pest control.

Encourage predatory insects such as green lacewings and dragonflies to feed on aphids and other pests that attack your plants. You can do this by placing a shallow bowl of water in the garden. Dragonflies especially will hover around water. Bacterial insecticides such as B. thuringiensis could also be used against caterpillars.

3. Only as a last resort should we turn to chemical pest control.

Organic pest control methods can be successful and the ingredients for many of the recipes can be found in the kitchen cupboards. If chemical sprays are really necessary, try and find the least-toxic. These include insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, dehydrating dusts, etc.

4. Consider the use of safer pest control substitutes.

Recipes for alternative pest control include the following:

Against Green Aphids and Mites - Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and a cup of vegetable oil. Dilute a teaspoon of this solution in a cup of water and spray on aphids and mites.

Against Cockroaches - Dusts of boric acid can be applied to cracks or entry points of these insects. Bay leaves on pantry shelves could also help in warding off these critters.

Make sure that the chemicals you use are made specifically for the insects you are targeting.

Setting up my indoor greenhouse so I won't be a month late like I was last year. I ended up paying a lot more for veggies all ready started.

Butterfly Gardening To Get Those Beautiful Creature To Visit Us

What is butterfly gardening? 

Butterfly gardening is the art or act of growing flowers and plants that will attract these colorful and dainty creatures to your garden. Delight your family and visitors with beautiful butterflies, but be sure to create a safe habitat for them. If you own cats rethink your plans, because it would be a shame to attract these lovely insects to their death.

The design your butterfly garden is a matter of personal preference. Typical points to consider are the size of your garden and the types of flowers and plants you want to grow. Pick a style of garden that appeals to you, but ensure it also contains the plants and flowers that appeal to the butterflies you wish to attract.

It is important to find out which plants and flowers will attract the species of butterflies. that live in your area. This information can be found at the local library.

To create the kind of environment that they find attractive, you will also need water of some kind. A birdbath will look attractive and keep the butterflies up off the ground, away from stray cats or mischievous puppies. A shallow dish on a post or hung in a tree will do just as well.

When planting your butterfly garden be careful how you coordinate the colors you choose for your flowerbeds. Although butterflies do not care about your choice of color, you don't want your garden to be a hodgepodge of unrelated colors and textures. Butterflies are attracted to those flowers that have nectar rather than pollen, like honeysuckle, milkweed, summer lilac, Valerian, daisies, Purple Coneflower, Yellow Sage, day lilies and lavender.

Some people find it helpful to draw and color a layout of their butterfly gardening plan to see what the finished product would look like. Keep in mind that warm colors like red and orange are flashy and showy. These colors have a greater impact against a strong green background. Cool colors such as blue and purple are soothing and toned down and would work better with a white contrast to create the look of freshness and brightness.

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I headed out to snow covered and frozen compost bin through 2 feet of snow. Sure could use a kitchen composter today. http://budurl.com/4x4r

An Introduction To Garden Herbs

There are a huge variety of herbs in the world, and each one is unique in its own way. If you are interested in a specific type of herb, you should research that one to understand the care it needs and how to use it properly. This article will hopefully help you begin to to understand the different types of herbs, and what they are used for.

From a growing perspective, there are of 3 categories of herb plant - Annuals, Biennial and Perennial:

• Annuals – common examples are basil, and cilantro - these will not survive the winter frost. Each year they must be planted from seed, or from a small plant you have kept indoors from the summer growth.

• Biennials - herbs form leaves in their first growing season, and flower and seed in the second season; then they die. Biennial herbs – such as parsley, angelica, or caraway - are best be sown in late spring, not in seed trays but directly into the garden. Prepare the soil first by working it to a fine texture and dampen the soil slightly. Plant the seeds in shallow rows, then firm up the soil on top of them. Fine seeds can be planted in a mixture of sand, which will allow them to spread more evenly. You can also cover the herb bed with wet burlap or paper in order to keep the soil moist during germination.

• Perennials – such as sage or winter savory - can and do survive the cold temperatures, and with proper attention, they will grow year after year.

Herbs can also be grouped into the categories for which they are used:

• Culinary herbs are probably the most useful to herb gardeners. They have a wide range of different uses in cooking. Because of their strong flavors, herbs like chives, thyme, basil, sage, savory, and marjoram are generally used in small quantities to add flavor to different types of food. Parsley is an extremely popular herb that is used mostly as a garnish. Some herbs act as natural sweeteners - examples are stevia, licorice, and the aztec sweet herb.

• Aromatic herbs have pleasant smelling flowers or foliage. Oils from aromatic herbs like mint, thyme and rosemary can be used to make different types of perfumes, toilet water, or other various scents. Parts of aromatic herb plants used intact can also be used in the home to scent linens or clothing. They can also be dried and made into potpourri which will enable them to be able to retain their aroma for a long period of time. Lavender and lemon verbena are great herbs to use for potpourri.

• Some herbs are also used for medicinal purposes. For centuries herbs have been used for medicinal purposes, especially in the East. Current medical knowledge recognizes that some herbs are beneficial to one’s health, while others are overrated. Herbs used for medicinal purposes should be used carefully. Some herbs are harmless but others can be dangerous if eaten. Herbs have many important uses - to relieve stress, ease pain, or to boost the immune system, and even to cure insomnia - herb Robert, and lemon balm I have found that Aloe vera is great to have around the house (usually potted) for any accidental burns and cuts (more healing than anything you will find in your local drugstore).

A final category are herbs that are used mainly as decoration, because they grow beautiful brightly colored flowers and foliage:

• Many have whitish flowering, some have various light colored flowers - like valerian - which has crimson blossoms, and borage and chicory, which grow gorgeous blue flowers

Not all herbs fit neatly into one of the above categories, and indeed some serve more than one of these categories. An example is mint, which can be used for cooking, tea, and pest control – but make sure you limit the boundarie of its growth, or it will become a pest itself growing wild across your garden!
If you would like more information on herbs, do drop by my how to grow herbs website, where I continually update articles and tips on gardening at home.
Whatever the interest that you may have in herbs, by understanding the facets of herb garden plants you are able to pick the herbs that will be most useful to you, and you can grow healthy, fresh produce at home.. Bon Voyage.