Today, a lot of people still keep their gardens pest-free by simply reaching for the latest chemical cocktail without even considering the long-term consequences of its use.
The continual use of garden chemicals is not only damaging to the environment, but can also have an adverse effect on our health. Everything that is sprayed onto, or added to, the soil eventually ends up in our produce chain: the meat, vegetables and fruit we eat and the water we drink.
The cumulative effect of chemicals is believed to be one of the main causes of severe allergies and other health problems.
It is not all doom and gloom. In recent years there has now been a huge shift in attitude towards the environment.
There is a growing awareness that we need to work in harmony with it and not against it. Once again many individuals are adopting the attitude of the past: that a healthy garden demands plenty of organic matter added, and that plants should be grown in those areas best suited for their cultivation. The aim is to achieve a natural balance between plants, insects and birds, so that harmony exists.
If you haven't already done so, going organic and converting your garden from chemical dependency is easy. It requires nothing more than composting, mulching, companion planting and natural pest control.
A quick way to improve sandy soil
If you have no sufficient compost readily available, every time you water your plants', half fill a bucket with clay, add some water and stir. Once the clay has been completely stirred in and the water has a muddy appearance, dilute it with sufficient water so that it will flow freely from a watering can. Use this liquid to water your plants. It will build up the water-holding capacity of sandy soil.
Liquid Fertiliser
To make your liquid fertiliser, place a 10-centimetre layer of mature compost or cow or chicken manure in a bucket and fill with water. Allow it to stand for 48 hours, stirring occasionally, then strain through coarsely woven cloth. Pour the fertiliser on the soil above the plant roots, or use as a foliar feeder by spraying or sprinkling over the leaves of plants.
Repeat fortnightly for flowers and vegetables and monthly for shrubs. This fertiliser is especially good for leafy vegetables such as silver beet, spinach, cabbage and lettuce. It is also good for bare spots on the lawn, trees that have just been transplanted and indoor plants that need perking up. If you mix a handful of wood ash into the solution, it can double as a natural insecticide.
