Re: Frost

Daryl,
I sort of apply many of your techniques, but not necessarily consciously.  I
am a lazy gardener, but I want my plants to look their best, so I start from
the ground up, preparing the soil with natural amendments.  I think my
plants are healthy because their feet are happy.  When some insect comes
along and causes trouble, it has to be big trouble for me to do something
about because, I'm lazy and I know that the trouble will often be minimal if
I leave it alone. [Except of course for slugs. But I use Escar-Go! which
disolves into fertilizer, seems to do the trick]  I've removed plants that I
like but that Japanese Beetles like even better - why go through the
aggravation of fighting with them?  I mulch; I water when necessary.  My
garden isn't the prettiest, wouldn't win any prizes, but it's mine and I
enjoy it because it requires as much work as I want to give it and it always
give back much more.

Kitty

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Daryl" <pulis@mindspring.com>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2003 5:47 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Frost


> Donna,
>
> I'd love to, but time is short and I'm often overwhelmed.
>
> Organic gardening at it's simplest means avoiding chemical (some read
highly
> processed) inputs. The principle tenet is to build the soil so as to have
> healthy plants. The plants then are more resistant to insects and disease.
> If/when disease or insects invade, try to manage them by changing the
> environment instead of resorting to chemicals.
>
> For example, if your plants  have a fungus disease, removing infected
> foliage and flowers, increasing air circulation, watering only when
> necessary, preferably watering the soil, not the foliage, and/or timing it
> so that the plants dry quickly is 90 percent of the battle. Sometimes,
> removing plants and replacing with disease tolerant plants is also
> warranted.
>
> Many insects have their own enemies, if we'd only leave them alone to do
> battle. We often spray or otherwise kill off the beneficials because we're
> impatient, or don't recognize how many friends we have that are working in
> the background.
>
> I have a largish quibble with companies that sell lots of "organic"
> controls. The best control is usually good management, not throwing
another
> substance at them.
>
> As for making every mistake possible in the landscape, I probably hold the
> prize. I was a "design by shovel" gardener for years. Because of that, I'm
a
> better designer. I know most of the traps.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Donna " <justme@prairieinet.net>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Sent: Monday, September 29, 2003 10:06 PM
> Subject: RE: [CHAT] Frost
>
>
> > Well I think you should be flapping your fingers a bit more on this list
> > then.....:) Many of us are native plant and wildlife nuts! I personally
> > would like to know more about organic gardening... like what does that
> > really mean? I don't use chemicals... but what other important
> > difference is there? Garden designer... boy do I have some planning to
> > do! I think I made every possible mistake here....:)
> >
> > Donna
> >
> >
> > > Behalf Of Daryl
> >
> > > As for me, I flap my lips on several subjects. My favorites are
> > organic
> > > gardening, environmentally friendly gardening, gardening for wildlife,
> > and
> > > gardening with native plants. I guess that most speaking requests are
> > for
> > > my
> > > role as  a garden designer, especially since the HGTV show, though.
> > Not a
> > > biggie - just something I do.
>
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