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Free Advice - Organic Gardening

Going organic in the changing landscape

The demand for new houses has increased in the South East recently and with so much building work going on, our surrounding landscape is undergoing some major changes.

More houses mean more of our natural landscape disappearing to new roads and brickwork.

Of course, the picture isn’t all grey and most modern houses are built with gardens, although generally smaller than they would have been many years ago. It’s difficult to see how nature can fit into such a scenario when the concrete mixer seems to be king, but gardeners can do something to ensure nature is given a chance in the small pockets left.

It's well worth experimenting with, even if you’re new to gardening.

Organic gardening is perhaps the closet form of working with nature, using tried and tested methods that date back further than the earliest man-made chemicals. It’s the need to reduce these chemicals and allow greater diversity in the garden that leads to a more sustainable environment not just for plants but also the creatures in it.

Areas of open water encourage a larger range of birds and insects into the garden, many of whom will feed on the pests that we all love to hate. Think about companion planting by using marigolds and poppies between susceptible plants. These will offer a valuable source of nectar for hover flies who in turn feed on the aphids.

By composting your garden waste and using it as mulch you’ll not only cut down on fertiliser costs but also help the soil as worms pull the goodness down into the soil where it belongs.

Choose your plants according to their disease resistance and there’ll be less need for chemical sprays. With a little plant knowledge, even weeds like teasel are great for goldfinches and their architectural value is never wasted.

The greenhouse isn’t out of the organic zone either, as a controlled habitat is perfect for natural parasites that feed on pests and you can even buy them in packs from the local garden centre.

Organic gardening may be seen as a trendy form of gardening, but one day it may be essential if we are to make sure nature still has a place in a built environment.

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