Starting an organic garden in town can be a rewarding experience in many ways. As the inclination of rising food costs expands across the globe, the return to the land is becoming an intelligent and more affordable way to eat well. For Southern California residents who are concerned about caring for their environment and giving back to the land rather than contributing to its growing deterioration, organic gardening can be an effective step towards the preservation of the earth. You may need to make conscious adjustments in your spending habits and daily schedule, but you will swiftly learn to appreciate the rewards that come with growing your own produce.
Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just getting started on your first endeavor in cultivating the land, there are some tips you should know for beginning any type of organic garden in the city. The main trick to gardening organically is figuring out how to work with nature in its original landscape and weather conditions at your specific plot of land. The difficulty these days comes in overcoming the ways the natural landscape has been disturbed by chemicals and unnatural landscaping conditions over the course of several decades. It will take a little extra effort on your part to recondition potentially damaged earth, but nature is generally forgiving and will restore itself to its proper state as you persist in treating it with TLC.
Strategize to Reduce Your Work and Maximize Your Garden’s Production
After years of heightened use of fertilizers and pesticides, gardeners have lost the habit of planning in ways that will prompt nature to care for itself. Rather than trying to completely manage the garden with unnatural techniques, the idea is to create systems that allow the garden to do much of the work itself. As you begin plans for your organic garden, you will want to pay careful consideration to valuable insects, companion planting practices and the native plants which grow best in the weather and soil condition in this area of Southern California. You should also think about ways that you can attract pollinating insects, butterflies and birds which will keep back the arrival of harmful pests.
One of the most important priorities for creating a plot where an organic garden can thrive should be in the multiplication of organic matter within the garden. The more organic material you can add to the soil, whether it be with compost or another mulching material, the better the soil will become and the higher the production of your garden will be in the coming years. Organic material helps to neutralize the effects of harm that has been created by chemical fertilizers and surplus salts that come from chlorinated tap water.
Native California Vegetation Grows Best in the Autumn Weather
The weather conditions in San Diego are most propitious for a fall garden, as October generally ushers in the rainy season and cooler temperatures. If you are located in an area of wild lands on the periphery of the city, you will want to be sure to defend your garden against potential fire hazards that are not unusual to the area. Clean out dry, flammable, invasive plants and weeds close to or surrounding your garden plot and start collecting everything that can be composted and turned into extra organic material for the cultivation of your land. If it is the fall season, work in a generous amount of organic material into your present garden plots and sow some cool weather crops like broccoli, peas, carrots, lettuce and cilantro. If it is spring, sow a layer of poppy seeds to operate as a ground cover that will also enhance the health of your soil for the fall.
