GOING GREEN

Organic matter in garden question?

We are making a veggie garden and we have applied fertilizer but we are wondering when it says to give plants plenty of organic matter would old leaves around the yard be considered organic matter? They are all old and pretty much decayed so should we till them into the ground and would they help our garden. (P.S. I hope this is not a stupid question but as people say the only stupid question is the one you do not ask!) Thanks.

That is not a stupid question.

leaves are wonderful organic matter. Other great sources are compost (and you should start your own compost ASAP), straw, dried grass clippings, green manure which is a crop grow to be tilled into the soil instead of harvested. Buckwheat, annual rye, cow peas, vetch and many other plants are used for just this purpose.

Generally things like leaves are put on the beds in the fall because they tend to tie up the available nitrogen in the soil as they break down (this is not a bad thing in the long run, the N is still there it just cannot be easily used by plants until the leaves have broken down most of the way). Compost can be used any time of year, even after you have planted your crops.

How To Naturally Enrich Your Soil By Using Organic Garden Fertilizer

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth 10 lb. by Natures Wisdom $11.99 Natures Wisdom Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is totally organic and safe. It contains less than 1% percent of Crystal & Silicon. Some of the uses for Diatomaceous Earth include; household pets, gardens, flower beds, field crops, grain storage, and livestock feeding. Diatomaceous Earth is Mother Nature’s product with no harm to the environment, pets or to people. Diatomaceous Earth is not an earth,…

Fox Farm FX14050 Big Bloom, Grow Big & Tiger Bloom Liquid Fertilizer Nutrient Trio Hydro-Formula, 3/32-Ounce Bottles $36.50 You will appreciate denser vegetative growth, bigger blooms, and tastier fruits and vegetables, and they’ll love getting Fox Farm’s Big Bloom, Grow Big, and Tiger Bloom in one convenient package. This trio of fast-acting fertilizers will provide balanced, high quality nutrition for plants in soil gardens. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Hydro for Hunger initiative….

8QT Hortic Vermiculite $5.99 8 QT, Vermiculite, An Efficient & Popular Soil Conditioner, Loosens Soil, Provides Aeration, Retains Water, Can Be Used To Start Seeds, Propogate Cuttings, & Store Bulbs, Blend With Peat Moss & Perlite For A Custom Soilless Mix….

EarthBox RB-EB-PBB Garden Kit The patented EarthBox was developed by commercial farmers and proven in the lab and on the farm. This maintenance-free, award-winning, high-tech growing system controls soil conditions, eliminates guesswork and more than doubles the yield of a conventional garden with less fertilizer, less water and virtually no effort! No digging, no weeding, no guesswork. Vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers g…

Ringer 3050 Compost Plus 2 Pound Box $4.20 This all-purpose activator kick-starts the compost process with essential organisms and nutrients that efficiently break down organic material. Transform common yard waste–such as lawn clippings, dead leaves, pine needles, and twigs–into compost within 60 to 90 days. Use the rich humus that results as fertilizer or mulch, or double dig into a vegetable or flower bed for an exceptional soil amend…

Green Light Organic Rooting Hormone – 2 oz 06920A $3.62 A rooting hormone with fungicide for faster, healthier rooting from plant cuttings. Contains: .20% 1 Naphthaleneacetamide (NAA) and 4.04% Thiram. 2 oz. container….

ABC’s of Organic Gardening $14.99 This DVD is intended to get you growing your own organic vegetables quickly and easily. Easy to follow step by step instructions for the beginner organic gardener….

Organic Wheatgrass Growing Kit – Grow & Juice Wheat Grass: Trays, Seed, Soil, Instructions & More $34.95 Contains 5 1 lb. bags of wheat, 5 trays, 2 5 lb. bags soil, 1 azomite, Book : Wheatgrass, Sprouts, Microgreens and the Living Food Diet” by Living Whole Foods, Inc., Instructions…

Miracle-Gro 0149302-556 Potting Mix – 16 Quart $5.22 Miracle-Gro, 16 QT, Potting Mix, Superior Blend Of Composted Bark, Sphagnum Peat Moss and Perlite, Enriched With Miracle-Gro Plant Food, Feeds Instantly and Continuously For Quick Root Development and Sturdy Growth, Stand Up Resealable Waterproof Bag….

Pro Cultivator’s 30x Magnifying Eye Glass, Gardening Loupe, Examine Flower Buds, Trichomes, Post Harvest Crop and More $4.99 Genuine PuriTEST “Triplet” 30x high power large lens jeweler’s loupe. Large 21mm double glass lenses for best optics. Golden finish with all metal housing. Used by professionals and amateurs alike. Excellent value. Great gift idea….

This entry was posted on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 11:28 pm and is filed under eco friendly. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.