Nothing makes a hard core green thumb madder than weeds in the lawn or garden. They’re ugly. They compete for light, water, and nutrients. Sometimes they make you itch or sneeze! It’s no wonder that Home Expo Mart has aisles and aisles of chemicals that you can use to kill those weeds before they take over your favorite green spot.

The problem with pesticides is that they don’t stay where you put them. Every time it rains, the water runoff washes trace amounts of the chemicals away — into the nearest creek. These pesticides add up in the water supplies downstream from you. And the green thumbs applying pesticides upstream from you… well, let’s just say that here in the DC metro area, tapwater is safe to drink. But using alternative methods to kill the weeds in your lawn and garden is responsible behavior.

Here are a few tips for nontoxic alternatives to chemical pesticides that can help you have the lawn or garden of your dreams:

Tip #1: Corn Gluten Meal
If you have a well established lawn or perennial garden, you can prevent weeds from growing by with an application of corn gluten meal in early spring. Corn gluten meal is nontoxic and has no effect on plants that are already established. It does, however, prevent the proper root formation of weed seedlings that would otherwise germinate in the spring and try to take over your lawn. It is one tool that will help you do your part to protect nature.

Tip #2: White Vinegar
You’ve probably heard the saying “you catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar.” Here’s a little secret: Vinegar repels weeds, too. You can kill almost any plant by applying white vinegar, especially if they are in a sunny location.

Think of using vinegar where you might otherwise spot spray an herbicide. As with herbicides, vinegar may need to be applied more than once to get the job done. But be careful! Vinegar will not discriminate between the plants you want and the ones you don’t. 

However, you can save money by buying the least expensive, largest container of white vinegar you can find. This will be much less expensive than the typical cost of herbicides.

Tip #3: Use Landscaping Fabric
For planting beds, barrier methods such as landscaping fabric to keep weeds from growing are especially effective. Applying landscaping fabric around existing plants is easy and effective — it blocks the light from reach the soil, preventing weeds from growing. Cut holes in the fabric before you place it over existing plants. The fabric blocks the light, but don’t worry, it lets the water through.

Tip #4: Pull!
If you catch them early, most weeds are easy to pull. It’s only after you neglect your garden for a bit that removing the weeds becomes a chore. Go out in the morning, when there is dew to moisten the soil and to make weed pulling easier. Similarly, pull weeds after a rainstorm. You will find that roots come out fairly easily when the soil is moist. You also might to invest in some simple weed pulling tools to help you effectively get roots out of the ground. Any good lawn and garden center will carry these. Foam pads for kneeling when you are weeding also make the task more comfortable.

In closing, many safe options exist when you are seeking to eradicate weeds from your landscape. Corn gluten meal is good for your lawn. Vinegar will get your weeds. Landscaping fabric prevents them from growing, and you can pull weeds when the soil is wet and it is easiest to do so. Enjoy responsible gardening so that your family and pets are not exposed to harmful herbicides.

So now you’ve dealt with your weeds. You’ve followed these tips. And now it’s time to relax and enjoy the rewards! Next time your guests are over for that backyard cookout, enjoy the admiration they express over that lush green grass you’ve worked so hard to care for. Then, tell them about these extra steps you’ve taken to do your part for the environment and watch the look on their faces.

Enjoy!

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About the Author:
Are you a green thumb in the Washington, DC or its suburbs? If so, check out the Metro DC Lawn and Garden Blog, your source for “green” news and tips in the area. This article was placed in this directory by the Water Words That Work, LLC, an environmental awareness and communication company.
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Most gardeners today are learning everything they can about organic paths to plant care, and back-to-natural rose gardening is experiencing resurgence among rose growers.Since ancient times people all over the world have been cultivating roses, and until the past century it had always been done organically. Since man-made pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers were introduced in the 20th century, gardeners have turned their backs on natural methods of protecting and nourishing plants.

Thankfully for roses and rose growers everywhere, that trend seems to be changing as a large number of growers rediscover organic plant and garden care methods, and that goes for beginning gardeners as well.Creating and maintaining a garden organically will actually benefit not only your roses, but the flora and fauna around them as well. Roses are particular about their needs and preferences, and respond to natural cultivation procedures by living longer and flourishing. The added bonus is protecting your family, your pets and area wildlife from the harmful chemicals of man-made pesticides and fertilizers. 

Earth has managed to maintain its organic balance without the aid of man-made chemicals for millions of years. This natural balance gets thrown for a loop when humans decide that we can outdo nature; the natural system of animal and plant life loses its mojo, and in time becomes dependent on man-made chemicals to survive, since their inherent skills have been eradicated. 

Through their roots, plants absorb the water and nutrients necessary to survive, while their leaves stay busy working with sunlight to produce energy. Natural organisms in the soil serve provide pest control, pH, and nutrients in a cycle too perfect to replicate artificially. 

Chemical pesticides and fertilizers snuff out the soil’s natural organisms, interfering with the productive efforts that occur between the earth and your roses.  Chemicals kill off favorable organisms that protect the roots of your plants, and invasives like fungi take over, infecting them and eventually killing them. 

By simply learning all you can about organic gardening and foregoing chemicals, you can better nourish the soil and enrich your roses. 

If you’re a beginner and hoping to give your rose garden a good organic start, your soil might need a boost with some natural compost.  Work it into the soil where you intend to grow your roses, or add it on top of the soil, in place of mulch. Starting up a compost pile is easy, anyone can do it. Collect grass clippings, animal waste, kitchen scraps including fruit peels, fish heads, and toss it together, either in a container or in a pile and letting the natural decomposition take place. Stirred regularly to keep it consistent, compost is the most natural way to keep your roses healthy.  

After you have established a system of organic gardening, eliminate the man-made chemicals entirely. Natural pest control methods invented by nature work most effectively; don’t forget that the ladybugs and wasps in your rose garden are there eating the pests that would harm your plants. Frogs, snakes, and birds all stand guard for pest control without incorporating a single damaging chemical. When left to nature’s devices, the good insects, bacteria and fungi that your roses need can continue to do their share of keeping your plants healthy.

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About the Author:
Pat Sheriden is a Rose Gardening enthusiast. For more great information on Organic Rose Gardening, Visit Rose Gardening.
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With the increasing popularity of organically grown fruits and vegetables, there is now also increased interest in ways to grow it. There are advantages and disadvantages in having an organic garden. However if three factors are borne in mind and followed as an organic garden guide,you will find that an organic garden is easy to grow.

Whilst, there are no laid down rules, it helps considerably if some basic attention is paid to soil, plants and plant protection. These three factors are the one which play a major role in having a good garden. The requirements of each garden may vary slightly, but these are only minor, if the principles are followed.

The roles that soil plays in a garden are many. Apart from being a support for the plant, it becomes one of the primary sources for supply of nutrients. The soil for organic farming must be free from chemicals. If the area has previously been used with chemical pesticides or fertilizers, than it may takes years for it to get back to normal level. You have your soil tested for this. Virgin soil is ideally suited for organic farming. The soil can be made richer by using organic compost or fertilizer. This will allow plants to grow better and healthier.

Any plant can be grown in an organic garden. Ensuring the use of good seeds, will allow for healthier and better plants. After germination under suitable conditions, seedlings can be transplanted. Flowering plants can be grown organically, but generally fruits and vegetables are the better ones to grow organically. The intention being to produce items for your food table that are free of any chemicals.

Plant protection is a very important aspect of gardening. Steps to protect your plants against weeds, insects and harmful diseases can be done by using pesticides. Today organic pesticides, such as neem extracts are as effective as chemical ones. Such products are commercially available and should be used as organic garden guide for pesticide control. It should be possible to find a suitable one from the nearest garden shop.

Clint Sidney is a gardening enthusiast and recommends this excellent Organic Gardening Guide. You can learn more about gardening at GreatGardener.eHelpshome.com.
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