Encourage nature to work for you in the garden.
/A subject close to my heart is simple and natural garden techniques, to build a deliciously healthy soil and plant environment around your home. This interview on RNZ with organic gardener Kath Irvine, is wonderful if you have a few minutes to listen in.
A number of years ago I relocated to a new house with an amazing collection of already established flowers, trees and shrubs. However I was quite surprised at the lack of bees, birds and butterflies in the garden. I set about a plan to not use chemicals in my new garden and over the course of 2 years this suburban section became a hive of activity. Bumble bees, honeybees, hoverflies, lacewings, ladybugs and butterflies. Along with these came birds - waxeyes, sparrows, tui, bellbirds. It was difficult in the beginning, especially when my lovely roses were covered in aphids! But this only lasted a couple of weeks then suddenly there were hardly any pests, as nature kicked-in and brought back the right balance of friendly vs foe.
Using a permaculture technique of leaving as much organic matter on the soil as possible, adding worm friendly mulches such as oat husk or pea-straw, and also banning the chemical fertilizers, created a wonderful deep loamy soil. Areas that used to dry out quickly in summer where plants wilted and became diseased, were transformed into self managing, with the improved soil.
It is easier than you might imagine, to encourage nature to do the work you in your garden.
Images from Leaf Landscape Design and www.gardeningknowhow.com
