When you’re trying to encourage the growth of green grass and beautiful plants, it doesn’t really make sense to use toxic chemical insecticides, pesticides, or fertilizers to do it. If you don’t want to use manufactured gardening products, you don’t have to. There are lots of great natural alternatives that can be just as effective and a whole lot eco-friendlier.
Aerating and De-thatching
These two techniques will help you cultivate a lush, green lawn without using chemical grass fertilizers. An aerator is a machine that you can rent from a hardware store. You can also purchase one yourself. They’re expensive, so consider splitting the cost and sharing with your neighbors. The aerator makes small holes throughout your lawn, making it easier for air and water to reach the roots of your grass.
You can purchase a special rake that’s used for de-thatching at a hardware store, too. This rake is used for removing tough spots of woody grass, which can build up on your lawn and block air and water from reaching the roots of the grass. Aerating and de-thatching will work wonderfully to help your grass grow and thrive.
Biocontrol
This approach to gardening is a natural way to control pests and weeds. Biocontrol essentially means controlling the biodiversity of your garden in order to naturally rid it of weeds and pesky bugs or critters. There are a few different approaches to biocontrol. One approach is selecting plants for your garden that will attract insects and animals that eat weeds and pests. You can also take care to avoid plants that are attractive to bugs and animals that will destroy your garden. Another approach is to purchase “good” insects that eat the “bad” ones, like ladybugs, and let them loose in your garden.
Garlic Pest Repellent
You can use garlic to create a natural repellent that’s easy and effective. In your blender, puree one bulb of garlic with two cups of water. Let the mixture stand for one fully day, and strain it to remove any remaining garlic pulp. Dilute this concentrated mixture with one gallon of water, and place it into a spray bottle. Thoroughly spray your garden at least once a week, and spray again if it rains. The garlic acts as a repellent to a wide variety of pests.
Neem Fertilizer
Neem is a tropical tree, and its leaves can serve a few different purposes in your garden. You can purchase neem leaves online, and you may also be able to purchase them from health stores or Indian markets. Boil a handful of
neem leaves in a pot of water. When cool, pour the water into a spray bottle. Once per week, spray your garden. The neem leaves act as a fertilizer, helping to nourish your soil. In addition, this spray can also act as a pest repellent and insecticide.
Boiling Water
When it comes to natural gardening, this is about as natural as it can get. By pouring boiling water over them, you can kill the pesky insects that are inhabiting your garden. It’s particularly good for eradicating your garden of ant hills. Boiling water can also stop weeds from growing. When weeding your garden, try to remove as much of the weeds’ roots as possible, and then pour boiling water over the places where the weeds were growing to kill any leftover roots or seeds.
These are just some of the natural techniques you can use to care for your garden. If you do feel the need to use store-bought chemicals, look natural and non-toxic brands. Many of those natural products are quite eco-friendly and great alternatives to their toxic counterparts.
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