Organic garden design will get you back to nature

Been thinking of switching to organic gardening? Here are some handy tips to get your garden in shape, the healthy way. Organic garden design is all about encouraging the natural interaction between elements in the garden.

Organic gardening eschews the use of chemicals in favour of natural techniques to grow a healthy garden. That means no chemical fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides or water-retention substances. Designed to act in tune with the wider environment, an organic garden is a mini ecosystem that operates on natural principles.

What makes for good organic garden design

A successful design for an organic garden begins with the soil. Healthy soil is full of all sorts of living organisms, including bacteria and other microbes, along with worms, beetles and bugs. Each of these organisms contributes to the health of the soil in its own way and improves the immune systems of your plants, making them more resistant to pests and disease.

To encourage these organisms in your garden, add as much organic matter to the soil as possible. Digging compost, mulch, leaves and other organic material through the soil has a number of direct benefits, including naturally aerating the earth, improving its capacity to retain water and encouraging the living organisms to multiply.

Are there organic fertilisers?

In an organic garden, some plants can be grown specifically to function as an organic fertiliser. Called 'green manure crops', these plants act as organic fertilizers and consist of vegetable plants like peas or beans, which are perfect for encouraging healthy soil. Wait until the flowers on the plants are budding, then pull them out and dig them back into the soil. As they break down, they will add valuable nitrogen to your organic garden.

But how do you battle weeds without the use of chemicals? They can be suppressed by protecting your soil with biodegradable weed mats or by laying down some mulch. And, of course, you can always get down on your hands and knees and tackle weeds the old-fashioned way - by pulling them out at the root.

How can I control pests in my organic garden?

As for invading pests, the aim of organic gardening is to grow pest-resistant plants, but there will always be some pests that become a problem. There are a number of home-made pest-control measures that can be used, and some off-the-shelf organic products that are low toxicity and that can be used in organic gardening.

Changing over to organic gardening techniques can be a rewarding experience, with benefits for the environment and the health of your outdoor spaces. To learn more, talk to an organic gardening consultant: