Organic gardening and flower selection
Everyone loves the splash of color flowers provide, but the new organic gardener often has questions about the type of flowers that are best for a chemical-free environment. The best approach is to concentrate on those flowers that grow best in your particular climate. For instance, it would be a mistake to try to grow tropical flowers in very cold climates, just as it would be a mistake to grow varieties of flowers adapted for cold weather in very hot and sunny climates. Using native species and flowers adapted to your particular ecosystem will go a long way toward eliminating the need for pesticides and other chemicals.
Of course this does not mean that the garden will be dull colored or boring. There are bright, vibrant flowers in every color of the rainbow suitable for just about any environment. The key is to shop around, educate yourself about the ecology of your area, and ask lots of questions of experienced organic gardeners.
Finding suitable plants, and choosing only the healthiest and most robust specimens, is essential to the success of an organic garden. A healthy plant will be able to fight off diseases and pests on its own, without the need for pesticides or other chemicals. Pay careful attention when choosing plants, and reject any which show signs of disease such as white spots, black spots, holes, or wounds on the stems or leaves.
A good quality compost is a must when planting flowers, particularly when planting them in a new flower bed. The best compost is made from items that were once alive, things like leaves, grass clippings and kitchen waste. Not only is composting good for the environment, but it is a great source of the very best garden soil. When working the compost mixture into the soil, there is no need to go too deep. Most plants will only root to a depth of six inches, so it is only necessary to work the compost into the first six to eight inches of soil in the flower bed.
When planting seedlings from plastic containers, the plant should be carefully removed from the container. Any roots which have grown solidly outside the container can be carefully torn away. Be sure that the soil has been adequately prepared with sufficient organic matter. Organic material in the soil not only provides a source of nutrition to the tender roots of the seedlings, but it also encourages the presence of beneficial organisms like earthworms. Earthworms are the gardeners friend; they till the soil far more efficiently than any human can. In addition, they provide natural fertilizer to encourage the robust growth of the plant and the production of beautiful flowers.
More information you can find at: Flowers