Page 37 - Organic Gardening 3 Part Series
P. 37
MAINTENANCE
Once your garden is planted, you'll need to take steps to ensure that it's
maintained so that all your hard work and planning doesn't go to waste. Regular
maintenance such as mulching, watering, and weeding - keeps your produce
growing and helps keep pest and disease problems from getting out of hand.
Irrigation
Proper irrigation ensures that your plants receive the right amount of water - not
too much and not too little. Inadequate water will cause plants to wilt, stunt their
growth, and ultimately kill them.
Conversely, too much water can weaken a plant, making it more susceptible to
pests, can cause mold and fungi to proliferate, and cause root rot. The end result
is the same, your beautiful garden is ruined.
Make sure to water before your plants start to wilt. Most garden plants need
about an inch of water per week, while the demand increases in hot climates to
two inches per week. In
cooler and wet climates, you
may not need to water at all,
at least not until the water
starts to evaporate.
A rain gauge will become
your best friend - pick one up
at your hardware or home
improvement store, and
check it after every rainfall to
see if you need to
supplement with additional
water.
