Posts Tagged companion planting

Q: How can I take care of my roses?

On June 20, 2013 / Ask An Expert, Natural Gardening / Leave a comment

A: When planting roses, select resistant varieties, plant them with adequate spacing and give them plenty of compost. Roses thrive with fish emulsion fertilizers. Roses need to be pruned appropriately. All the alliums – garlic, onions, chives and shallots are beneficial to roses, protecting them against black spot, mildew and aphids. Companion planting or inter-planting the allium family with roses is a natural way to control disease and insect problems as well as naturally causing the roses to produce a stronger perfume.

Companion Planting

On June 15, 2013 / Natural Gardening, Organic Landscaping / Leave a comment

Companion planting is vital for organic vegetable production. It is also a type of intercropping. Intercropping and companion planting is very beneficial for flower beds too. There are plants that assist each other to grow; plants that repel harmful insects to companion plants; plants that retard other plants growth; plants that delete the soil whilst others that add to the soil. You may have heard that “roses love garlic”. Allium is the Latin word for garlic. Vegetable alliums are chives, garlic, leek, onion, and shallots all of which are excellent protective companions for roses. The

Q How can I keep my annuals looking good without a dose of 20-20-20 synthetic fertilizer?

On June 14, 2013 / Ask An Expert, Lawn Care and Maintenance, Natural Gardening, Organic Landscaping / Leave a comment

A Try one of several available types of fish emulsion fertilizers and you can use a blood meal – bone meal mixture. When planting your annuals in late May make sure they are started off with fresh compost. To contribute to soil health diversify your annual garden by including colourful perennials. Follow companion planting guidelines to improve your annuals.

Q: Can insects be controlled by Companion Planting?

On March 27, 2013 / Ask An Expert, Natural Gardening / Leave a comment

A: Yes. Included is a partial listing of specific controls: Plant basil against flies and mosquitoes; borage against tomato worms; garlic against Japanese beetles, aphis, weevils, fruit tree borers, and spider mites; horseradish against potato bugs; lavender against clothes moths; marigolds against Mexican bean beetles, nematodes and many other insects; mint against white cabbage moths (use dried against clothes moths); nasturtium against aphids, squash bugs, striped pumpkin beetles, wooly aphids and white flies; pennyroyal against ants, mosquito, plant lice; petunias against beetles;

Ten Steps to Healthy Gardening for You and the Environment

On March 1, 2013 / Landscaping Tips, Natural Gardening, Organic Landscaping / Leave a comment

Step #1 Educate Yourself and Know your Property: Know what pests are prevalent in your area before choosing plant varieties. Think about your willingness to maintain your chosen plants as some varieties need more care than others. Know your soil type and pH. Know your garden’s water characteristics. Consider companion planting. Know your garden’s exposure to wind, sun, shade and affects of winter. Know your zone hardiness. Know what is a garden friend and what is a garden foe.