Creating Organic Landscapes

Introduction

In these new sections, gardening information is organized and arranged differently with the perspective of creating organic landscapes in harmony with nature. Hopefully, I'll explain the principles and techniques involved sufficiently for you to be able to use them as guides throughout your gardening life. The practices involved are divided into three areas: practices with involvement both above and below ground, below ground practices and what a gardener should do above ground to promote a garden working with nature. Please remember, to be successful you need not do everything all at once, or everything at all. When you accomplish any positive improvement in your landscape, you are on the road to success and your landscape will reflect the change. The degree of success is up to you.

Practice No. 3 Improving the Soil

Unless your soil analysis indicates soil in good tilth with adequate organic content for your landscape purpose, amending the soil is in your future. Amending with both organic and inorganic amendments, here in the Texas Panhandle, is usually the best method to improve the soil. Adjustments to soil can be made bed to bed according to your plan, whether they are high, medium or low water-use areas.

Practice No. 7 Micro-niche Gardening

The first of the above ground practices addresses your basic landscape design. Determining the best location for various beds and plants depends on the micro-niches in your landscape. Sun and shady areas, windy and protected, warmer or cooler, drier areas or spots where water accumulates, in addition to variations in soil should determine plant and bed placement. Maximize the concept of right plant, right location.

References

Here are a few gardening references helpful in understanding organic practices that create gardens in harmony with nature used in this section, Creating Organic Landscapes.

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