A simple way to help the planet

Here are some "Old Gardeners' Tales" and advice that can help us to have beautiful and productive gardens without toxic chemicals!

Know your plants and accommodate their needs.

Don't put shade-loving plants in full sun, and vice versa.

- Hot, dry, sandy, sunny areas: marigolds (self-seeding, too!) daisies, black-eyed susans, calendula, raspberries, grapes, daylilies, iris, geraniums, butterfly bush
- Full sun to semi shade, moderate moisture - purple coneflowers, some varieties of mums
- Moist, shady areas - lilies of the valley, impatiens, azaleas, rhododendrons
- Semi-shade, moderate moisture - dogwood and above plants listed for moist areas

Don't over-water

- Over watering or watering foliage of some plants causes fungus and attracts pests (roses, many vegetables)
- Most plants don't like "wet feet." If you have a continuously moist area, ask an expert or search the web for the appropriate plantings
- Use drip and root irrigation instead of oscillating sprinklers

Protect roots and conserve water

- Mulch properly
- Layering too much mulch around trees causes disease and attract pests
- Be careful of your source of mulch - mulch that is produced from brush frequently contains the roots or sprouts of invasive species like honeysuckle, wild rose, and even poison ivy!!

Don't over fertilize

- Even natural compost can be too much of a good thing. Runoff from excessive composting and manure is polluting our waterways. If you live near a waterway or wetland, educate yourself about pollution regulations and best practices

Attract songbirds, butterflies, and beneficial insects with plants

- Butterfly bushes have that name for a reason
- Hummingbirds love a hanging basket of impatiens
- Sunflowers attract goldfinches
- Praying mantises (the correct name is actually MANTIDS) lay their eggs on old stalks of mums, daylilies, and other upright plants. Watch for egg cases when cleaning up last season's stalks and do not disturb them. They will last throughout the winter and the nymphs will emerge in the spring. Although mantids will eat any insects, including beneficials, they are pest-devouring machines and should be welcome in a garden!

Plants have eccentricities, too

- Once again, know your plants. Pesticide manufacturers would rather that you bought their products, when there are some very easy things you can do to prevent pests and fungus. For example, after germination and formation of blossoms, cantaloupe likes its foliage to stay dry. Place black plastic around the plants, leaving only an opening for rainwater to get to the roots. This also helps deter pests like cutworms and beetles.

Know your enemies

- Study up on pests and low-tech, nonchemical management. For example, there is an effective nonchemical preventive for the cutworms that can devastate a garden in one night. Till the soil several weeks before you intend to plant tender vegetables like beans and tomatoes. Leave the soil alone, then till again just before planting. No cutworms!

- GYPSY MOTH Caterpillars (larvae) - ACT BEFORE the hatched caterpillars grow and begin eating the leaves of trees. In New Jersey, gypsy moths lay their eggs from June to August. The egg clusters overwinter and caterpillars emerge mid-to late April. Egg masses that are within reach can be destroyed without toxic chemicals. In the fall, winter, or early spring, check your property, particularly shaded areas-tree trunks, sides of buildings, even large stones. If you see buff-colored splotches, they are probably gypsy moth egg masses. By mid- to late-April you will see tiny black caterpillars moving. Look closely, as they are extremely small at this time. At this stage, they can be destroyed by spraying with rubbing alcohol, or even washing flat surfaces with soap and water. If tents are already in your trees, they can be opened and sprayed with alcohol. It may be distasteful, but the caterpillars will not hurt you and you can avoid using toxic products.

- ANTS - Instead of spraying, pour hot water in the cracks of patios or sidewalks where ants may have built their hills.

Weeds and unwanted grass growing through sidewalks and patios? Invasives harassing you? Spot treat with white vinegar. Safer and cheaper than chemical herbicides. Even a solution diluted with water to half strength can be effective. But BEWARE-treat only the areas you want to be vegetation-free, and if using a spray bottle, use it on a calm day so as to prevent drift. Although not poisonous, vinegar is a defoliant and will kill desirable plants and grass. Vinegar is acidic, so it lowers the ph of soil.

Click below to see beautiful natural NJ areas which are pesticide-free!