03.22 WB pages 01-03.indd - The Rappahannock Record

Hassle-Free Organic Gardeningby Theresa MartzIf you’re like me and onlyhave a limited amountof time to spend gardeningyou’ll want to make the mosteffective use of that time.When you garden organicallynature can do most of thework for you. By cooperatingwith her you’ll be amazed atthe time you can save in thegarden.Organic gardening isgrowing things without usingsynthetic pesticides and fertilizers.It’s a way of gardeningthat replaces what it uses.It’s a simple concept basedon building healthy, livingsoil through the addition oforganic material. Good soilis the basis of any successfulfood production and withoutit— crops struggle and sodoes the gardener. To have ahassle-free garden, you haveto build healthy soil.Good newsYou don’t have to wadethrough volumes of gardeningbooks. No need to subjectyourself and your foodto harmful poisons to preventinsects and disease. And youdon’t need 10-10-10 andlime.No need to put in long gruelinghours in the hot sun inthe middle of the summer. Wehave an acre with borders allaround and lots of perennials.Plus our vegetable garden isabout 40 x 60 . Even withall that, the only thing I do inthe heat of summer is harvestfor about 45 minutes to anhour—very early and verylate. Most of my yearly maintenancelike pruning shrubs,cutting ornamental grasses,and adding straw to the bordersand garden is done in thefall and winter months.Better newsYou don’t have to watereither, unless you reallywant to. Even in drought—agarden that works with naturewill be able to sustain itselfmuch longer than a conven-tional garden.Weeds—when there aresome—are easy to get out.Five minutes or less eachtime out takes care of pullingthe few weeds that spring upin my garden.No prepping the gardeneach year. All your preparationis done once when youstart gardening. After thatyou just pull back the mulchand plant.My way of gardening isprobably as close as you’llcome to gardening withoutwork, but to be successful inany endeavor without effortNow AcceptingContracts for:Opening/Closing/MaintenanceSpring Sale: April 16-21Sales Installation Repairs Chemicals SafetyCovers Authorized Dealer forCall to schedule installationLazy Days Pools & Spas (804) 435-2136 34 • windows on the Bay • (or action) is like trying toharvest where you haven’tplanted.Basics to successWhether you have clay soilor sandy soil, there are onlythree basic things you have todo to be successful: erly.(You only do this once.) material (leaves, straw, grassclippings,etc.) to your soil whichturns to organic matter. Getting startedIf you’re new to gardening,plan your bed or border smallenough that you’ll be ableto manage it without goinginto overwhelm. If you takeon more than you can chewthe tendency will be to giveup and you’ll have nothing toshow. If you take it little bylittle – or as much as yourtime will allow (even if it’sonly 10 to 30 minutes at atime) you’ll be encouragedto continue and consistencywill reward you.Your greatest effort in gardeningshould be in the preparationof your soil: gettingthe sod up, taking the rootsand weeds out, loosening thesoil to a depth of 1 to 2 feet,and adding organic material.By not short-cutting thisstep you’ll have something toshow for your efforts. Timespent in soil preparation isone of the main ways to cutwork to a minimum in thefuture.Protect your investment bymulching.Mulching will keep yourground from crusting, compactingand eroding.It’ll alsohelp add a continual supplyof organic matter, not tomention almost doing awaywith weeds.It’ll also keep the roots ofyour plants cooler in the boilingheat of summer whichwill allow them to producemore.If you’ve wanted to start anorganic garden but have hesi-tated because you thought itwould take too much time:start small, prepare your soilproperly, continually addorganic material, and mulch.You’ll find that you’ll havemore to show for your effortswith each passing year. And— it’ll make your organicMURPHY SEED SERVICE, INC.Independent Southern States DealerCOMPLETE LAWN & GARDEN CENTERIncluding Vegetable Seeds,Potatoes, Onions & Peas.Grass Seed, Landscaping Pavers,Potting Soil, Flower Potsand much moreRt. 202, Mt. Holly, VA • 804-472-2755gardening hassle free.Theresa and her husband,Bill Martz, havebeen organic gardening inthe Northern Neck for 34years. Read more of her “nohassle/great rewards-way”at http://tendingmygarden.com.