Photo: Rachael & Zane Ross / Flickr

Healthy plants require healthy soil and if your plants are strong and healthy, they will be faced with fewer pest and disease problems. If your soil is indeed healthy and your plants are damaged or sick, the first thing to do is find out what caused the problem. From there you can investigate how to deal with the problem in a natural way. Read on for some natural gardening tips that address the soil, planting, watering and the elements.

Some basic gardening rules

Healthy soil is rich in organic matter and soil life. To grow healthy plants that are better able to resist attack, compost and mulch more. Plant according to the season and don’t overcrowd the plants. Sow thinly and then thin the seedlings out from there. If you’re growing vegetables, rotate your crops.

Plant a large variety of plants and find out what their likes and dislikes are. By providing a variety of habitats, you can encourage predators who will naturally control pests. Don’t use poisonous sprays or artificial fertilisers.

Diseased plants should not be put on the compost heap. Rather burn them and use the ashes as fertiliser.

Prevention is better than cure

If major nutrients like phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen are absent from the soil, your plants are bound to show signs of ill-health and are more likely to be attacked by diseases and pests. The same goes for trace elements and other nutrients like copper, zinc, boron, iron and magnesium. Signs of a lack of nitrogen, for example, are stunted growth and small pale green leaves on a plant.

Considering the elements

If your soil is healthy and your plants aren’t, there may be other reasons for their demise. If the leaves are browning, wilting and falling off the plant, this may be evidence of drought or the plant receiving too little water. Yellowing and wilting leaves, on the other hand may be due to too much water or over-watering.

If your plants are looking tall and spindly, this may be because they’re in too much shade. Excessive wind may lead to the shredding of delicate leaves.

Tags: gardening, organic fertiliser