Choosing Greener Garden Supplies

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Choosing Greener Garden Supplies

Staff Writer · Apr 16, 2010

Garden supplies can be highly toxic, dangerous for not only children and pets but also the local water supply. Poisons are washed away into the soil and deep into sitting water tablets that in turn can end up being found in humans. Concerns like these are causing people to re-think their choice of supplies and head toward a more environmentally sound way of gardening.

Peppers, Horseradish and Garlic The strong properties of hot peppers, horseradish or garlic has been used for centuries as an insect and animal deterrent. Regular garlic, cayenne or jalapenos are excellent for preparing a homemade concoction. Simply take a handful and throw them in a blender. Add water and blend into a liquid. Pour into a spray bottle and apply to your garden. The only danger to children is if they immerse their hands into just sprayed plants and then rub their eyes. Otherwise, after the garden is sprayed it will not take long for the liquid to absorb rendering it safe. In addition, your garden will not hold the residue nor compromise the taste of any picked vegetables or fruit. Boiling fresh horseradish mixed with cayenne and geranium leaves will help with aphids, beetles and white flies.

Best Indoor Pesticide: Liquid Dish Soap Mixing one cup of dish soap (Murphy’s Oil Soap works best) to one gallon of water and spraying on indoor plants will reduce mites. Do not over spray. Can also be used outside.

Compost There is no need for fertilizer when compost is used. A compost is usually setup in the far corner of a yard and in apartments, a portable compost can be purchased that will hold any potential foul smells. Compost is the use of food and yard scrap such as leaves, coffee grinds, eggshells and chicken bones that over time will disintegrate into a mineral and vitamin rich soil additive.

Green Garden Tools Many gardening tools, sheds, fencing and lumber are made from unsustainable materials such as chemical laden plastics and wood. If possible look for labels such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Smartwood when purchasing such items to reduce your environmental footprint.

Eco-Friendly Gardening Products A company called TerraCycle offers a wide variety of organic, Eco-friendly supplies including a fertilizer made from liquefied worm poop, individually painted planting pots made from recycled crushed computers and fax machines and packaging in used soda bottles.

Ladybugs More and more gardening centers are offering ladybugs for purchase. Ladybugs eat harmful insects keeping your garden safe from pests. You can also purchase a ladybug attractant from the Extremely Green Gardening Company. These lures will attract and keep ladybugs in your garden as well as other pro-garden insects such as lace wings.

Epsom Salts and Egg Shells Similar to humans, plants need magnesium and calcium. Epsom salts are an excellent source of magnesium helping plants grow without the use of non-organic fertilizers. Egg shells (mentioned above as a compost additive) can also be directly added to garden soil for extra calcium. Be sure, however, to take a sample of your soil to a gardening center to test its properties. You do not want to over add nutrients that can end up damaging plants. Home soil testing kits are also available.

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