Organic Gardening
Basins, Swales and Sunken Gardens
Swales and basins are man-made depressions in the earth that slow the flow of storm water runoff so that it infiltrates the soil.. Swales are sometimes combined with curb cuts that allow water to run off of a roadway into depressions that are dug and planted along a sidewalk or […]
Slopes and Hillside Gardens
Many properties have fluctuations in terrain. Though we don’t often think of slopes as ideal areas to grow a vegetable garden, they can be very productive with proper plant placement. Water runs naturally from high to low areas via gravity, collecting at the lowest point. Therefore, when gardening on a […]
Water Gardens
A rain garden can be a beautiful and useful addition to your landscape to soak up excess water. Similar to a swale, rain gardens are shallow depressions in which water can collect during a storm and slowly percolate into the soil. Placed near a runoff source, rain gardens are an […]
Sheet Mulching (aka Lasagna Gardening)
Sheet mulching is a great way to build soil and compost in place, eliminating the need to move finished compost from the pile to the garden. Also known as Lasagna Gardening, building a sheet mulch garden is a process of layering brown and green organic materials directly in a garden […]
Safe Wood Sealers for Raised Bed Gardens
Grow Safe, Naturally and Economically From cities and suburbs to rural environs, people are discovering the joys of vegetable gardening, and the health benefits of controlling the chemicals that come in contact with their food. Many of these gardeners are opting to grow plants in raised beds or containers in […]
Growing Native Plant Varieties
When selecting plants for your garden, explore varieties that are native or adapted to your area. These plants have many benefits, one of which is the ability to survive only on natural rainfall, requiring little or no irrigation. The Micro Farm Project is located in central Arizona, one of the […]
Mulch
Mulch is a layer of organic matter that is spread on top of garden soil like a blanket. Compost, wood chips, bark, pine needles, dry leaves, newspaper, hay and straw are common mulch materials. The wood chip mulch pictured here was acquired for free from a local tree service. Arborists […]
Improving Soils with Organic Matter
When soil is sandy and dry or wet and sticky, the problems are opposite, but the solution may be the same. Adding organic matter to soils is helpful to relieve many kinds of soil and water problems. Below are several articles that are helpful in learning how to improve soils […]
Landscape & Garden Watering Guide
How to Water Your Garden Two questions that novice gardeners often ask are how long and how often to water landscapes, lawns and garden plants. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to these questions. Soil texture, air temperatures, plant size and type, and many other factors play a part in determining proper […]
Soil Texture and Drainage
Good soil drainage is vital to growing a healthy garden. You may be surprised to learn that once water infiltrates soil, not only does it travel through the soil vertically, drawn downwards by gravity, but percolates horizontally, much like the way the water moves through a sponge. How quickly the […]
