The document discusses healthy organic gardening practices. It emphasizes that healthy soil grows healthy plants, and outlines various techniques to maintain soil health such as using compost and mulch, and keeping the soil covered and well-drained. It also stresses the importance of beneficial insects in the garden and provides resources for attracting beneficials and controlling pests without chemicals. Overall, the document promotes natural gardening techniques focused on soil health, plant selection, and beneficial insect activity to grow plants sustainably.

1. KCB Environmental Education Series
December 7, 2013
Amanda Vanhoozier

5.  Healthy
soil grows healthy plants.
 Healthy plants are healthier. Less stressLess problems. Less pests.
 A gardeners shadow is the best deterrent.
Observation and action.
 Good organic gardening practices prevent
problems.
 Plant selection for local environment.
 Don’t be scared of bugs, most are
beneficial.

6.  Grocery
Store “perfection”
 Accept that your plants may have
pest/blemishes
 Get use to eating from garden
 Get over fear of bugs
 Understand the bigger picture. Aphids and
ants relationships
 Never take it personal

7.  Healthy
Soil
 Healthy Gardens
 Planting
 Watering
 Planting
 Beneficial Insects and Pollinators
 Let’s Get Physical
 Solutions
 Specific Insects

8.  Compost
and organic mulches.
 High microbial activity- increase with good
compost and soil amendments.
 Keep soil covered with mulch.
 Soil should have air, don’t walk in beds.
 Clear away debris.
 Make sure soil can be well drained.
 Soil testing by
http://www.texasplantandsoillab.com/

10.  Garden
is part of an ecosystem
 Good housekeeping- remove debris,
weed, and stagnant water
 Prevention vs Problems
 Compost Tea for health and protection
 Protect yourself
 Be a friend to Pollinators

11.  Plants
selection- more resistant varieties
 Timing within growing season
 Organically grown and hardened off
 Diversity of plants for a healthy ecosystem
and grow for beneficial insects
 Proper airflow around plants
 Companion and trap plants
 http://www.texasheirloomseeds.com/#Recc
omended

12.  Consistent
and sufficient watering
 Mulch soil to minimize evaporation
 Drip or soaker vs sprinkling
 Well drained beds
 Rain vs city water
 Foliar spray – compost tea, molasses, and
seaweed extract/fish emolusion

13.  Most
living organisms are
beneficial to soil and plant
health
 Balance in nature
 Plant to attract beneficials
 Beneficial insects: parasites
(Trichogamma wasps) and
predators (ladybugs, green
lacewings, nematodes)
 Birds, bats, lizards, snakes,
earthworms

15.  Microscopic
Organisms
 Parasitic to soil larval and /or pupal
 Application – water, dissolve, apply, water
 When? Early Dawn or Dusk
 Spring, Summer, Fall
 45-105 degrees
 http://www.arbicoorganics.com/product/beneficial-nematodechart/1366

16.  http://www.arbico-
organics.com/category/beneficial-insectsorganisms/48

17.  Encourage
beneficial bugs to do the work
 Hand pick pests and drop in soapy water
 Remove eggs
 Blast off with water
 Remove plants past season- pest are
indicators
 Row cover and traps (yellow sticky)
 Plant collars (top of cup)
 Soil solarization

18.  Blast
of Water
 Least toxic – garlic and soapy water
 Add pepper to make stronger
 Bt – Bacillus thuringiensis spray or powder
for caterpillars
 Diatomaceous Earth (food grade)
 Citrus Oil
 Neem

19.  http://www.arbico-
organics.com/category/problem-solverguide/17
 http://www.dirtdoctor.com/organic/garden/f
aq/

20.  Healthy
and active soil deters fire ants
 Farm aphids for the nectar – okra
 Clean up- attracted to sweet
 Beneficial nematodes
 Organic drench: compost tea, hort.
molasses, seaweed extract, orange oil
 Boiling water – quick but kills everything
 Bait – controls reproduction

21.  Use
to increase microbial activity in soil to
prevent fire ants and increase plant health!
 Coppell Community Garden - resources
 http://coppellcommunitygarden.org/files/Ag
itated%20Compost%20Tea.pdf

22.  Leaves
are a resource not a waste!
 Mulching mower
 Use as mulch under shrubs
 Use in compost piles
 Yard Trimmings Recycling

23. Amanda Vanhoozier
avan.ole@verizon.net