Ecological Gardening

You don't have to immediately commit to strict permaculture rules or become a full-blown eco-fanatic to make a difference in your garden! With a little knowledge about beneficial insects and pests, for example, you'll no longer feel the need to eliminate every creature that appears on your plants.

And if you focus on preparing your soil well from the start and ensuring biodiversity in your garden, your plants will naturally become robust and healthy. This doesn't always mean reaching for the spade; digging isn't always the best way to prepare a bed. Often, simply loosening the soil with a broadfork (Sauzahn) is enough.

If you incorporate humus or compost when planting, your new plants can absorb nutrients vigorously from day one and thrive exceptionally well. By then covering the soil with organic mulch, such as short grass clippings, you not only save on watering but also reduce erosion and activate soil life.

Collecting rainwater—a basic step for ecological gardening—also allows you to make plant liquid manures. Nettle manure has proven particularly effective, as it not only fertilizes your plants but can also protect them from various diseases.

If you want to garden ecologically, you should rethink your ideas of what's "good" and "bad." Fortunately, changing trends already help us do this from time to time. For instance, twenty years ago, common rocket was despised as a weed—and today, as arugula, it's a popular topping for pizza and pasta.

However, you shouldn't just let weeds grow for their culinary appeal. Flowering wild herbs also attract beneficial insects to your garden. Not only do these insects pollinate blossoms, leading to more seeds and fruits, but many of them, like ladybugs, lacewings, and snails, diligently consume pests. This means you won't have to resort to harmful chemicals to protect your plants.