Whether you’re planting tomatoes or trying to liven up your flowers, there seems to be a chemical or “special” soil that adds a little more green to your thumb. Between commercials featuring unrealistically green plants and blog posts online claiming that any chemical you put in your garden could kill you, it’s getting a little difficult to “weed out” the truth. So, here are a few of the most common misconceptions about garden chemicals with the facts.
Misconceptions about Garden Chemicals
Mulch your garden to avoid chemicals: This is a mostly true, but not entirely accurate option. Mulch can reduce or eliminate the need for weed killers. But, only if you choose the right one. For example, rubber mulch is a not-so-hot option if you want to keep your plants alive. Plus, it contains zinc and it’s going to smell like mad when it gets too hot. Instead opt for natural wood mulch. It helps keeps weeds at bay and as it decomposes it releases nutrients into the soil.
An organic fertilizer isn’t a chemical: Um. Yes, yes it is. The difference between an organic fertilizer and a synthetic fertilizer (most name brands) is what they’re made of. Organic pesticides are made from earth-based products, while synthetic chemicals are created in a lab. Organic pesticides may be a more earth-friendly option, but you should still keep them out of the reach of children and use them with discretion.
Herbicides and Pesticides are safe: While these chemicals can keep your grass greener and your plants pest free, they are also dangerous to pets and children. If you plan to have children playing in your yard, you’ll want to choose an organic alternative or skip the pesticide completely. The chemicals can cause rashes or sickness. Pets can also get sick from ingesting or rolling around in the chemicals. Even worse, than rashes and sore tummies: These chemicals can leak into the ground water. This can cause major problems for the local ecosystem.
Vinegar: Vinegar is safe. You could drink it and be fine (though I really don’t recommend it), but it may not be so safe for your plants. Using vinegar as part of an organic weed killer can cause problems because you can’t control what plants it’s going to take out. You could kill your plants just as easily as the weeds, so use it with caution.
Salt: Like vinegar, salt can cause havoc in your garden. Worse than vinegar is that it’ll stick around a while and it can make your soil unusable. So, skip or limit salt in homemade recipes.
Creating your own weed killer or pesticide can save money and provide a healthier alternative for keeping your plants healthy, just remember to do a little research before you put anything in your garden.
Sources:
http://www.gardenmyths.com/
http://eartheasy.com/blog/2012/03/8-common-household-chemicals-harming-your-pets-their-non-toxic-alt…
http://www.garden-counselor-lawn-care.com/home-made-weed-killer.html
Image: iStockPhoto
