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Healthy Plants Don't Get Nits! (Organic Gardening: Part One)

© Barbara M. Martin

I consider myself to be a gentle gardener, rather than a strictly organic gardener. When I encounter a problem in my garden at home, I try to solve it by using the gentlest solution possible. By gentle, I suppose I mean the least intrusive method to achieve the desired result. Often, I simply tolerate the problem long enough for it to go away all by itself. A certain amount of laissez-faire can be a good thing!

I am a pragmatic soul at heart, and since I don't like to pound my head against the wall any more than the next person, I occasionally employ a chemical based solution to solve a garden problem. Not often, but sometimes. I use a little fertilizer each spring (low fertility problem solved!) and right there I'd be in trouble with the strictly "organic" people. But on the continuum between rabid organic gardener and indiscriminate "nozzle-head" gardener, I'm pretty close to the organic end of things. To make a long story short, I think the marketplace offers some good products, but people very often misuse them.

Over the years, thoughtful and concerned students and clients have asked me if they should be sure to use an "organic" chemical as opposed to a "bad " chemical. Frankly, I don't believe there is much difference. Toxic is toxic. A chemical intended to kill something is toxic, regardless of the source. Taking it to the next step, I don't think the plants can tell the difference between slow release nitrogen from the fertilizer company and nitrogen from a more "organic" source. Last time I checked, "N" still stood for nitrogen, pure and simple.

But the heartfelt cause and concern for the question are genuine and real, and I think we all need to stand back and examine our personal tolerance levels. By that I mean our expectations for pristine perfection in the garden, our tolerance for a few chewed leaves and some tattered flowers. At what price do we haul out "the stuff" to do away with whatever ails the plants?

So often a plant is attacked by insects or disease because it is weakened by poor growing conditions or otherwise unsuited to the role in which it is cast. In this type of situation, you may well win the battle today, but you will never win the war! Mother Nature is a serious opponent and a staunch ally. Take your pick!

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