Garden Improving on nature

Natural methods of sustaining plant growth were never intended to support the kinds of demands we make on our gardens. The technique itself is perfect, but, to produce a good crop, we have to intensify it. The main ways of doing this are quite simple: feeding the soil and improving its texture; protecting seeds during germination; making sure that the plants have adequate water; and being vigilant in controlling pests and diseases.

LOOKING AFTER THE SOIL

In nature, for example, soil fertility is maintained by recycling organic matter. Gardeners, on the other hand, remove much of the organic material from the productive garden in the form of fruit and vegetables, and from the ornamental garden by weeding, pruning, mowing, and cutting flowers. This organic matter has to be replaced through the compost heap, animal manure, and green-manure crops. Even then, our intensive methods may need further inputs of concentrated animal and plant residues. In nature, soil texture, aeration, and drainage is maintained by the action of burrowing animals such as worms and insects. Gardeners can improve on this by digging regularly.

SEEDING AND WATERING

In nature, many of the seeds produced never germinate due to adverse conditions or predation, while in the garden, this no longer has to be haphazard. We can ensure that seeds and mature plants are protected and that the right amount of water is supplied in dry weather.

CONTROLLING PESTS AND DISEASES

We can improve on natural methods of pest and disease control too. We can deliberately fill our gardens with a wide diversity of plants that we know will attract and encourage the predators of the pests that threaten our cultivated plants.

THE FINAL CROP

Our plant breeders have produced varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases and that will give us bigger crops and more beautiful flowers, while thousands of years of growing experience have enabled us to come up with techniques that will outcrop nature many times over. But, if we are to continue our success, we must stick to the rules. We may be able to manipulate nature in the short term by using chemical methods but it is folly to think that we can ever assume complete control