A healthy garden is one where the plants we grow in it will not only thrive, but will be nutricious and safe for us to eat.   Safe, because we know that many plants are not safe.  They're poisonous.   Some are deadly!   Whilst others can subtly, very gradually, undermine our health without our being aware of it. 

On top of this, we have those methods of gardening so important to us; ways of doing things - good or bad.   Will these methods help us retain optimum health?   Or will they, too, bring about our slow undoing?

By now it has become abundantly clear that the prolonged use of chemicals in gardening is not wise.   Certain pesticides build up in our body.  The long-lasting effect of DDT in our ecosystem is a case in point.  Even fish caught in Antarctic waters have been known to show traces of it.   Fortunately, we know that there are alternatives. There are natural, wholesome methods.  Should we choose to use them, we not only retain the health of our soils, we  keep help keep our physicla heath.    (And maybe our mental health as well)

In good soil, bacteria, worms, various beetles and bugs, should thrive. The animals that feed on the grasses of that soil, and the birds that eat the insects from that soil, should thrive also. For this is Nature’s way. Moreover, there is a natural balance, a harmony, and a longevity that sustains all, when we stick by Nature’s way.

But a little bit on poisonous plants.  Many well-known garden plants are poisonous. These can include everything from beautiful blooms to noxious weeds. Poison can be contained in sap, bark, leaves, seed, berries, or fruit.  Moreover, such plants can be native species, or imported. Many are known to us.  Others are not.  Most adults, of course, generally have sense enough not to take the risk of nibbling on- let alone swallowing-  things from the garden they don’t know are safe.  Unfortunately, children, especially tiny tots, do not. So we’ll list some of those dangerous plants here.

Some poisonous plants - Laburnum, Lupins, Yew, Daphne, Oleander.

Common poisonous wild plants - Lords and Ladies, Deadly nightshade, Black Nightshade, Buckthorn.

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of people suffering from allergies. We regard the garden as a healthy place, but some of the plants we love best can cause a great deal of distress. For example: asthma and hay fever. Also, quite a number of plants can, when handled, cause dermatitis.

Some popular plants in a healthy garden which cause allergic reactions are listed below!

The pollen off: Grasses, Yarrow, Marigold.

The sap off: Spurge, Christmas rose, Burning bush.

The leaves of: Chamomile, Ivy, Rue.

The scent of: Pelargonium, Carnation, Evening primrose.

We’re using common, household names here. Common names bring plants to visual recall far easier than their scientific counterparts, after all. But we are talking about ‘Healthy Gardens’ here, so to return.

Nature has found, through the countless ages of evolution, ways to protect its life from widespread devastating disease and insect plague by a simple solution. When we humans attempt to emulate that solution we call it ‘Companion Planting.  In Nature, it is a matter of what seeds and pollens are scattered by the birds, butterflies and bees. But when it comes to human activity, we have to do the ‘scattering.’ And if we’re to succeed in this, we need to know what we are doing.   So a bit about Companion Planting.

There are many ways in which Mother Nature ensures that her charges are looked after when it comes to what we humans call, Companion Planting.  Some species secrete chemicals that are required by neighbouring plants to help them to repel insect predators. Others grow up to provide shade for their neighbours.  It is generally, a two-way, mutually beneficial thing. So if we are to succeed, we should be aware of what trees, shrubs, and perennial plants have these sorts of desirable relationships.  Listed below are some them:

Herb Companions

Basil - Tomatoes

Borage - Strawberries

Chives - Apples

Garlic - Roses

Parsley - Asparagus

Tansy - Raspberries

In Nature, our soil’s colloidal particles are enriched naturally by falling leaves, dying vegetation, dead insects, animal droppings, and even the rotted carcasses of animals and birds.   In our gardens, we might not have many droppings and dead animals, but we can substitute the affects these create. We can do this with our own compost: grass clippings, prunings, leaves, and kitchen waste. We can make our compost heaps - along with worms we’ve put in- to create rich humus soil, alive with potential.

However, by bringing in outside composts (soil mix) and chemicals, we can very easily create an imbalance and potential problems.

Over Cultivation

If we adhere to Nature’s way, we won’t perpetually dig the soil, because this damages the structure and disturbs the creatures that work for us as they break down the organic matter. Working a soil over and over until it’s lost a lot of its natural adhesion, is good neither for nutriments or the life which lives in it. But we’ll return to Companion Planting.

Herb Companions

Basil – Tomatoes

Borage – Strawberries

Chives – Apples

Garlic – Roses

Parsley – Asparagus

Tansy – Raspberries

In a healthy garden, chemical-based formulas should not used to control insect pests. In using them we may kill the very insects which are, ‘on our side’ so to speak, such as the Lady Beetle. So here are some of the plants you can use, alongside the pests you want to deter.

Aphids: Fennel, nasturtiums, dill

Flea beetles: Catnip, hyssop, tomatoes

Colorado beetles Coriander, onion, dandelion

Nematodes: African and French Marigolds, Chrysanthemums

Sacrificial Plants

We can also use plants to attracts to attract pests away from those we wish to protect.

Mustard: Wireworms

Tobacco plant: Whitefly

Broad beans: Red spider mites

Nasturtiums: Black fly

Plants to Attract Beneficial Predators

Wasps: Celery, chamomile, sunflowers

Hover flies: Fennel, solidago, ivy

Ladybirds: Stinging nettles,

Tansy, yarrow: Beneficial insects, birds, and small mammals which feed on them.

From this you can see that plants that are grown (monoculturally) i.e. in isolation, are more vulnerable to insect damage than they would be if they with grown together with plants of other species. We can help this natural process further by introducing plants which secrete substances to repel certain types of pest. And to reiterate: there are some insects which we should encourage into the garden since they are predators of common garden pests.

I hope you enoyed the article Healthy Garden. There are many ways to create a garden that shines full of life. Please leave any comments or tips below for fellow readers.

Happy Gardening, Marty

Also, you can find more similar topics at Feng Shui Garden Design http://www.apartment-gardening-homes.com/fengshuigardendesign.html