Get the Most out of Your Summer Garden

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Enrich Your Soil

As far as fertilizer goes, feed your soil (and the microorganisms it contains) its natural diet through compost rather than petroleum-based products. Good bacteria in dirt will digest compost, converting it into the elements such as nitrogen that plants to need to grow. And playing in the dirt may make you happier as well: Mice exposed to soil bacteria produced more serotonin, a brain chemical the lack of which is associated with depression, according to researchers at Bristol University.

Compost can be slow to show positive effects, but you can speed up the process by creating sprayable compost "tea." Perhaps the easiest way to do so is to use red worm castings, with one part castings to three parts water (see Laughing Crow worm castings from www.seedsofchange.com). For detailed instructions, see the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. If you want to start your own worm farm, visit www.wormfarmingsecrets.com for free information.

Put A Check on Pests

Avoid exposing yourself and others to pesticides or weed killers by adopting integrated pest management (IPM), the least toxic approach to keeping tabs on any pest or disease problems in your garden. Visually inspect your plants on a regular basis for signs of problems. Hand pick pests if there are just a few, or wash off heavier infestations with a strong blast from the hose, an effective method for removing aphids and whiteflies. Mechanical barriers, such as wire cages around your tomatoes, will keep larger critters from eating the fruits of your labor.

Also, consider adding "companion" plants, that is plants that help other plants when they grow together in your garden. One simple option is to include strongly scented herbs, like lavender or rosemary, to confuse insect pests when they are looking for vegetables. Or you can specialize by, for example, using Dahlias and marigolds to repel nematodes or nasturtiums to drive away pests that attack cucumbers. As the weather gets hotter, tall flowers provide needed shade for lettuce, which dislike excessive heat.

For more IPM tips, see the Bio-Integral Resource Center, www.birc.org.

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