Green in the Garden

May 31, 2022

Written by: Caroline Kim

Recently I planted some veggies and herbs in my school’s garden. I love little plants and the whole idea of gardening is so interesting to me, but something I didn’t love about this whole ordeal were the worms. I’m not a fan of bugs, and if I could I would remove all bugs from all gardens, but it’s fair to say I can’t do that, because they are essential to plant nutrients. Sweetser lists the three main categories of bugs that benefit gardens as pollinators (bee), predators (ladybug), and parasitizers (wasps) (Sweetser). In terms of pollinators, “... they serve as pollinators for many different flower species, enabling them to produce fruit… can potentially be harmful while in the larval stage as caterpillars since they eat away at leaves” (Myers). These pollinators have their pros and cons, but overall benefit the garden significantly more. As for wasps, they seem to benefit the garden by reducing the harmful insect population in your garden: “... ultimately ends in the demise of the hornworm and more wasps to hone in on your other pests” (Myers). Each coexist in a way that maintains a balance within the garden.

Nutrition in the garden is also key in starting up a garden. The main nutrients to pay attention to are nitrogen for leaf development, phosphorus for the roots, potassium and calcium for growth, magnesium for coloring, and sulfur for disease resistance (White). In starting up a garden, Stinchcombe suggests starting small, ensuring that sunlight actually shines in the location of the garden, and knowing which plants are best suited to certain areas (Stinchcombe). Another writer Neveln advises gardeners to be aware of ideal pruning times and plant behavior among several other tips (the page can be found on the home page). Summer is around the corner- consider building a garden that you care for and get food out of!

Sources:

Sweetser, Robin. “Beneficial Insects in the Garden.” Almanac.com, 24 Jan. 2022, https://www.almanac.com/beneficial-insects-garden.

Myers, Vanessa. “Beneficial Insects You Want in Your Garden.” Western Garden Centers, 2 Nov. 2016, https://westerngardens.com/beneficial-insects-garden/.

White, Adrian. “Plant Nutrients: What They Need and When They Need It.” Gardener's Path, 7 Apr. 2022, https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/composting/plant-nutrients/.

Stinchcombe, Colleen. “10 Simple Tips for Growing Your Own Food, Even If You Can't Keep a Plant Alive.” SELF, 16 June 2020, https://www.self.com/story/gardening-tips.

Neveln , Viveka. “25 Gardening Tips You'll Wish You'd Known Sooner.” Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2021, https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/gardening-tips-for-every-gardener/.