Like Hostafan we too were overwhelmed by docks and nettles when we first came here. Drastic measures were needed
After clearing we now use chemicals as little as possible. Last year nothing at all was used in the orchard or the walled garden, as Fairy says it's all about good housekeeping . I found last year was the best yet for nature sorting out the bugs And all the snails provided endless treats for the blackies. Blackspot my biggest problem.
Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” A A Milne
If you spray for blackspot very early in the year just as the buds first show you can have clean roses and with a minimum effect on bugs. Do it on a windless cloudy day also.
The current level of population in the world cannot be fed by organic food alone; it's too inefficient a use of the available land. Mass production of affordable food to feed the billions is only possible if farmers and scientists work together to maximise and then increase production.
What I object to is the bald conjecture that chemicals equals bad, and no chemicals equals good.
My old chemistry teacher would probably remind us at this point that everything is made of chemicals. It's how we manage their use that is the issue. If side effects are a worry to you I suggest you stop taking the medicine?
If you spray for blackspot very early in the year just as the buds first show you can have clean roses and with a minimum effect on bugs. Do it on a windless cloudy day also.
Very much has changed in the garden Mike regarding chemicals and our attitudes to them.
I have some older gardening books, anyone would think reading them it was impossible to plant anything without a shed full of chemicals! This was mostly preventative applications and the popularity of doing so can be seen to go back to the 'dig for victory' campaign where any disease or bug was seen as one of Hitler's allies!
I generally avoid chemicals but would use if necessary to solve a problem. Read the label, consider the implications, use no more than necessary.
I can't agree with Woodgreen Wonderboy though regarding feeding the millions with chemicals derived from the petrochemical industry. There is a fatal flaw in the philosophy of building an increasing world population reliant on energy released from fossil fuels for its food... ...it can't and won't last.
There are increasing doubts about the safety of a number of agricultural chemicals too, sadly though they pass EU tests it is often many years later they become the suspects in wildlife declines. With such widespread application by farmers it is often a case of 'damage done' and it being rather too late to put it right.
I agree with what you say GemmaJF - and as someone who's been tangentially involved in agriculture all of my life, I think that one of the huge problems with the use of agrochemicals is the use of pesticides and fungicides prophylactically rather than using them in response to a problem, just as was done with antibiotics in animal feed
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
Like Hostafan we too were overwhelmed by docks and nettles when we first came here. Drastic measures were needed
After clearing we now use chemicals as little as possible. Last year nothing at all was used in the orchard or the walled garden, as Fairy says it's all about good housekeeping . I found last year was the best yet for nature sorting out the bugs And all the snails provided endless treats for the blackies. Blackspot my biggest problem.
A A Milne
If you spray for blackspot very early in the year just as the buds first show you can have clean roses and with a minimum effect on bugs. Do it on a windless cloudy day also.
The current level of population in the world cannot be fed by organic food alone; it's too inefficient a use of the available land. Mass production of affordable food to feed the billions is only possible if farmers and scientists work together to maximise and then increase production.
What I object to is the bald conjecture that chemicals equals bad, and no chemicals equals good.
My old chemistry teacher would probably remind us at this point that everything is made of chemicals. It's how we manage their use that is the issue. If side effects are a worry to you I suggest you stop taking the medicine?
I choose not to use chemicals unless you include plant feed in that. But nothing in the way of weed killers or pesticides
If you spray for blackspot very early in the year just as the buds first show you can have clean roses and with a minimum effect on bugs. Do it on a windless cloudy day also.
Personally I do use the odd the chemical occasionally in the Garden and Allottment
My garden is full of wildlife
I use Bone Meal , is that not a chemical ?
I think a balanced approach is the way forward which is what I do but everybody to there own ways
Sorry for the repeating posts....burp....oops, not me, honest.....
Very much has changed in the garden Mike regarding chemicals and our attitudes to them.
I have some older gardening books, anyone would think reading them it was impossible to plant anything without a shed full of chemicals! This was mostly preventative applications and the popularity of doing so can be seen to go back to the 'dig for victory' campaign where any disease or bug was seen as one of Hitler's allies!
I generally avoid chemicals but would use if necessary to solve a problem. Read the label, consider the implications, use no more than necessary.
I can't agree with Woodgreen Wonderboy though regarding feeding the millions with chemicals derived from the petrochemical industry. There is a fatal flaw in the philosophy of building an increasing world population reliant on energy released from fossil fuels for its food... ...it can't and won't last.
There are increasing doubts about the safety of a number of agricultural chemicals too, sadly though they pass EU tests it is often many years later they become the suspects in wildlife declines. With such widespread application by farmers it is often a case of 'damage done' and it being rather too late to put it right.
I agree with what you say GemmaJF - and as someone who's been tangentially involved in agriculture all of my life, I think that one of the huge problems with the use of agrochemicals is the use of pesticides and fungicides prophylactically rather than using them in response to a problem, just as was done with antibiotics in animal feed
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I agree with Dovefrom about over use so it becomes the Norm , is a real problem