The organic vs. chemical gardening option was traditionally won by the quick and easy results of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, without the understanding of the consequences of using these synthetic chemicals in our soil.

Today, the awareness about the real threats to our environment is starting to spread, and the result is a growing movement away from using chemicals in general. In the garden industry, the understanding about the connection between a healthy plant and good organic soil structure is also growing. In fact, the organic segment has been given the biggest growth potential in the food and garden industry.

Chemical Gardening:

You might have noticed that within the last 2-3 years, most of the larger chemical fertilizer companies have either started an organic line of soil amendments or they have acquired a company with a line of organic soil amendments.

Either way, that is a significant indication about the organic movement in the home gardening industry. The larger suppliers in the garden industry knows where the market is going, and they know they better start including organic soil amendments in their product line. For decades, the average consumer was somewhat ignorant about the warning labels on most of the fertilizers used in the garden. Can it be good to spread some kind of "blue pellets" on your lawn while you should keep the kids and the pets away for 2-3 days! Does that sound like a healthy product to use?

When synthetic chemicals are used to fertilize your gardenas the plants do get their N-P-K fix in a soluble form. (The synthetic nutrients are readily available to the plants) The plants will utilize the nutrients they need for the moment and leave the unused portion untouched. What many gardener do not realize is that these synthetic nutrients do not retain in the soil. After a heavy rainfall, they wash away with the drain water and end up in our storm drains, streams, rivers and water ways. That is the reason the instructions on the bag recommend another "feeding" of chemicals 4-6 weeks later. In the process, you are slowly killing the beneficial microorganism in the soil. The sodium content in the soil increases when you use chemicals in the garden. And, after a season or two, you have perfectly sterile soil! The only thing that the chemical companies recommend is to use more of their chemicals! The chemical cycle has begun and that's what chemical gardening is all about!

When you realize that the chemical feeding cycle might not be best for you, your family and your garden, the answer is simple:

Organic Gardening:

One of the traditional myths of organic gardening is that it is hard work and the results are slow and marginal. Perhaps 15-20 years ago that would be a somewhat valid argument, but not today with all the new products of organic soil amendments and nutrients. Today you can have fast results with a great looking garden with big colorful blooms, healthy plants, and the best tasting fruits and vegetables. All that in a completely safe environment for you, your kids and your pets.

There are two components to successful organic gardening: An abundance of beneficial microbes and fungi (the more the better) and an organic fertilizer. Organic nutrients are not in a soluble form, so plants can not utilize the nutrients until they have been digested by the beneficial microbes.

"All organic nutrients must be digested through microbial action before the nutrients are available to the roots for absorption."

The microbes are the key ingredient in "good soil structure". After they convert organic nutrients and organic matter into soluble nutrients they make sure the nutrients remain in the soil for future plant use. They do not "wash away" over time.

In addition, they release a by-product called glomalin, which acts as a glue, binding soil particles and organic matter together. This process greatly enhances the soil structure. The soil becomes more porous, which will allow oxygen and water to reach deep down into the soil.

Overall plant health depends on the amount of water and oxygen that enters the soil and reaches the root system. That is the reason it is difficult to grow anything in compacted soil. However, a season of SoilSoup treatments will break up the compacted soil and allow air and water to penetrate deeper into the soil.

The water retention is greatly increased by good soil structure. A 35-40% increase in water retention is not uncommon. This alone is a huge cost saver for most gardeners, especially when the cost of municipal water is becoming more expensive. The cost savings are even larger for a commercial grower.

In addition to providing the plants with soluble nutrients, oxygen and water, the microbes control the soil environment, putting up a fierce fight against plant pathogens. They are sometimes called the "pathogen patrol". Fungus can be a great friend (mycorrhizae) or a great enemy to plant health! The harmful pathogenic fungi are some of the worst enemies of the garden. (In addition to gophers and ground squirrels!)

The conventional remedies include fungicides and fumigants, all chemical products. However, the natural control pf pathogens has occurred for millions of years through a process called general suppression. General suppression includes an abundance of beneficial microbes in the soil. The two main disease suppressive benefits from soil microbes are: The release of antibiotic compounds and the competition for space and food in the soil.

It is rare that a pathogenic fungi will invade and "take over" a plant growing in healthy soil. In healthy soil, beneficial soil microbes and fungi fill up all the available space, preventing the pathogens to establish themselves and start threatening the healthy plants. "When all the available space in the soil is occupied by beneficial microbes, there is no space left for the pathogens to become established and do their damage!"

There is also a constant battle for available nutrients. The larger the concentration of beneficial soil microbes, the less available nutrients for the pathogens.