Peat Eliminator

Hopefully the days of heavy chemical use in our gardens is over.  Stories of cancer, blindness, poisoned wildlife and sea life directly or indirectly related to the use and misuse of chemicals has finally made an impact on the choices we make when we buy products to use in our gardens.  You buy a healthy plant and give it the proper light conditions, water and nutrients and there is simply no reason to use toxic chemicals. Listed below are 10 wonderfully effective and safe products to use in your garden.

1.) APHID CHASER Aphid Chasers are little rubber rings you attach to the stems of plants every 4-7 feet.  This ring emits a pheromone that frightens the aphids and creates a hostile environment for them. 

2.) BURNOUT II Burnout II is made from clove oil, citric acid and a variety of other safe and non-toxic ingredients.    It is a non-selective weed killer so you cannot get it on any plants you don’t want to kill.

3.) CONCERN OR PREMERGE WEED PREVENTOR.  These are made from corn gluten! They won’t kill existing weeds, but stop weed seeds from germinating.  The vast majority of weeds in our gardens and lawns are spread by seed.  You can plant the same day you use it. Just do not use it in areas where you are growing plants from seeds.  Once the seeds germinate go ahead and apply it in that area also.

4.) YELM EARTH EARTHWORM CASTINGS Aka “worm poop”.  Apply it either directly to the base of the plant or as a “tea”. Worm castings improve plant growth, help to eliminate fungus disease, improve water retention, are 100% organic and are a natural insect repellent amongst having many other positive qualities.  Roses, vegetables and “diva” perennials like delphinium love this stuff.

5.) LIQUID GYPSUM Clay soil suffocates roots and kills the plant every time.  A bottle of liquid gypsum ($14.99) is equal to 200 lbs. of dry gypsum and is excellent applied directly in the planting hole or around plantings and your lawn.

6.) PEAT ELIMINATOR   Peat Eliminator is made from ground coconut which is called “coir” and not only does it breaks up and aerates clay soil, but has been found to cut down on fungal diseases dramatically. Peat Eliminator comes with 3 bricks of coir that expand in water so you can use it as you need it when planting or applying to existing plantings or lawn.

7.) ROSE DEFENSE This product can be used on all plants, both indoor and out and not just roses.  Rose Defense is excellent for both bug and disease control.    It should be applied every couple weeks during the spring before disease is seen and then as needed for bug control during the summer months.

8.) SOIL ACTIVATOR Otherwise known as humic acid, which is  organic, works best in conjunction with organic fertilizers to help increase the growth and health of everything in your garden.   

9.) SLUGGO The most destructive pest (besides deer) is probably slugs.  The baby slugs are actually the ones that do the most damage because of their voracious appetites and unfortunately their ability to hide under plants and munch away on them all night.  Applying Sluggo every 2 weeks during the rainy spring and again in the fall as we plant our mums and pansies is paramount.  Sluggo is non-toxic so if Fido has an eating disorder it won’t kill him.

10.) ZEBA “QUENCH” A new product used to hold moisture in.  Quench is made from cornstarch, is biodegradable, and holds its weight in water up to 400 times.  It is applied just once a year to plants and is a must for containers and hanging baskets.

Terri Hiatt works at Peninsula Gardens as a buyer, designer and rose expert. She teaches gardening classes all over the Pacific Northwest and also at Peninsula Gardens and at Tacoma Community College in Gig Harbor and is the creator of Terosa Ultimate Once A Year Fertilizers. She can be reached at terrihiatt@hotmail.com.