Organic Gardening Resources: Howard Garrett's Dirt Doctor Program

For comprehensive organic lawn and garden guidance, Howard Garrett (The Dirt Doctor) provides the most practical, research-backed program for Texas and similar climates.

Core Resources

• Website: dirtdoctor.com — articles, forums, video library ($25/yr subscription)
• Books: "Texas Gardening the Natural Way," "Organic Manual," "Herbs for Texas"
• Radio: "The Natural Way" — podcast archives available

Garrett's Organic Program (Adapted)

1. Soil test — Texas A&M or Logan Labs
2. Stop all synthetics — fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides
3. Build biology:
   • Compost ½" annually + topdress ¼"
   • Dry molasses 10-20 lbs/1,000 sq ft (spring/fall)
   • Lava sand 40-80 lbs/1,000 sq ft (once)
   • Greensand 40-80 lbs/1,000 sq ft (once)
   • Corn gluten meal 20 lbs/1,000 sq ft (pre-emergent + N)
4. Cultural: Mow high, leave clippings, water deep/infrequent
5. Pest management: Beneficials first (release trichogramma, nematodes), then targeted organics (Bt, neem, spinosad)

Key Principles

• Feed the soil, not the plant
• Diversity = stability
• Prevention > intervention
• Observe before acting

Garrett's program works because it's systems-based, not product-based. Start with soil test; everything follows from data.