Baking Soda Is a Gardener’s Best Friend: Here Are 10 Clever Uses for It in the Garden
Baking Soda Is a Gardener’s Best Friend: Here Are 10 Clever Uses for It in the Garden
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Baking soda is not only used at home. It also has many virtues for the garden and fruits and vegetables. Discover our top 8 uses of baking soda in the garden.
Baking soda has proven useful for removing stains, whitening teeth, cleaning surfaces, and even getting rid of pesticides. Its functions are diverse and baking soda adds another string to its bow. Its use in gardening is also very practical for many reasons.
Here are 8 uses for baking soda in the garden:
1. Keep the critters away
To get rid of insects that ravage your garden, baking soda will be your main ally. Say goodbye to chemical pesticides that are harmful to your health and the environment, and opt for this more ecological white powder.
To do this, mix in a spray bottle, a liter of water, a tablespoon of olive oil, two tablespoons of baking soda and a few drops of liquid soap. Spray your garden with this mixture every three days to keep insects away.
2. Get rid of fungus, powdery mildew and weeds:
To get rid of fungus in the garden, mix 4 teaspoons of baking soda with a gallon of water and apply the mixture to problem areas.
To protect fruits and vegetables from powdery mildew, spray them with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 2.5 tablespoons of horticultural oil and 1 gallon of water.
To eliminate weeds, especially crab grass that grows between the cracks in your sidewalks, dampen the area and put a thick layer of baking soda inside the cracks to make a paste.
3. Increase the life span of flowers
If you like to have bouquets of roses or flowers at home to enjoy their scent, you can improve their appearance and increase their lifespan by placing them in a vase of water with a pinch of salt and baking soda.
4. Water the flowers
To water the flowers in your garden, do not hesitate to add a little baking soda to your watering can. You will notice afterwards that your flowers will be brighter and healthier.
5. Improve the taste and appearance of plants
- Tomatoes are sweeter when grown in less acidic soils. So sprinkle baking soda into the soil around them.
- To stimulate the flowering of begonias, hydrangeas and geraniums, water them monthly with a unique tonic made from two liters of water and a tablespoon of baking soda.
- To make your lilies, irises, geraniums and daisies healthier and brighter, add baking soda to the water before pouring.
6. Clean the garden decoration
You all know the virtues of baking soda for cleaning the kitchen or bathroom. And your garden can also benefit from its cleaning power. All you have to do is sprinkle the white powder on all the decorative objects in your garden and then wipe them with a damp cloth.
7. Get rid of ants
Your garden and house are infested with ants? Don’t panic. Mix five teaspoons of baking soda with five teaspoons of icing sugar and one tablespoon of water. Look for anthills and pour this mixture on them. You will say goodbye to annoying ants.
8. Test the soil pH
To test the pH of your soil, you will need half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar. Next, take two soil samples and place them in separate containers. Pour vinegar into one of the samples and if it bubbles, its pH is above seven or alkaline. If not, add baking soda with half a cup of water to the other sample. If it bubbles now, it is acidic.
To lessen the intense smell of compost, sprinkle just a little baking soda on top of the pile.
9. Get rid of fungus and mold
With humidity, fungi may grow on plants. Known for its fungicidal quality, baking soda will help to get rid of mold. A study has also demonstrated its effect on yeasts, dermatophytes and molds. Simply spray water mixed with baking soda on the infected areas.
10. Get rid of weeds
Often, weeds will nest in the cracks of your garden path. To fix this, simply moisten the area with a thick paste of baking soda and you’re done. You’ll say goodbye to the weeds that make your garden look unkempt.