Baking soda is one of the products that should never be missing from your home. It is an invaluable ally in cleaning, effectively combats odors, mold and limescale, is cheap and free of ingredients dangerous for the environment. Can it get any better? It actually can. In addition to its use in the home, baking soda also has many useful roles in the garden. It is used as a pesticide, a fungicide, a lawn fertilizer, etc. In this article, we take a closer look at its uses and benefits for the garden!
Test the pH of your soil: Moisten the soil a little with distilled water and sprinkle a handful of baking soda on top. If it starts to bubble, your soil is acidic. This means that its pH is below 5 and it is unable to support the growth of healthy plants.
- If your soil is acidic, you canraise the pH value, by adding ground or powdered lime. Over time, your soil will then become more alkaline. Wood ash can also help.
Encourage plants growing in alkaline soil:Certain flowers thrive in alkaline soil. For example, if you have begonias, hydrangeas, and geraniums, mix a few spoonfuls of baking soda into the watering can before watering them. This promotes more beautiful blooms and healthy growth.
- Tipp: Find out online what pH level the plants you want to grow need before amending the soil.
Use as a homemade plant fungicide
Baking soda against fungus gnats: Mix four tablespoons of baking soda with 1 gallon of distilled water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray on or near plants that you suspect may be at risk of fungal diseases, especially roses and grapes.
If you have a problem with powdery mildew on your plants, mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a liter of water and a few drops of liquid soap. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the plants that are prone to attracting powdery mildew.
Baking Soda in the Garden – Keep the weeds away
- If you have weeds poking through your mulch or otherwise invading your garden, spray them with water and then sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over them.
- If you have weeds sprouting from cracks in your patio, pull them out and then pour boiling water over the area where they grew out. Cover the area heavily with baking soda.
Use it as a natural fertilizer and to sweeten tomatoes
Baking soda in the garden as fertilizer: Mix one teaspoon of baking soda, one teaspoon of Epsom salt, half a teaspoon of ammonia and 1 gallon of water. Pour this mixture into your watering can and apply just as you would regularly water your garden. It is particularly effective in rejuvenating brown plants.
For theSweetening tomatoes: Sprinkle a little baking soda on the soil near your tomato plants. It absorbs into the soil and lowers acidity, making your tomatoes sweeter. More on thisfind out here.
Baking soda in the garden against ants and insects
Baking Soda for Ants – If you have an ant problem in your garden, mix equal amounts of powdered sugar and baking soda. For example, you can mix five teaspoons of baking soda and five teaspoons of powdered sugar. Sprinkle the powder near the anthills. The ants will eat the mixture and die.
You can also add a spoonful of water to the mixture after mixing the sugar and baking soda to help clump the mixture.
Tipp: Do not use regular sugar as it does not combine with the baking soda as well as powdered sugar.
Make a natural pesticide spray
- Mix a teaspoon of baking soda, 80 milliliters of olive oil and 250 ml of water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle. Aim the spray bottle at the plants you want to keep the insects away from, then squeeze the handle. Repeat the process as necessary. You must repeat this treatment after a rain shower.
- If your preventive pesticide spray doesn't work, you can make a slightly stronger version that will eliminate insects. Mix one tablespoon of olive oil, two tablespoons of baking soda and a few drops of liquid soap. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the liquid generously over your garden. Reapply the product every three days. Continue application even after the insects are gone to deter them from returning.
You can also use baking soda in the garden to combat slugs or to remove grass and soil stains. How to do it and how else you can use baking sodafind out here!
