Unleashing the Garden Superhero: Baking Soda
Strategies for Implementing Baking Soda in Your Greenspace:
Embrace the multitasking magic of baking soda as it transforms your garden into a flourishing oasis. From enhancing plant productivity to repelling unwanted pests, this pantry staple is your secret weapon. Top gardening experts weigh in on their favorite ways to use baking soda in the garden.
Star Turn: Lindsay Springer, director of plants and digital agriculture at Gardyn
Desperate Times Call for Baking Soda: Garden Pest Control
Bid adieu to common garden pests including slugs and ants. Why? They can't stand the salt levels in baking soda. "Ants tend to lose their scent trails with this method," shares Lindsay Springer, our guide. Lightly dust the soil around your plants using a flour sifter to keep those pests at bay. Remember, a little goes a long way—too much can alter the pH of your soil, negatively affecting your plants. Also, avoid direct contact with your plants, as the baking soda could potentially dry them out.
Odor Crusader: Baking Soda, the Scent Superhero
Bidding farewell to smelly compost? Baking soda might just be the solution you need. By killing microbes and fungi active in compost piles, it can help break down lingering compost odors. Keep in mind to use a judicious amount to maintain a well-balanced pH level in your soil.
Plant Health Warrior: Organic Disease Repellent
Say goodbye to common plant diseases and fungal infections with a simple baking soda mixture. In a spray bottle, combine water, a few drops of dish soap, and a dash of baking soda. "Spraying your plant leaves with this solution has a direct impact on preventing downy and powdery mildew," says Adam Weiss, gardener and founder of Pike Lane Gardens. For plants that already have diseases, apply the mixture to infected foliage, ensuring all sides of the leaves, including the undersides, are covered. Repeat weekly, after rain has washed away the mixture.
Bud Boosters: Flower Production Enhancers
Baking soda, which is alkaline, can help boost the flower production of certain plants. Mix a few teaspoons of baking soda with a liter of water and spray the mixture on flowers that thrive in alkaline soils. Proceed with caution, though—avoid plants that could be damaged by a high pH level.
Weed Busters: Nature's Own Herbicide
Don't be surprised if weeds shrivel up at the sight of baking soda. Simply lightly spray weeds with water, then generously dust them with baking soda. The high pH of baking soda can disrupt plant growth, but be mindful of using this method judiciously to avoid harming desired plants or building up in the soil.
Honing Your Garden Tools: Paste Power
If your garden tools have seen better days (accidentally left out in the rain once too often), rely on baking soda to remove light rust. Create a paste by mixing baking soda with water, using it to gently scrub the rusty area. After a few hours, rinse your tool clean and watch the light rust disappear. Bonus: this method also shines up your garden decorations.
Martha Stewart might recommend baking soda as a solution for odor in the garden or home, given its ability to kill microbes and fungi in compost piles and around the home.
For those practicing organic gardening, baking soda can be used as a natural disease repellent against common plant diseases and fungal infections, and a simple baking soda mixture can help prevent downy and powdery mildew.
When it comes to controlling pests in the garden, baking soda can be an effective solution for deterring slugs, ants, and potentially weeds. By lightly dusting the soil around plants with baking soda using a flour sifter, gardeners can create an environment less hospitable to these pests, ensuring a flourishing garden.
