Gardening is one of the best physical activities you can do as it provides countless physical and mental health benefits. Additionally, fresh and home-grown produce is of much higher quality than what we buy at the grocery store, and the taste is simply incomparable.

But did you know that baking soda can be your magic wand in the garden?

This versatile remedy is your best friend when it comes to the entire home as it is an amazing kitchen ingredient and an excellent beauty care and cleaning product.

Baking soda is a safer and cheaper way to take care of your garden instead of the synthetic chemicals:

1. Insect repellent

  • To keep the critters away, mix one tablespoon of olive oil, two tablespoons of baking soda and a few drops of liquid soap with one gallon of water. Spray it in the garden every three days. Gently spray this mixture into the garden every three days to keep the insects away.
  • Mix flour and baking powder in equal amounts and dust any products that grow cabbage worms and you will destroy them.
  • Mix 5 tablespoons of baking soda with the same amount of powdered sugar and one tablespoon of water and pour the mixture into anthills. Add some vinegar and you will reduce the ant population in the garden.

2. Fungi, mildew and weeds 

  • To get rid of garden fungus, mix 4 teaspoons of baking soda with a gallon of water and apply the mixture to problem areas.
  • To protect the fruits and vegetables from mold, spray them with a mixture of one tablespoon of baking soda, 2.5 tablespoons of horticultural oil and 4.5 liters of water.
  • To get rid of weeds, especially crabgrass, growing between the cracks in your walkways, wet the area and add a thick layer of baking soda into the cracks to create a paste.

3. Compost and soil

  • To test the pH of the 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 it doesn’t, add baking soda to the other sample with half a cup of water and if it bubbles now, it is acidic.
  • To reduce the intense smell of compost, simply sprinkle a little baking soda on the top of the pile.

4. Taste and appearance of plants

  • Tomatoes are sweeter when grown in less acidic soil, so sprinkle some 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 keep your lilies, irises, geraniums and daisies growing healthier and brighter, add some baking soda to the water before watering.

5. Cleaning

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  • Use baking soda to clean the decorations in your garden. Wash them with a liter of warm water and two tablespoons of baking soda. Dip a brush into the mixture and scrub away the stains.
  • Baking soda is also ideal for cleaning garden paths. If they are covered with weeds and dirt, wash them with the same mixture and they will become beautiful again.
  • Clean and deodorize garden tools with baking soda.