Soda, the full name of which is sodium bicarbonate, is a white, inconspicuous powder that should not be missing in any household. Because it is harmless, inexpensive and an extremely useful all-rounder. In the kitchen we have known it for centuries as baking soda or cooking soda. Baking soda is also great for household chores, but what good can it do in the garden? Let yourself be surprised by the wide range of possibilities.

combat powdery mildew

Not a garden year goes by without the fungal disease powdery mildew showing up. Under favorable conditions, it spreads quickly and affects more and more plants. It must therefore be stopped in good time and as ecologically as possible. With baking soda you can both prevent mildew and effectively combat an acute infestation in the garden. It doesn't matter whether powdery mildew or downy mildew is raging in the garden.

  • make a spray solution
  • Dissolve 10 grams of baking soda powder in 1 liter of water
  • spray infested plants several times
  • 10-14 days apart

decimate ant colony

Ants are useful animals in the garden. But when the colony is huge and the animals enter areas where we definitely don't want them, something has to be done. You can use baking soda against ants in the garden because it is poisonous to them. The animals just don't find the powder tempting and ignore it. Outsmart them by mixing the baking soda with powdered sugar and turning it into a treat. Scatter it where ants have their way.

Destroy aphids

Many gardeners panic when they see aphids on their plants. These pests suck the lifeblood of the plants and can destroy them completely. If there is a sachet of baking soda in the kitchen cupboard, the fight can be tackled immediately. This remedy is one of the ecologically compatible ways to combat lice.

  • Dissolve two teaspoons of baking soda in 1 liter of water
  • add some cooking oil on wet days
  • this increases the adhesive strength
  • generously spray affected plants

Tip: If you want to use this baking soda solution against scale and mealybugs, add some alcohol. This makes the remedy even more effective against these two species.

Control cabbageworms and snails

Neither species will survive contact with baking soda. Sprinkle some of this wonder drug on discovered cabbage worms and around the cabbage plants. This is how you get rid of the pests quickly. In some years, slugs develop into a major plague. In order not to damage the plants in the garden, natural control methods are required. Baking soda is therefore the ideal remedy.

Tip: Tracking down each snail and dusting them with baking soda will be a bit of a hassle. Entice them by hiding some lettuce leaves under a wet rag.

destroy weed

Weeds, weeds or weeds, whatever you like to call some plants, they remain undesirable in private, lovingly tended gardens. Weeds that squeeze into small cracks between two pavement slabs and make fighting by tearing them out tedious and tedious are particularly annoying. The gardener could almost resort to chemicals out of sheer desperation. But he doesn't have to, because baking soda powder spread on weeds has a devastating effect. In stubborn cases, repeat the treatment if necessary.

Increase soil pH

When baking soda meets acidic soil, it changes its pH because this element neutralizes acidity. A targeted dose makes sense if plants that need alkaline soil are growing in the bed or tub. For example geraniums and begonias. Dissolve the agent in irrigation water beforehand. If the pH value of larger areas is to be raised, the even cheaper lime is more suitable.

Test acidic soil

If you suspect that the soil in a certain part of the garden is too acidic, you can do a quick test with baking soda powder.

  • first water the soil moderately
  • then sprinkle with baking soda
  • observe reaction

If small bubbles appear, the element is reacting with acid contained in the soil. They are to be taken as an indication that the soil is too acidic, with a pH below 5.

neutralize odors

Flowers exude a pleasant scent, there is agreement on that. The smell of a compost heap, on the other hand, is unpleasant for some noses. Sprinkled at the edge of the compost, baking soda binds that unwanted odor. A large compost heap or a strong "scented" compost heap may sometimes require a larger amount of this miracle cure. Another alternative would be cheaper if necessary.

Tip: A bowl of soda powder in the gazebo will drive away musty odors and make the room climate more pleasant.

make flowers last longer

There are two ways to use baking soda to make flowers in the garden last longer. If you are cutting some for the vase, add 1-3 teaspoons of baking soda to the water, depending on the size of the bouquet. It is also reported that roses on the rose bush stay fresher longer if you water the roots with a mixture of 2 liters of water, 1 teaspoon each of baking soda and Epsom salts, and ½ teaspoon of ammonia.

Remove splinters

When gardening, it can happen that a splinter pierces your finger. That little thing hurts like hell over time. However, removal is not always easy because the splinter is difficult to grasp. Moisten baking soda powder and apply it to the affected area. Leave it on under a plaster for a few hours. The skin will soften and the splinter will protrude slightly, making it easier to grab and pull with tweezers.

Increase the pH in the pool

It's nice when a garden has a pool where you can cool off on hot summer days. However, the heat also promotes the growth of bacteria, algae and other germs. That's why you have to pay attention to good water quality. The pH value is also of crucial importance. Ideally, it is between 7 and 7.4. If it is lower, it can be raised with baking soda.

wash your hands

After work is done, hands must be washed. There are three ways to get all the dirt out of the garden: scrub long and hard, use a chemical cleaner, or use baking soda. The last option provides clean results quickly and is kind to the skin.

  • wet hands
  • take some baking soda
  • rub on skin
  • rinse thoroughly with water

Remove scale from clay pots

Clay pots tend to form unsightly limescale deposits over time. But these are not only visually disturbing, they also clog the fine pores of this natural material. Place the pots in warm water and add 1 teaspoon of baking soda per liter of liquid. Leave it on for several hours. You can then easily remove the limescale residue with a brush.

Remove grass and soil stains

Hardly the best clothes are put on for weeding and other gardening. Still, grass and dirt stains are annoying. For such cases, keep a small sachet of baking soda powder in the gazebo so that you can use it immediately on the fresh stain. Dissolve the powder with a little water and rub the mush onto the stain. After a short exposure time, rinse out the loosened dirt with clear water.

Clean bird bath

Bird baths in the garden make a valuable contribution to the feathered animal world. Especially on hot days, when small streams and ponds dry up, they offer birds clean drinking water. However, the drinking trough quickly becomes contaminated and must be cleaned regularly. Chemical agents may leave residues that are harmful to animals. Baking soda is good for cleaning the bird bath and is also safe for the birds in the garden.

Category:

Garden maintenance