Post by Anton on Jun 26, 2013 11:14:38 GMT
Did you know that you can use orange peels to kill ants? Or how about Epsom
salt to grow healthier tomatoes? You are sitting on a gold mine of
resources in your kitchen that can be re-purposed or recycled to benefit
your garden. The best part is that you are eliminating the use of
dangerous chemicals, while saving money, and not harming the
environment.
1. Natural Pest Control
Cayenne Pepper or red chili pepper; if you are using whole peppers combine a half cup chopped
peppers and two cups of water in a blender and pour the liquid into a
spray bottle, add a tbsp. of liquid soap to help the spray “stick” to
the plants. If you are using the powder form of pepper, substitute 2
tbsp for the half cup. Remember that this is not a selective pesticide,
meaning it can harm beneficial insects too, so be sure and only use it
if you have a major problem.
2. Japanese Beetle Trap
This is a simple one. All you’ll need is a bucket, a brick, and a can of
fruit cocktail. Open the fruit cocktail and let it set on the window
seal for a few days to ferment. Put the brick in the bucket and place
the fruit cocktail on the brick. Fill the bucket with water up to the
rim of the fruit cocktail can. Set the bucket near the problem area, the
beetles will fly in to get the fruit cocktail and drown in the bucket.
3. Natural Herbicide
Vinegar is a great substitute for the toxic and persistent glyphosate. Add a
little dish soap with pure vinegar in a spray bottle and apply during
the heat of the day. If you find that your kitchen vinegar just won’t
cut the tough weeds, you can purchase a horticultural grade vinegar with
a higher concentration of acetic acid and apply it the same way.
4. Natural Fertilizer
Don't put down that vinegar just yet. If your acid loving plants, like
azaleas or gardenias are looking a little yellow, mix 2 tbsp of vinegar
to 1 quart of water and pour at the base of the plant. Repeating this
process every two weeks should turn that yellow to green.
5. Ant Killer
Don't spray or pour those broad spectrum pesticides all over the place, these
are particularly persistent and harmful to humans and animals, as well
as all insects, beneficial and not. Simply boil some water and dump on
the mound, the ants die instantly. Be sure to boil enough water so you
can keep pouring until you reach the queen.
6. Ant Killer
Don't put those orange peels in the compost pile just yet. Throw equal parts
orange peels and water into the blender and puree. Voila, instant ant
killer, that won’t kill you.
7. Natural Fertilizer
Epsom salt is a natural mineral, discovered in the well water of Epsom,
England, and has been used for hundreds of years. It is magnesium
sulfate which stimulates root growth in plants, especially tomatoes. Add
a teaspoon to the hole when planting and presto, super tomatoes. The
magnesium is critical for seed germination and the production of
chlorophyll, fruit, and nuts. Magnesium helps strengthen cell walls and
improves plants’ uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. As an added
bonus, a little pinch will also deter squirrels from digging up bulbs
in your flower garden.
8. Slug and snail deterrent
Don't dump out that last bit of coffee that you didn’t finish, throw it in a
spray bottle and spray your plants to naturally deter slugs and snails.
Also, you can make a slug “fence” around the garden with the grounds.
This is a double bonus because as the coffee grounds deter slugs, they
are also a great addition to soil and earthworms love them!
