Baking soda is a staple for every household. It is a versatile product that you can use for yourself, your home, and yes you guessed it right, for your garden —although not so many people know about this just yet.
Table of Contents
- What is baking soda?
- How is baking soda used in the garden?
- Tip to check if your baking soda is still fresh
- Conclusion
What is baking soda?
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is an alkaline compound that produces carbon dioxide gas when combined with an acid. The most common acids paired with this are vinegar, lemon, buttermilk, and yogurt. Moreover, it can also produce carbon dioxide gas when exposed to temperatures above 176 degrees Fahrenheit.
Baking soda is used for a variety of purposes. Commonly, it is used as a leavening agent for baking. Moreover, it is also useful for teeth-whitening, stain-removal, and many more.
How is baking soda used in the garden?
Now, it’s about time you expand your knowledge about what baking soda can do for you and your gardening journey. Of the many benefits it can help you with, the most significant are the following:
Helps you clean your gardening tools
Baking soda makes a great abrasive to help bring back your old and rusty tools’ shine. To do so, prepare a bucket, a liter of water, a liter of vinegar, a sponge, a bowl of baking soda (depending on how many tools you have), and of course, your rusty tools. First, add the water and vinegar in the bucket and mix carefully. Second, soak your gardening tools in the mixture for 15-20 minutes. Third, remove your tools from the bucket. Fourth, dip the back of your sponge (harder surface), to the bowl of baking soda. Fifth, begin scrubbing the rust off. Finally, rinse your tools and enjoy your now sparkly gardening tools!
Absorbs odor and helps remove the foul smell from trash bins
Baking soda is a great help if you wish to remove the foul smell coming from your trash bins. To do this, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda into the bottom of your trash bin. Enjoy!
Helps treat bug bites
With gardening naturally comes unwanted visitors like bugs. Bug bites can be itchy and distracting. Treat bug bites by making a paste out of a tablespoon of baking soda and a half tablespoon of water. Apply a pinch of paste to the affected area of your skin and you should feel better after.
Keeps pest away
Make a natural pesticide with baking soda as your main ingredient.
A. Gel
Add a tablespoon of baking soda, a tablespoon of powdered sugar, and a tablespoon of water into a shallow container. Mix all three ingredients together to create a paste-like mixture. And you’re done! Simply place your baking soda mixture to your desired location, and expect no more ants and rodents anywhere near it.
B. Spray
If you’re looking for an organic and universal pesticide (treats pests like aphids, mites, worms, caterpillars, and other plant fungi), fret not for you can now DIY one at home. All you’ll need are the following: a spray bottle, a liter of water, 3 teaspoons of baking soda, 10 drops of liquid soap, and a teaspoon of neem oil (or any vegetable oil you have available). For extra potency, you can also add a drop or two of either clove oil or eucalyptus oil.
Good read: Best Ways to Incorporate Essential Oils in Gardening
Mix all the ingredients in a spray bottle carefully, and you’re done! Be sure to always shake well before use. Also, don’t forget to test your DIY pesticide first on a small area before using it in your entire garden.
Encourages blooming
Worried about your unopened flowers? Now, you can make your DIY solution to encourage flower blooming. Add a teaspoon of baking soda into a liter of water. Mix them together and you’re done! Easy, right?
Cleans your fruits
After a good harvest, what do you with these fruits? Do you clean them? Well, you should. How? Count on your trusty baking soda. First, fill your basin with about 2-3 liters of water. Second, add 3 tablespoons of baking soda and then mix. Finally, you can now add your fruits in your baking soda solution to safely remove pesticides, wax, and dirt from your fruits.
Helps test your soil’s PH levels
Now, you don’t have to purchase a pH kit to test your soil’s pH levels.
What you’ll need: a cup of vinegar, a mixture of a cup of baking soda and half a cup of water, two samples of soil placed in separate containers
First, pour your vinegar into one of the soil samples and observe how the soil reacts. If it bubbles, this means that its pH level is above seven, and is therefore alkaline. If it doesn’t bubble, proceed to the next step. Second, pour the baking soda mixture into the other soil sample, and once again observe how the soil reacts to it. If it bubbles, this means that its pH level is below seven, meaning it’s acidic.
Improves the look of your flowers
If you’re thinking of displaying your garden flowers into your vases, add a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking soda to the water of your vases. Doing so helps keep your flowers looking alive for a longer period of time.
Tip to check if your baking soda is still fresh
It is important to note that baking soda decomposes over time. To check if your baking soda is still active, add a teaspoon of baking soda to a bowl of vinegar. If your vinegar vigorously foams, this means that your baking soda is still fresh.
Conclusion
No doubt, baking soda is not just a baker’s best friend, but a gardener’s too. If you haven’t yet, you better add baking soda into your gardening kit as soon as possible. Also, don’t forget to share these awesome tips and tricks to your friends too. Any more helpful use of baking soda in gardening that you want to share? Don’t forget to leave us a comment!
