In today's article, we'll list and explain each of the top 10 uses of vinegar in gardening.
Vinegar is chemically called acetic acid and has the chemical formula CH3COOH (ie the elements in it are carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen). It is an inexpensive product, readily available, and commonly used in 5% concentrations in kitchens around the world. Here we are referring to white vinegar or distilled vinegar. Can I use it as garden fertilizer? No! This is because it is chemically composed of carbon, hydrogen, and the oxygen CH3COOH, and plants can readily absorb these elements from the air.
This is a myth, not a fact. So what are the actually proven uses of vinegar or acetic acid in gardening?
1. Kill weeds or unwanted grass by simply spraying directly without dilution. This works very well for cracks and crevices. However, be careful when using it near your favorite plants. The mechanism of action here is to dissolve cell membranes, leading to tissue dehydration and plant death.
2. Repel ants around plants. Simply pour the undiluted solution around the anthill or around the plant/soil. If you've ever personally faced this problem and the difficulty of having ants take root around your favorite plants and you fear they'll destroy them, you'll know the importance of this benefit.
3. They scare animals such as cats and dogs that may damage plants by digging in the ground or breaking soft or succulent plants. This is due to the pungent odor that animals dislike. The trick here is to soak a cloth in vinegar and place it in a key spot in your garden.
4. It can be used to easily clean rust and dirt from your garden tools. Pour or immerse the tool in vinegar for about 20 minutes.
5. To preserve or freshen cut flowers or even revive wilted flowers, prepare a solution of 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of sugar in 1 liter of water. Pour it into a vase or container.
6. You can also use it to clean clay pots, immerse the pots in a 1:2 or 1:3 vinegar solution in water, and clean after 20 to 30 minutes.
7. Insect spray: Vinegar is an effective solution for killing garden insects. To make a vinegar spray that works for garden bugs, mix three parts water to one part vinegar in a spray bottle and add a teaspoon of dishwashing or hand-washing liquid. Before spraying the plants, shake the bottle to mix the contents thoroughly. This is a very effective whitefly killer and I have used it successfully on my hibiscus to kill whiteflies. This is also effective for removing mold from your plant.
8. Repels fruit flies from fruit trees. You should make a vinegar bait using 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of molasses. Mix everything together, pour this solution into an empty container or tin can, and hang it on the affected fruit tree. A similar solution can be used for house flies.
9. Useful for plants that prefer an acidic pH such as gardenias, and hibiscus. Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 1 gallon of water and water your acid-loving plants with this solution.
10. Kills slugs and snails. Spray the vinegar directly on the snail and wait. Vinegar will dissolve the snails. Magnesium sulfate has a similar effect
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