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Baking soda is more than just a kitchen staple — it’s a powerful, affordable, and eco-friendly solution for common gardening problems. From pest control to improving soil quality and boosting fruit sweetness, this simple compound can transform how you care for your garden.
Let’s explore 10 practical uses, how to use it on fruit trees like lemons and apples, and a bonus DIY liquid fertilizer recipe.
🌿 1. Natural Fungicide
Baking soda helps prevent fungal infections like powdery mildew:
🧪 Recipe: Mix
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon dish soap
- 1 gallon water
Spray on leaves once a week to protect plants from fungal growth.
🌿 2. Weed Killer
Baking soda works great on unwanted weeds in cracks or garden paths:
🧂 Just sprinkle directly on visible weeds.
⚠️ Avoid applying near your vegetables or flowers — it may harm them too.
🌿 3. Pest Repellent
Keep cabbage worms and aphids away:
🥄 Mix equal parts baking soda and flour, and dust over the leaves.
Pests ingest it and are deterred from returning.
🌿 4. Soil Amendment (pH Correction)
If your soil is too acidic, plants struggle to absorb nutrients.
🌱 Solution:
Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1 gallon of water.
Water around the plant base monthly.
🧪 Always test your soil pH first to avoid over-alkalizing!
🌿 5. Tomato Sweetener
Mild alkalinity helps tomatoes develop sweeter flavor:
🍅 Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of baking soda at the base of the tomato plant.
Water lightly — repeat every 3–4 weeks.
🌿 6. Compost Enhancer
Speed up composting by neutralizing odors:
Add a small handful of baking soda occasionally to your compost bin.
🌿 7. Odor Absorber
Sprinkle baking soda near manure piles or bins to absorb foul smells.
Reapply every few days as needed.
🌿 8. Gardening Tool Cleaner
Keep tools clean and rust-free:
🧼 Make a paste of baking soda and water, scrub tools, rinse, and dry.
🌿 9. Seed Germination Booster
Soaking seeds helps soften seed coats and boosts sprouting:
🧪 Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda in 2 cups of water.
Soak seeds for 6–12 hours, rinse, then plant.
🌿 10. Ant Repellent
Sprinkle baking soda around ant trails or near plants.
You can also mix it with sugar for added baiting effect.
🍋 Using Baking Soda on Fruit Trees (Lemon, Apple)
Baking soda supports healthy growth and fruit sweetness in lemon and apple trees:
1. Soil pH Balancer
Acidic soil can limit nutrient absorption.
🔸 Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda in 4 liters (1 gallon) of water
🔸 Water around the tree base once a month.
⚠️ Always test pH before applying.
2. Fungus Prevention
see continuation on next page
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