Who knew that these pantry ingredients were so good for the garden?
Put pantry staples—like baking soda, vinegar and olive oil—to good use in your garden. These genius ideas will encourage growth, keep pests at bay and ensure your garden is the most beautiful one on the block.
Make Flowers Bloom with Baking Soda
If there were an award for most versatile of pantry ingredients, baking soda would certainly be a nominee. In addition to these clever ways to clean with baking soda, you can sprinkle it on the surface of your soil to make your geraniums, coneflowers, daylilies and clematis bloom like crazy. That’s because baking soda is alkaline, and those flowers thrive on alkaline soil.
Repel Ants with Cream of Tartar
No one wants to share their outdoor dining table with ants, but if you’re not inclined to use chemicals to keep them away, you can use cream of tartar instead. Simply sprinkle a bit of cream of tartar on the perimeter of the table or wherever you want to “dust their trail,” recommends the Farmer’s Almanac. In case you’re wondering
Repel Squirrels with Cayenne
Squirrels are adorable until they start digging up your daffodil and tulip bulbs. To deter them, sprinkle cayenne pepper around your bulb gardens. Reapply when you see the squirrels returned.
