kevin rossel/morguefile


Baking soda is one of those items that I find myself turning to more often, for a variety of jobs around my house. It's a vital part of a green cleaning kit -- you can clean ovens with it, freshen carpets, and even strip paint with it. But it's not all about cleaning. You can also use it as a facial scrub, teeth whitener, and deodorant.

While there are myriad uses for baking soda in our homes, I wanted to introduce you to a few ways to use it out in the garden as well. Here are four of my favorite ways to use baking soda in my garden.

Using Baking Soda in the Garden

1. Make a Spray to Treat and Prevent Powdery Mildew Powdery mildew is a problem for many plants, including lilacs, monarda, and zinnias. Squashes and cucumbers are particularly susceptible to it in my neck of the woods. Here is a simple, all-natural spray you can make to treat and prevent powdery mild using baking soda, water, and dish detergent.

2. Sprinkle Baking Soda on Cabbages (and other Brassicas) to Thwart Caterpillars If those small green cabbage worms have been making Swiss cheese of your cabbage, broccoli, and kale plants, try this trick: Make a 50/50 combination of flour and baking soda, and dust it all over whichever plants the cabbage worms are eating. They'll eat the combo while munching the leaves, and die within a day or so. Repeat as necessary.

3. Sweep Baking Soda into Sidewalk Cracks to Discourage Weeds


4. Kill Crabgrass

Crabgrass can be really annoying, and if you're noticing it in your lawn, garden beds, or sidewalk cracks, you can use baking soda to get rid of it. Simply wet it down, then pour a thick dusting of baking soda on it. The crabgrass will start dying back in two to three days. One word of caution: try to be careful where you're applying the baking soda, because you could harm your lawn grass if you get too much of the baking soda on it.

I hope these garden-related baking soda tips come in handy. I think it's time for me to start buying this stuff in bulk!