Apple Cider Vinegar Uses for Gardening

Although apple cider vinegar uses have been typically related to cooking and health in the past, today its utility has transcended to gardening. Its various helpful purposes in the garden include eliminating harmful insects, killing weeds, enhancing the growth of plants, and nourishing the soil. And it can even clean your flower pots and patio.

Many gardeners use fungicides and pesticides for the maintenance of their garden, products that are not only expensive but also potentially harmful to humans and pets. A cheap, natural and safe alternative is to use apple cider vinegar. There are no negative side effects such as those typically found in toxic gardening products. Below are some of the popular garden uses of the environmentally friendly apple cider vinegar.

Control pests:
Eliminate roaches, bugs and slugs. Mix one cup of apple cider vinegar in two liters of water in a spray bottle which you should keep close at hand. Squirt directly on the pests. You can discourage ants from forming anthills in the garden or around your home by spraying apple cider vinegar in spaces where ants congregate, in the crevices of your house foundation, and on their foraging trails.

Keep cats away from the garden:
Neighborhood stray cats will usually refrain from using your garden as their litter box if you soak wads of paper in apple cider vinegar and scatter them in the garden. Cats dislike the odor of vinegar.

Kill garden weeds:
Pour apple cider vinegar directly on weeds, and also into cracks along walking paths and the driveway to destroy any potential roots of unwanted plants.

Encourage blooms on flowering plants:
Flowering plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, and gardenias grow best in acidic soils with pH levels between 4 and 5.5. Apple cider vinegar uses include keeping these plants healthy in an optimally acidic soil in order to help promote flower growth. Spray the plants regularly, typically once a week, with a solution consisting of 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) water, avoiding the blooms so as not to harm them.

Extend the life of cut flowers:
Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to one quart of water and place your cut blooms and foliage into the solution to prolong their life in flower arrangements.

Facilitate germination of certain seeds:
Vegetable seeds such as okra and asparagus can be difficult to germinate due to their woody and tough outer skins. Soak the seeds in a pint of warm water with ½ cup of apple cider vinegar overnight, and plant the seeds the next day in the usual way.

Improve the acidity of the soil:
Mix a cup of apple cider vinegar with a gallon of water to increase the acidity of your garden soil, especially in hard water areas. Use this solution to water the garden.

Clean garden clay pots, the patio and driveway:
Apple cider vinegar will remove the salt buildup on your favorite clay pots. Simply soak the affected parts of the pot in 3 part apple cider vinegar and 1 part water. Not only will it clean the clay pot, but it will also disinfect it. It can help destroy mold and remove dirt between patio stones/pavers and from driveways. It will restore the original color of the pavers and discourage the growth of weeds and grass between patio stones.

Apple cider vinegar uses for the garden are plentiful. A beautiful well-kept garden is a homeowner’s pride and joy.

Written by:
Lukas Van Der Burg is a personal trainer and nutrition specialist. He provides articles for a number of places including this site Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits.