From improving soil fertility to cleaning tools: 6 ways to use lemon peels in garden
What makes lemon peels, which are usually thrown away, effective is the natural acids contained in them, which can be used in making mosquito repellent and several other pest repellents. Several experts told MarthaStewart.com that there are several ways in which lemon peels can be used in the garden.
Pest repellent
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Lemons can be used to make a pest spray for the garden. Add mint leaves to the recipe to add another level of fragrance pests hate, or a teaspoon of dish soap to spray on plants with aphids. Use the all-natural spray in garden beds and reapply as needed to maintain the scent.
Some peels can also be placed around the base of plants or the edge of the garden to make a physical barrier that deters pests in tandem with the peels' unwelcome fragrance.
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Improve soil acidity
Lemon peels contain
citric acid
, which can influence the soil's acidity when added to a compost pile. Put lemon peels in the compost bin with other organic materials; after six months of turning the pile or bin, the compost can be used around acid-loving plants like blueberries and azaleas. If there is no compost pile, lemon peels can still be used to change the soil's acidity.
Fertilize the soil
Sara Rubens, certified garden coach and founder of Seed to Sanctuary, told marthastewart.com that vitamins and nutrients in lemon peels can be used to improve your garden's health by turning them into a liquid fertilizer. Rubens suggests making a gentle homemade fertilizer by soaking chopped lemon peels in water for a couple of days. After soaking, strain the mixture and use the nutrient-rich water to feed your plants.
Attract butterflies
Adrienne Roethling, head gardener for a private estate and former curator of Juniper Level Botanic Gardens at Plant Delights Nursery, told the lifestyle website that lemon peels can be left around the backyard to encourage butterflies to visit and pollinate the garden.
Helps in cleaning tools
The citric acid in the lemon peels can also be used for cleaning the garden tools, which can help in minimizing the spread of diseases in the garden. 'Just rub the peel over dirty surfaces to cut through grime before rinsing and drying," Rubens said.
Grow new seeds
Lemon peels, according to Rubens, can also be used as biodegradable pots, which can be used to start new plants. "After scooping out the pulp, poke a drainage hole in the bottom, fill with seed-starting mix, and plant your seeds. When the seedlings are ready to transplant, the whole lemon cup can be planted directly into the soil, where it will decompose and enrich the earth," she said.
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