Learn about 5 Best Castile Soap Uses & Benefits in the garden as it’s completely non-toxic, environment-friendly and biodegradable. Plus, it’s not expensive!
What is Castile Soap?
Castile soap has many benefits, and it’s very popular among environmentally conscious people, but do you know there are castile soap uses in the garden? It’s made from vegetable oils only and NO added animal fats. Also being completely biodegradable it won’t harm the ecosystem. It’s available in the bar and liquid form, but you should buy liquid castile soap when using it in the garden.
Also Read: Hydrogen Peroxide Uses in Garden
1. Insecticidal Soap Spray
Commercial pesticides and insecticides are the best way to get rid of pesky pests and insects. However, they not only kill harmful pests but also damage the environment and don’t forget they’re harmful to human. Castile soap offers a great solution to this problem. It’s natural, biodegradable, safe for plants and inexpensive.
Also Read: How to Make Insecticidal Soap
How to Use:
- For heavy infestation, use one tablespoon of castile soap. Whereas for light infestation, even half tablespoon will do. Make the solution of castile soap by mixing it in a quart of water.
- If you want the castile soap solution to stick to the leaves for a longer duration, add two tablespoons of any cooking oil in this solution. Pour this solution in a spray bottle and spray it directly over the pests.
- Make sure to leave beneficial insects alone as it’ll kill them too. Spray on both top and underside of the leaves, leaving nothing unsprayed. Reapply the spray weekly till you get rid of all the pests.
2. Get Rid of Powdery Mildew
This fungal disease is quite common, and it affects the plants by leeching away the nutrients and blocking sunlight. Not only that but the spores carried off by the wind soon, which infect other plants too! You can take help of castile soap to remove powdery mildew, which offers a chemical-free organic solution.
How to Use:
- Take two tablespoons of baking soda, five tablespoons of vegetable oil in a container and pour two gallons of water.
- Mix all the ingredients and add one teaspoon of pure Castile soap to the solution. Pour this solution in a sprayer and shake it well.
- Before spraying the solution, spray the affected plants with a steady and strong stream of water using a garden hose. The spores will loosen up and make the solution work even more effectively.
- Spray the whole plant with Castile soap solution that includes both tops and underside of leaves, stems, and vines. You can also cover up the soil at the base of the plant and nearby plants with this solution just to be on the safer side.
Also Read: How to Get Rid of Mealybugs
3. Cleaning Fruits and Vegetables
Growing veggies and fruits in your own garden is a great way to ensure that the quality is not compromised. But all your effort may go in vain if you don’t wash the fruits and vegetables properly. The residue of the fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides stays for a long time and is composed of chemicals. Also, the accumulation of dust and dirt on fruits and veggies also makes it unedible. You can get rid of any such buildup on the surface by washing off the fruits and vegetables with castile soap solution.
How to Use:
- The process of making the solution is straightforward. Simply mix one tablespoon of castile soap two cups of water.
- You can store this solution into any spray bottle and keep it nearby the kitchen counter.
- Spray the mature fruits and veggies with this solution after plucking or harvesting them.
- Make sure to wash them thoroughly with plain water after spraying with castile soap solution.
NOTE: Soaking the fruits and veggies for a couple of minutes in the castile soap solution will also work.
Also Read: DIY Foot Washing Hack For Gardeners
4. Cleaning Garden Tools
Gardening tools make gardening easier. Be it shears, spade, shovel, rake or any other they all come in handy. So it makes sense to properly clean and sterilize them after usage as contaminated and unclean tools not only spread plant diseases but are also prone to rust.
How to Use:
- Add two to three tablespoons of castile soap into one quart of water.
- Mix this solution thoroughly and pour it in a spray bottle.
- Spray the solution all over your tools and wipe them up with the rag or towel. You can also use a scrub brush to soiled tools.
Also Read: Amazing Listerine Uses In Garden
5. Washing the Pots
Pots or containers don’t come cheap, especially when they are well designed and made from some expensive material. The good thing is that you can reuse these pots after giving them a thorough rinse. The rinse makes sure that any buildup or contamination from the previous potting soil doesn’t affect the new plant. It also makes the pot clean and shiny as new.
How to Use:
- The washing off with castile soap part comes at the end. First, you need to soak the pot in a solution of vinegar and water.
- Take a large sized bucket or container and fill it with water. Pour a cup of white vinegar for every six cups of water.
- Soak the pot in this solution for around half an hour. Turn the pot if it doesn’t get fully submerged after 15-20 minutes.
- The final step is washing the pot with castile soap and water and wiping it with a clean cloth.
Also Read: Amazing Garlic Uses in Garden
