Clever Ways To Use Spices and Herbs In The Garden

Apart from adding taste to your favorite cuisines–spices can be used in other ways too! Here are some Clever Ways To Use Spices and Herbs In The Garden!

Culinary use of spices improves heart health, keeps skin healthy, regulates metabolism, and detoxifies the body.  It also helps in fighting infection, boosting the immune system, and diminishing inflammation. But did you know that spices can also be used in yards? You will be surprised to learn about these Clever Ways To Use Spices In The Garden!

Check out our article on using yogurt in the garden here

1. As a Rooting Hormone

When you propagate plants from cuttings, the rooting hormone increases the probability of successful growth. Cinnamon powder is an excellent alternative to the rooting hormone! Just roll the stem in cinnamon powder before planting. It is natural and inexpensive!

Here are some of the most amazing uses of cinnamon in the garden! 

2. Fighting Fungus

In warm, humid areas, plants are most susceptible to fungal attacks. You can use garlic spray to get rid of the fungus. Another benefit of spraying garlic is that it also acts as an insecticide!

 3. Healing Plant Wounds

Plants may get injured during pruning. Dusting cinnamon on the wounded area prevents fungal infection and encourages healing. You can also use turmeric as it has excellent antibacterial and antifungal properties. Apply as a paste or sprinkle it!

4. Getting Rid of Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew affects a wide range of plants. Turmeric is a useful spice to fight this disease. Mix turmeric and wood ash in the ratio 1:2, respectively, and sprinkle on the affected area to eliminate mildew for good!

5. Killing Mushrooms

Mushrooms are beneficial to the garden because they aid in decomposition. But some of the species are poisonous and can be a cause of concern for children and pets. Sprinkling cinnamon powder kills them in no time!

6. Keeping Ants At Bay

Disturbing plant roots and hindering the growth of small plants are some of the damage ants cause. Spices such as black pepper, chili pepper, cloves, and turmeric are effective against ants. Sprinkle them in powdered form, nearby the ant’s nest.

7. Save Seedlings

Seeds are always susceptible to many diseases caused due to bacteria and fungi. To prevent this, sprinkle cinnamon on the soil where you plant seeds. This will keep them protected, making them germinate successfully!

8. Killing Weeds

Weeds always appear in unwanted places and hinder vegetation growth. Some weeds are also harmful to human health and can cause asthma and other respiratory problems. You can use clove oil to combat weeds.

Here are some of the effective tips to have a weed-free garden! 

9. Repel Rodents

Rodents such as mice, field vole, and bank vole can wreck your garden. Cayenne pepper, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, and garlic are some of the spices which rodents hate. Simply sprinkle them around the area which they frequently visit.

10. Stamp Out Silverfish

Sprinkling spices such as whole cloves and cinnamon on the affected area will repel silverfish. You can also mix one teaspoon each of dried lavender buds, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and black peppercorns. Then, dust it to prevent silverfish.

11. Cure Bug Bites

Bug bites often cause itching and inflammation. While working in the garden, you are most likely to be bitten by bugs. Add two tablespoons of turmeric powder to some water and apply it to the affected area to get relief. It’s completely safe and harmless and even beneficial for the skin!

List of Spices & Herbs You Can Use in Garden

1. Cinnamon

Cinnamon has incredible antifungal properties! It can protect flowers, leaves, and any other part of the plant from fungus and infection. You can spray cinnamon in the garden by mixing it with warm water.

2. Basil

Basil is a natural insect repellent, especially the holy basil. So if you are fed up with mosquitoes, growing them in your garden will repel them effectively!

Check out our article on growing basil here

3. Turmeric

Ants and other pests detest turmeric. You can sprinkle its powder near the roots, leaves, or any other place you find traces of ant. Turmeric mixed with wood ash can treat plants suffering from powdery mildew as well.

Here are some astonishing uses of turmeric in the garden! 

4. Pepper

Black pepper is a natural antibacterial agent. Mixing its powder in the soil will inhibit the growth of bacteria in the plant. Ants also avoid the area sprinkled with black pepper.

Want to grow a black pepper plant? Click here! 

5. Thyme

Whiteflies, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, corn earworms, tomato hornworms, and small white bugs avoid coming around thyme plants. Thyme flowers also attract pollinators like bees to a garden.

6. Rosemary

Rosemary has a powerful aroma, which confuses pests from finding the plants they want. Also, it attracts beneficial insects, hummingbirds, and bees, which helps in pollination.

To find out more about such fascinating benefits of Rosemary, click here! 

7. Mustard

You can use mustard as a weed suppressant in areas of the garden where you have not planted anything. It also prevents soil-borne diseases.

8. Clove

Want to have pest control? Looking forward to repelling ants? Tired of the mosquito infestation? Don’t worry! Clove has got you covered! Check out our article on the amazing uses of cloves in the garden here!

9. Neem

Neem oil works as an excellent natural pesticide and fungicide. If you have whiteflies, mealybugs, scales, aphids, or any other pest infestation on plants, just spray the neem oil solution, and they’ll be no more visible!

Here are some of the potent neem oil uses in the garden

10. Mint

With rich nectar and pollen, mint flowers help attract pollinators in the garden like honeybees and hoverflies. You can also use peppermint oil to deter ants and bothersome fleas!

Fed up of mice? Here is how you can use peppermint oil to get rid of them