Amazing Benefits of Vinegar in the Garden & Why It Works

by Alexis @ Chemistry Cachet

2 Materials

5 Minutes

Easy

Vinegar is a unique household chemical. Formally, it’s known as acetic acid, so the acidic chemical properties make it useful for many things.

In fact, there are some amazing benefits of vinegar in the garden. Today we will talk about those plus why these benefits actually work, thanks to chemistry.

Although this post is beneficial all year, it can be hopeful in the fall for clearing out flower beds and helpful for spring.

amazing benefits of vinegar in the garden why it works

1. Clear out Weeds

Vinegar is so acidic, it can do wonders for weeds. You can use this a few ways. Make a batch of this homemade weed killer, whose main ingredient is vinegar.

This is a fast working weed killer that can clean out walkways, flower beds, or any area you need weeds to leave.

If you have a large portion to clear, you can take straight vinegar and pour over the entire area. This will take a few doses and doesn’t work as fast as the weed killer, but it slowly clears out vegetation. This is great for fall and spring cleaning in flower beds.

2. Deter Animals

Spraying an area with vinegar or keeping bowls of vinegar out around your garden, can deter many animals. If you have trouble with cats using your garden, this can help. It can also keep away deer, rabbits, and more. Just remember to keep the area surrounded by vinegar. You can spray soil lightly with vinegar and keep bowls of it around too.

3. Feed Acid Loving Plants

If you have an acid loving plant, vinegar is a great addition. This might seem strange since vinegar is used to also kill plants.

Straight vinegar has a very high pH and can shock/kill plants especially weeds due to their shallow roots and the way they grow.

Diluted vinegar has a slightly low pH, but not anywhere near as low as concentrated vinegar.

To make diluted vinegar to water your acid loving plants: mix 1 cup vinegar to 1 gallon of water. Water plants lightly.

Make sure your plant likes acidic pH. If not, you can use this homemade plant food (click blog post link at the bottom for this recipe)

4. Clean out Bird Bath

Now that it’s fall, it’s time to clean out things that stayed wet and warm all summer. Bird baths carry bacteria especially during the summer months. The best way to kill bacteria and clean the bath is vinegar.

Just pour vinegar in the bird bath, scrub well, and rinse.

5. Clean out Pots

Now that summer is over, you might have pots that are empty again. Plastic and clay pots can get mineral deposits and crusty areas that are hard to remove. Just use some vinegar and a little dish soap to scrub those areas clean, then store your pots until spring comes.

For cleaning garden tools, hummingbird feeders, vegetables and more CLICK HERE for the details.

Vinegar is so helpful to use RIGHT now during the fall for all these great garden needs!

We always use 5% acidity for vinegar found in the grocery section of your store. Remember to click the blog link below to get ALL the important chemist tips on using vinegar.