Using Epsom Salt In Your Garden

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Have you ever tried using Epsom salt in your garden? It has many uses.

Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, can be a beneficial supplement for some plants in the garden, particularly those deficient in magnesium. It is made up of hydrated magnesium sulfate, which is a naturally occurring mineral.

Epsom salt can help with seed germination, increase chlorophyll production, and potentially deter pests like slugs. However, it’s not a replacement for a balanced fertilizer and should be used judiciously.

Epsom salt was first discovered in the year 1618 by a local cow herder in Epsom Common, England.

Tips Our Grandmothers Used:

Epsom salt is one of the many ideas our grandmothers used to enhance gardens cheaply.

Pour at the base of the plant and allow the solution to soak into the ground. Magnesium sulfate is pH-neutral so that it won’t harm your soil.

Counter Transplant Shock:

To counter transplant shock, provide plants with Epsom salt once they’ve been transplanted. This should help injured roots.

Layer soil on top of the salt so that roots don’t come into direct contact with the concentrated minerals right away.

Pre-Planting Regimen:

Before planting, soak root balls in 1/2 cup of Epsom salt diluted in one gallon of water.

Dig a hole and place about a tablespoon of Epsom salt in the bottom of the hole. Cover with a thin layer of dirt. Put the plant in the hole and fill in with soil.

Using Epsom Salt As A Top Dressing: 

During the growing season, sprinkle about a tablespoon of Epsom salt directly around the base of the plant. Water thoroughly.

Pest Control:

Epsom salt, in many cases, provides a natural cure for slugs. Sprinkle Epsom salt where there are slugs.

Using Epsom Salt As A Weed Killer:

Epsom salt, vinegar, and dish soap are a common combination for a natural weed killer, where the salt and vinegar dehydrate the weeds, and the soap helps the solution adhere.

Mix two cups of Epsom salt with one gallon of vinegar. Add a bit of liquid dish soap to the mixture and put it in a spray bottle. Spray weeds, but try to avoid flowers and other plants.

I always lean toward natural solutions to fix problems. It’s much cheaper to use Epsom salt in my garden instead of turning to dangerous chemicals for help.

How Much Epsom Salt Do You Put in a Gallon of Water?

You can find many different formulas for applying Epsom salt to plants. The easiest way to use it is to put it in your watering can, one or two times a month, using one tablespoon of Epsom salt per gallon of water.

When diluted with water, Epsom salt is most easily taken up by plants when applied as a foliar spray. Most plants can be misted with a solution of two tablespoons of Epsom salt per gallon of water once a month. For more frequent watering, every other week, cut this back to one tablespoon.

With roses, you can apply a foliar spray of one tablespoon per gallon of water for each foot of the shrub’s height. Apply in spring as leaves appear and then again after flowering.