21 Amazing Uses of Epsom Salt for Gardening

There are various reasons to use Epsom salt for gardening. The salt contains magnesium, which gardeners would refer to as the major element in the growth of plants. It aids in speeding up plant growth while also increasing the nutrient uptake of plants and deterring pests. Aside from these, here are the 21 amazing uses of Epsom salt for gardening.

1. Improve the Germination of Seeds

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If you will use Epsom salt as soil amendment before you begin seeding, you are giving your garden a powerful boost right from the start. The Magnesium that’s found in the Epsom salt helps in the strengthening of the cell walls, which leads to a much stronger seedling.

2. Increase the Nutrient Uptake of Plants

A lot of gardeners will use the Epsom salt as fertilizers due to the presence of Magnesium in it. In fact, a lot of commercial fertilizers are being added with magnesium in order to help the plant roots in taking up vital nutrients.

3. Prevent the Curling of Leaves

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Another Epsom salt use in the garden would be to prevent the curling of the leaves, which is often due to magnesium deficiency among plants. Adding the salt around the base of the plant can help to prevent the leaves from curling.

4. Counter Transplant Shock

You have probably noticed how those plants and seedlings wilt whenever you move them from one pat to another, or from the indoors to the outdoors, etc. To avoid this, feed your plants with Epsom salt as soon as they are planted on their new environment.

5. Grow Sweeter Fruits

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In the life cycle of a plant, it is the production of fruits that is considered the most taxing process. Applying Epsom salt to your trees, including nut trees and bushes can help to boost the level of chlorophyll inside the plant cells, which makes the trees to produce sweeter and healthier fruit.

6. Scare All Pests Away

One of the Epsom salt uses in the garden is as a pest control. The salt can be used to scare off pests from your garden. The hydrated magnesium salt crystals that the salt is made of are sharp once it is sprinkled on plant. The salts could scratch and irritate the feet and bodies of unwanted critters.

7. Sweeter Tomatoes

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Tomato vines are among those garden plants where the fruit to plant ratio is heavier than average and this leads to a higher possibility of deficiency in magnesium. It is for this reason why tomato plants must be treated with Epsom salt twice as much as that of the other plants.

8. Used in Garden and Landscapes

The Epsom salt is also a great choice for gardening and landscaping. It is very safe to use and the biggest benefit is that it helps flowering plants to produce more flowers, which makes your garden and landscape look even prettier.

9. Green Up Foliage

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Those plants that are not getting the right amount of magnesium are identified through its yellowing leaves. The reason is because magnesium is an important component in the chlorophyll production. By applying the salt at least once a month, the plants in your garden will surely green up.

10. Produce More Flowers

As mentioned above, the Epsom salt is great for gardening and landscaping as it helps flowering plants to produce more flowers. Furthermore, it also helps to prevent the plants from becoming yellow which is usually due to sulfate deficiency.

Also Read: How To Grow Cauliflower From Seeds in Pots

11. Lawn and Grass

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The Epsom salt can also help in the process of germination and assist in the growth of the seed in its early stages. The minerals found within the Epsom salt can also help the grass to become greener and healthier and helps the grass roots to become even stronger and improve its ability to withstand the harsh effects of the environment.

12. Cure Crawling Slimy Slugs

Another benefit of Epsom salt for gardening is that it acts as a natural pesticide control, which helps to cure any crawling slimy slugs. You can sprinkle salt on where the slugs would glide along and you can then say goodbye to these pests.

13. More Plentiful Peppers

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Peppers are also among those garden plants that have higher than average ratio of fruit to plant. Thus, they must be fed with enough magnesium, which is in the form of Epsom salt in order to have a much higher yield of peppers.

14. Helps Remove Splinters from your Hands

Another great benefit of Epsom salt in gardening is to help remove splinters from hands. As you know, gardening could sometimes lead to painful blisters on your hands. You can make use of the Epsom salt in removing the splinter.

15. Produce Beautiful Roses

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Aside from helping the rose plant to produce so many large blossoms, the magnesium in the salt can also help in the growth of new canes.

16. Weed Killer

You can also use Epsom salt as a weed killer. Simply mix two cups of the salt with a gallon of vinegar. You can also add dish soap to the mixture and then spray it directly to the plants.

17. Prevent Palm Trees from Getting Frizzle Top

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Palm trees that have a deficiency in magnesium will have a frizzle top. In this case, the top of the leaves of the palm trees will look like it’s having a bad hair day and if the palm trees are in your backyard, then this can sure affect the landscape look. With the help of Epsom salt, frizzle top can be avoided.

18. Removal of Tree Stump

Another amazing benefit of Epsom salt in gardening is to remove tree stump. The salt is also known for its excellent absorption properties. Thus, it is capable of sucking water out of the wood, which makes it easier for the tree stump to be removed.

19. Care for Potted Plant

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Potted plants that have deficiency in magnesium can benefit greatly from the Epsom salt. Simply add tbsp. of the salt to a gallon of water and you can feed the solution to your potted plants.

20. Beautiful and Healthy Trees and Shrubs

The Epsom salt can also help to keep your trees and shrubs healthy and make them to stay in bloom for the whole year.

Also Read: How To Grow Bell Peppers Indoors From Seeds

21. Fuller and Fancier Ferns

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When the ferns are becoming yellowish and dull looking, they will not look beautiful and could affect the look of your landscape. But if you apply Epsom salt on your ferns regularly, it will have fancier and fuller leaves, which will make your landscape looking great.

Final Thoughts

Aside from the things mentioned above, there are several other great benefits of using Epsom salt for gardening. So if you think your plants and trees have magnesium deficiency, then you know you can count on the Epsom salt!