Epsom salt in the garden

Well known as an exfoliating scrub and body bath for aching muscles, Epsom salt is also beneficial in gardens. Epsom salt is just another name for magnesium sulfate – considered an affordable and natural remedy for gardens as it can deter an array of pests and help in growing beautiful and healthy plants.

When plants grow healthy they suffer less damage as pests and diseases attack them. Pests are a common enemy in gardens and they can damage plants by feeding on them from root to foliage. Epsom salt is a handy pest control remedy anyone can use, but in severe cases of pest infestations in gardens, it is best that a pest control professional applies suitable treatments to get rid of pests without harming your plants.

How Can Epsom Salt Help Your Garden

Magnesium sulfate is commonly used in soil magnesium or sulfur deficiencies. This is because sulfur is an essential micronutrient, while magnesium is an important element in chlorophyll molecules.

As such, Epsom salt is now being used to keep garden pests away, produce more flowers, assist in seed germination, improve phosphorus and nitrogen intake, improve chlorophyll production and enhance the thickness of plants.

Since Epsom salt is accessible to everyone, you can easily buy it from any supermarket.

Create A Bait With Epsom Salt

Pests will not only infest your garden, but they will infest your home too. Once you detect pests in your home, put a bowlful of Epsom salt on the floor with wooden sticks leaning from the floor to the edge of the bowl. The pests will climb the sticks and feast on the salt. Since magnesium sulfate is toxic to pests, they will die after consuming the Epsom salt.

Applying Epsom Salt As A Solution

You can make a solution by dissolving a cup of Epsom salt with five gallons of water. Then pour the solution in a sprayer and spray the solution on your plants. The solution will burn the slugs and ward them off your garden, along with beetles. If you find any other pests crawling about, you can simply pick them up and drown them in a bucket of Epsom salt solution.

Sprinkling Epsom Salt As A Deterrent

You can also make a pet deterrent by sprinkling some Epson salt around your garden and around every plant. When you plant seeds, sprinkle some salt in a row and reapply every two weeks. Not only will you be keeping pests away from your garden, but you will also be giving your garden plants a nutritional boost. To ensure that your garden will always be safe from pests, sprinkle three pounds of Epsom salt for every 1,250 square feet of garden.

Tips On Using Epsom Salt For Your Garden

If you will be using Epsom salt as a natural pest control remedy for your garden, then these tips will surely help you out –

Shrubs – Apply a tablespoon for every nine square feet of shrubs, but do not forget to reapply every two to four weeks.

Tomatoes – Apply a tablespoon of Epsom salt per foot of plant height for every plant and reapply every two weeks. Houseplants – You can feed your plants every month with two tablespoons for every gallon of water.

Lawns – Dilute three pounds of Epsom salt for every 1,250 square feet of lawn in water and then apply the mixture by a pump sprayer.

30 responses to “Epsom Salt – Pest Control Treatment And Nourishment Booster For Gardens”

  1. debrahentges Avatar
    debrahentges

    I’ve tried diet cola in my gopher holes and they don’t come back. I’ve used it several times and it really works. Just clear the hole and pour some in and they’re gone.

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  2. I have mice that are digging in my house plants. I spread some on the top of the soil and am praying it will deter them. Do you think that will work?

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  3. […] salt. Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) is an effective deterrent against numerous pests. You can use it as bait, in solution, or pour it […]

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  4. Josephine Germaine Avatar
    Josephine Germaine

    I have been using Epsom salts in my yard to get rid of grubs and moles. It works like a charm. It does not harm the grass at all. I simply put it in my seed spreader after mowing and put a fine layer of salt directly onto the grass. I just have to make sure it works on ants as well.

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  5. How much water is used to dilute the 3 pounds of Epson salt for the lawn application?

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    1. A mix of 2 tablespoons of Epson salts to 2 litres of water works well for me. Good luck!

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  6. Can you use the Epsom salts as a spray to kill bugs that get in railroad ties? Or us it better to just sprinkle the end on salts close to the railroad ties?

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  7. […] y aspersión son dos de los más formas efectivas de la utilización de estas sales ricas en magnesio para combatir […]

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  8. […] and sprinkling are two of the most effective ways of using these magnesium rich salts to combat […]

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  9. […] Epsom salt was mentioned as effective in controlling ants. Here is an advice from Groundtoground.org how you can use this substance for this […]

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  10. […] and sprinkling are two of the most effective ways of using these magnesium rich salts to combat […]

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  11. Carpenter ants 🐜 were trying to invade my home when I discovered this deterrent. I accidentally spilled some Epsom salts while running a bath and forgot to sweep up my mess afterwards. I haven’t seen any more intruders since my happy accidental discovery.

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  12. […] and sprinkling are two of the most effective ways of using these magnesium rich salts to combat […]

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  13. […] and sprinkling are two of the most effective ways of using these magnesium rich salts to combat […]

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  14. Can I use epsom salts to kill mealy bugs on my bougainvillea?

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  15. Sharon Mcinnis Avatar
    Sharon Mcinnis

    ???
    Will epsomsalt deter fleas, ticks ang snakes in the yard ??

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  16. Can it kill the little flies in house potted plants?

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    1. Set out an apple cider vinegar trap for the fungus gnats. Try not to over water plants and remove any excess water in plant saucers.

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  17. You say to dilute three ;pounds of E.Salt for every 1250 sq. ft. but you didn’t mention how much water to mix it in.

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    1. That would depend on how much your sprayer puts out. If your sprayer puts out 20 gallons per 1250 square feet then use 20 gallons of water to dilute the salt.

      Liked by 2 people

  18. I have a puppy and a cat who roam my garden, is it safe for them to ingest Epsom salts?

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    1. Hi Eleonor, thanks for writing in! Unless they consume the salts in large quantities, the worse thing they should get is diarrhea. Epsom salts are used as a natural laxative so should apply to them also.

      If you are concerned, maybe try using a small amount of salts and see how they react to it. It’s possible that they have no interest in them at all, but if its swallowed in small amounts might also be nothing to worry about.

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    2. You could try raking or working the salts into the soil vs just surface sprinkling.

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  19. Does Magnesium Sulphate ( Epsom Salts) kill Monarch caterpillars? if so it cannot be used in a butterfly garden?
    Am I right in this assumption?

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  20. Commercial Pest Control Avatar
    Commercial Pest Control

    Thanks for sharing interesting and valuable tip on termite control.

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    1. No worries – happy to help.

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  21. Agreed Epsom Salt is a good way for pest control treatment, it is one of the preferred methods for making our garden clear.

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  22. I love items like epsom salts and bicarb of soda that are so simple and yet can do so much.

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    1. You bet Ray. It doesn’t take old school material to get most things done in the backyard and the house. Coffee grounds are a bit like that also.

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