Skip to Content

Using Epsom Salts in the Garden | Essential Homestead

Using Epsom Salts in the Garden | Essential Homestead

Epsom Salts in the Garden
Have you thought about using Epsom Salts in the garden?  Lately, I’ve been finding more and more uses for Epsom Salts.   The benefits of Epsom salt aren’t just for your grandma. In fact, there are numerous studies about the benefits of magnesium and sulfate, two major components of Epsom salt.  Most people think it’s just for aches and pains but it’s so much more than that.  Americans are magnesium deficient. Doctors say it stems largely from the increase of processed foods. Today, 68 percent of U.S. adults consume less than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of magnesium, according to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, and 19 percent consume less than half of the RDA.  The lack of magnesium can contribute to high blood pressure, hyperactivity, heart problems and other health issues. So what can you do?  Using Epsom salts is a safe way to get more magnesium and sulfate.  Here’s a few ways to use Epsom Salts in your homestead garden:

  • Prep your garden by sprinkling 1 cup of Epsom salt over 100 square feet. Mix into the soil before planting.
  • Spray your peppers at bloom time. Combine 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt with a gallon of water. Ten days later, repeat the spray again.
  • Tomatoes can benefit from Epsom salt every 2 weeks. Apply 1 tablespoon diluted in water per foot of plant height per plant.
  • Soak unplanted rose bushes in 1/2 cup of Epsom salt per gallon of water to help roots recover. Then add a tablespoon of Epsom salt to each hole at planting time.
  • Spray roses with Epsom salt solution weekly (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) to help discourage pests.
  • Trees absorb Epsom Salt best over the root zone. Use 2 tablespoons per 9 square feet by diluting in water. Apply 3 times each year.
  • For shrubs (evergreens, azaleas, rhododendron), apply 1 tablespoon per 9 square feet over the root zone by diluting in water. Apply every 2 to 4 weeks.
  • For Fruit plant, mix Epsom salt with water at a ratio of about a quarter-cup of Epsom salt per 500 square feet when you irrigate your plants.
  • Feed house plants monthly by adding 2 tablespoons Epsom salt per gallon of water

 

Resource:  http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/

Learn More

If you are interested, make sure to check out the Homesteaders section on Amazon. Here, you can find books and guides on how to easily homestead and tips on how to do it better.