Ants aren’t the worst pest that you can find in your garden, but every home gardener knows that the more tempting your landscaping, the more likely it is that these little insects will find their way through it and into your home. Thankfully, baby powder can help here! Just sprinkle some around your foundation, doorways, and other points of entry. Ants hate this stuff, and they’ll divert their path another way – and away from your house!
2. Deter Aphids
Also known as plant lice, greenflies, blackflies, and whiteflies, these sap-sucking, plant-killing pests have a mutual relationship with ants. That’s right, some species of ants protect and feed on the milk the aphids produces, and they even carry eggs from plant to plant. So, by keeping the ants away, you will keep the aphids away too. Simply sprinkle some baby powder around the flowers where you have noticed them.
3. Banish Beetles
The pest-deterring powers of baby powder isn’t just limited to ants and aphids – another common problematic garden insect hates the stuff just as much – the Japanese beetle. Baby powder will prevent these leaf-destroying bugs from munching their way happily through your plants. Simply sprinkle some baby powder onto the leaves, and reapply after it rains until beetle season has finished.
Us gardeners don’t only have to worry about insects attacking our plants - pests can come in a furry and adorable form too. Rabbits are some of the most persistent, hopping into flower beds to munch on whatever they can get their paws on. Baby powder will discourage them from eating the younger plants and seedlings. Simply shake some powder over them, and they will be off the rabbits’ dinner menu.
5. Make Gloves Gentle
Your fruit, veggies, and flowers are not the only things that will benefit from the addition of baby powder to your gardening routine; your hands will thank you too! Have you ever noticed how at the end of a day of gardening, your gloves are hard to take off and/or leave your hands red and raw? Well, baby powder will help. All you have to do is sprinkle some inside the gloves before you put them on and go to work. They will slip off a lot easier at the end of the day, and will leave your skin feeling baby soft, too.
6. Make Tools Less Rough
Another way to protect your hands at work is to prevent your spades, shears, and shovels from giving you blisters. Not only will coating them in baby powder protect your hands from the roughness, it will add some gentle friction to prevent them from slipping from your grasp.
7. Freshen up Your Footwear
8. Baby Your Bulbs
Tiny seedlings, just like tiny humans, can be babied with baby powder. Give any bulbs you are planning on growing a head start and extra protection from pests by giving them a baby powder bath before you plant them in the ground. All you need to do is place the bulbs in a plastic zip-top bag (5-6 at a time), add in 3 tablespoons of baby powder, and shake to coat.
Source: tiphero
Photos: depositphotos
