15 Uses for Vinegar in the Garden

Lifehacker linked to Frugal Gardening’s vinegar uses in the garden post yesterday and while it’s a good resource, it’s certainly not an exhaustive list. Here’s FG’s list and then I shall add some other ideas from equally reputable gardening sites on how to use vinegar in the garden.

Uses of Vinegar in Your Home and Garden

Clay Pot Cleaning

Vinegar will remove the calcium buildup on terracotta pots. Simply soak the affected areas in full strength vinegar.

Kill Grass

Undiluted vinegar will kill grass between bricks and sidewalk cracks. Simply spray where needed.

Kill Weeds

Spraying full strength vinegar on weeds will kill them – be careful not to spray it on the surrounding grass as it will kill that too. If you heat the vinegar up it will have a greater success rate as well.

Deter Ants

Spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known to gather, and the vinegar will keep them away.

Keep Cats Away

Vinegar will help keep cats away from areas you don’t want them. Sprinkle vinegar on any areas where you don’t want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching. Pour it around the perimeter of your children’s sandbox and repeat every two months and this will discourage cats from using it as their sandbox.

Freshen Cut Flowers

Vinegar will help fresh cut flowers last longer. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.

And then this paraphrased list comes from About.com:

Septic Tank Care

If you have a septic tank, use vinegar instead of harsh chemicals to clean the toilet bowl. Let it set overnight if you can; it will keep germs down.

Protect Your Pool from Flies

Pour vinegar around the sides of your pool to help keep flies away.

Make Yourself Unattractive to Mosquitoes

Drink a couple of spoonfuls a day to keep mosquitoes away from you – your perspiration will be unpleasant.

Clean Sprinkler Residue

I use full strength vinegar on a rag to wipe away the lime deposits the sprinklers leave on my car’s paint and windows. You can also dip your clogged sprinkler heads into some vinegar to break down any calcium deposits.

Kill Snails and Slugs

If you have a slug problem, drop a few drops (an eye dropper works well) of white vinegar on them and they will dissolve. But be careful not to get the vinegar on plants, it will kill them.

Cure Lawn Brown Spots

Put a tablespoon of vinegar in your dog’s drinking water every day and you will no longer have those brown spots in your lawn from the dog’s urine.

and some other generic advice vinegar uses:

Help Your Azaleas Bloom

Azaleas love acid so add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar to two cups of water and pour around your azaleas during their flowering season.

Sanitise Your Outdoor Furniture

Pour some vinegar onto a rag and wipe over the furniture. It’s a great sanitizer if you’ve had birds or small animals perching themselves on it.

Remove Berry Stains

It’s always hard to remove stains from mulberries and boysenberries especially. Pour a little vinegar on your hands before washing and the stains should come off much easier.