Clever Uses for Castile Soap in the Garden

Castile Soap in the Garden

We've already discussed the many ways that castile soap can save time and money in your home. So, how about taking your favorite bottle of castile soap and heading out to the garden? I'm sure it's no surprise that this soap wonder has some tremendous outdoor uses as well. It might not be a bad idea to keep a bottle in your garden shed or garden box. (You have a garden box, don't you?) But before we jump in, it helps to understand what makes this simple soap so effective.

Traditionally, Castile soap is made from olive oil produced in the Castile region of Spain, hence the name. However, now it can be made with many natural oils – coconut, almond, avocado, and hemp. (All of which are great for your skin.) Instead of saponified fats that strip away moisture, castile soap uses hydrating oils, meaning it cuts through grime but isn't drying like most soaps. This means it's okay to use on your plants. (This is the only soap I use on my wooden cutting boards and kitchen utensils.)

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1. Insecticide spray

Bugs are everywhere, though, unfortunately, not as much as before. This means more gardeners are careful about spraying their gardens. As our pollinators decrease, insects become a problem and reach for things like neem oil. Castile soap is a great, natural option for pest control in the garden. It works well on soft-bodied insects like aphids and other bugs like flea beetles, squash bugs, and Colorado potato beetles. You can even use it to drown Japanese beetles.

In her advice on dealing with aphids, Lindsey advises using homemade insecticidal soap, you guessed it, castile soap.

Homemade insecticidal soap

You will need:

Quart jar with lid

Castile soap

Water (if you have hard water, use distilled)

Measuring spoon

Funnel

Spray bottle

To prepare :

Mix a tablespoon of cast soap with 2 cups of water in a jar. Screw on the lid and shake gently to mix. Using a funnel, transfer the insecticidal soap to a spray bottle. Don't forget to label your bottle.

Remember, when you choose to use a spray, a natural one affects all insects in your garden, not just insects. Always spray in the evening after the flowers close to minimize your impact on bees.

House Plants  👇

2. Powdery mildew

Powdery mildew is a pain in the butt. There I said it. Because the spores are carried by the wind and overwinter in the soil, it is almost impossible to destroy them. So, we are left to deal with it every year.

But you can get ahead of it and keep it to a minimum by practicing good garden hygiene. Prune large susceptible plants like zucchini well and spray with a batch of powdery mildew.

You will need:

Quart jar with lid

Castile soap

Baking soda

Water (if you have hard water, use distilled)

Measuring spoon

Funnel

Spray bottle

To prepare

Mix one teaspoon of castile soap and one teaspoon of baking soda in 2 cups of water. Screw on the lid and shake gently to mix. Using a funnel, transfer the insecticidal soap to a spray bottle. Don't forget to label your bottle.

Pumpkin plants are more susceptible to powdery mildew and spray your plants thoroughly with bee balm, covering the top and bottom of the leaves. Spray in the afternoon/evening when the flowers close. But make sure you still have time to dry the plant before the snow settles.

3. Wash your vegetables

Although it is not technically a garden use, it is close to the garden. If you want to get technical, you can wash your vegetables in your garden before bringing them inside. Plus, it works great.

Use castile soap to wash your fruits and vegetables. Granted, if you're picking them from your garden it's not that much of a problem. That is unless you spray neem oil on it.

I say; Goose with neem oil does not taste good.

Not that I know from personal experience, I guess.

Full-strength castile soap works wonders for removing wax from fruits like apples and citrus, which is important when making homemade limoncello.

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4. Clean pots before reuse

Yes, this is one of those houseplants and garden chores that we tend to ignore. That is until we lose one of our favorite plants. It is important to wash pots and plants thoroughly before reusing them for a new plant. Most plant diseases are in the soil, and when you put that soil in a porous pot, you're asking for trouble.

Take the time to give those pots a good scrub with hot water and castile soap. Wash them thoroughly and dry them in the sun before use. Your plants will thank you.

5. Clean garden tools before pruning & at the end of the season

This node goes hand in hand with the number four. Often, when we prune a plant, it is to remove dead or diseased parts of the plant. While it's best to clean your pruning tools right after you're done (to extend the life of the tool), we rarely remember. It's very easy to get into the habit of cleaning your tools before you start pruning. Wash your loppers, hand pruners, and scissors thoroughly with soap and hot water in that bottle.

Don't forget, if you're pruning diseased parts of a plant, you'll need to clean your tools before moving on to other pruning tasks. Before closing up the garden shed for the year, give all your tools a good scrubbing so they're ready to go next spring.

6. Keep cute creatures from eating your garden

Bunnies are cute, aren't they? With their long ears and fluffy little tails, it's hard not to love these sweet little creatures. Until you watch them sit quietly in the middle of your flowerbed and crush an entire hosta leaf flat in less than twenty seconds without even pulling a whisker.