Aluminum foil in the garden: 4 unconventional uses for this versatile product
Present in most kitchens for numerous purposes, aluminum foil can also be used in your garden. In fact, there are several benefits that your plants can derive from aluminum foil and using it in the garden will allow you to save on time and resources when cultivating your plants. Further, using aluminum foil in the garden is an eco-friendly activity as the foil used can easily be recycled later when no longer in use.
Below, describe 4 possible uses for aluminum foil in your garden:
1. A non-toxic repellent
Aluminum foil can be used to protect your plants from parasites and diseases:
- To protect young shoots, place a protective perimeter of aluminum foil on the ground around them: passage over the foil will be unpleasant for parasites and will discourage them from doing so; by reflecting the light, the foil will also keep insects and small parasites away and ensure rapid and vigorous growth for your young plants;
- By mixing mulch with pieces of aluminum foil and spreading it around at the base of your plants, you can easily create a barrier to harmful insects;
- Protect your plants by wrapping them in sheets of aluminum foil to repel slugs, aphids and snails; this practice will also protect your plants from the spread of fungal diseases thanks to the low porosity of the foil;
- Keep birds, small rodents and deer away from your shrubs and trees by hanging aluminum foil from the branches or wrapping some around their trunks.
2. Improve the lighting
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The reflective capability of aluminum foil can be used in the garden to improve the lightingyour plants get:
- Place aluminum sheets in the shaded areas of your garden, orienting them so that they reflect the light in the direction of the plants that need it most: in this way you will optimize the lighting, guaranteeing rapid and robust growth and better photosynthesis;
- Even your houseplants can benefit from this use of aluminum foil: by placing foil near a natural source of light and orienting it correctly, you will help shaded plants get better exposure to the light.
3. Protect tools from rust
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Keeping your garden tools in good condition is important, and rust is a major "enemy" here: by wrapping the metal parst of your garden tools in aluminum foil (after cleaning them) you will provide a protective barrier, retarding the development of rust.
4. Thermal insulation
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Keeping the right temperature ranges is also essential for the healthy growth of your plants and you can easily ensure this in two ways:
- You can line the inside of your pots with aluminum foil in order to maximize heat retention and encourage active root growth and uniform heat distribution; the presence of aluminum foil also promotes a good supply of oxygen to the roots, protecting the plants from root rot, fungi and bacteria;
- Protect your plants at night or during the cold seasons by surrounding them with a screen of aluminum foil, which will reflect the light and help conserve heat and humidity.
What other uses do you know for aluminum foil in the garden?
