The spring and summer months are the perfect time to enjoy a juicy orange or some fresh squeezed lemonade. But when you are done, don’t toss those citrus peels in the trash. They can actually prove to be quite beneficial to your garden, providing it with nutrients, pest protection, and more. Take a look below at 5 ways to use citrus peels in your garden. These little peels can pack some gardening power you may not expect.
5 Ways to Use Citrus Peels in Your Garden
1. Give your compost pile some nitrogen.
Nitrogen is a much needed ingredient in your compost pile. One of the easiest ways to add nitrogen to your compost pile is to add citrus peels to it. As they decompose nitrogen will be added. You don’t have to do anything special, just toss the peels into the compost when you have them.
2. Stir in some nutrients to your soil.
Citrus peels contain sulfur, magnesium, calcium and more nutrients your garden will thrive off of. Stir some of these nutrients into your soil when you dry the peels and then blend them into a fine powder. Stir the powder directly into the soil and let the magic happen.
3. Say goodbye to aphids.
Aphids can eat away at your greenery, causing unsightly holes and discoloring. Beat them at their own game. Take orange peels and create a slit in them, then slide them on to the plant you wish to protect. It is just that easy.
4. Repel mosquitoes.
You can keep mosquitoes from biting when you add some citrus peels to your garden. Rubbing the peels on plants, on your skin, or even simmering the peels in water and using as a spray can help keep your skin bite free.
5. Attract some fluttery friends.
Leaving citrus peels in a shallow dish is a great way to attract butterflies to your garden. They will come and feed off of the sweet juices left on the peels and in turn add some color and ambiance to your garden.
So don’t toss those peels, use them in your garden instead. They are the perfect product for creating a healthy and pest free space you can enjoy all season long.
More Frugal Gardening Tips
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Monique says
The peels will keep cats away from your garden.
Just put them between your plants.
Greetings from the Netherlands.
Monique
M. Brown says
Yes, this is one I heard about years ago. Surprised the one about cats was not on this site as well.
Joline says
Thank you for the citrus peel idea. I just juiced some of my Meyer lemons (84 cubes of lemon juice made in ice cube trays and frozen) and saved the peels to make lemon marmelaide but will spread some in my yard. I tried the citrus peel on butterfly bushes and no more aphids!
Leona says
Can I sock the peels in water an let them decompost and put them in the dirt after?
Nancy Sink says
We have greenhouses and also produce. We are having a lot of trouble with slugs and aphids. I was happy to read your organic remedy for aphids as I have a neighbor who owns a produce house and can get his ole citrus .
Thank You,
Nancy