If you’re a dedicated gardener, you know that growing and maintaining your plants comes with numerous challenges.
One of the biggest is dealing with pests. There’s nothing more frustrating than investing time and effort into your favorite vegetables only to have them destroyed before you can enjoy them.
While many pest control methods exist, several are costly, and some use harmful chemicals that can damage the environment.
If you’re looking for a natural, cost-effective solution, you might be surprised to learn that oranges could be the answer.
Oranges are well known for their nutritional value and great taste, but their peels are also very useful.
Although it may seem unconventional, using orange peels to keep pests away from your plants can be quite effective. So, how do orange rinds help?
Two ways to use orange peels
There are two methods for using orange peels to repel pests from your garden. The simplest is to chop the peels into small pieces.
You can also grind them to release a strong citrus smell, making this method even more effective. Then, spread the pieces around the base of your plants.
The downside is that the peels only work while fresh, so you must replace them once they dry out and lose their smell.
Another method that lasts longer involves boiling the peels in water and using the mixture as a spray.
You don’t need a specific amount of peels for this method; generally, the more you have, the better, especially if you need enough solution for a larger garden.
Before putting the liquid into a spray bottle, let it cool for a minute or two and strain out the solids. Since pest control should be ongoing, spray your plants regularly, ideally every few days, to keep pests at bay.
Why pests hate orange peels
It might seem strange to think that the fresh scent of orange peels can keep pests out of your garden.
However, many of the insects harming your plants dislike this smell. The citrus scent left on the peels is what drives pests away.
Boiling orange peels in water retain much of the fresh citrus smell, which is highly effective at repelling pests like mosquitoes, aphids, slugs, and even fleas.
This method has recently gained popularity, but it’s not a new idea. Unlike many chemical alternatives, this hack is versatile, and it can be used outdoors and indoors.
Besides repelling insects, using orange peels on your plants has other benefits. When the peels decompose, they add nitrogen to your soil, helping new plants grow.
Unsurprisingly, some farmers include oranges and other citrus fruits in their fertilizer mix.