Chicago Home and Lifestyles – 7 ways to use sugar in the garden

It’s always best to use natural products in the garden. We know how dangerous pesticides can be, especially to living beings closer to the ground like pets and children. It turns out there is a useful pantry staple I would think 100% of you have: white sugar! Sugar, used properly, won’t harm your plants and you don’t need much to:

Keep nematodes under control. We do like some to combat grubs, but too many can wreak havoc. Increasing the soil’s sugar levels will decrease nematode egg production. Dissolve half a cup of sugar in a gallon of water and soak the soil around plants affected. 

Reduce stress for newly transplanted plants. Doing it once after transplanting will get microbial activity going at the roots. Just one application is enough as more may attract other pests. 

Kill weeds. Sprinkle some at the base of the weed and follow with a light watering. This temporarily ties up the nitrogen in the soil. Most weeds will struggle and die so you can pull them easily and they won’t come back. 

Attract butterflies. Sugar attracts one of nature’s best pollinators to your garden. It mimics nectar. Dissolve one part sugar in four parts water. Dip clean cotton balls and leave them around the garden for butterflies to land on. 

Make wasp traps. You can make a wasp trap out of a two-liter plastic bottle. Cut off the top few inches then fill the bottom with two cups of sugar mixed with one cup water. Put the top back on, upside down to make a funnel. Wasps will find it difficult to get out. 

Strengthen your compost. A little sugar in your compost will nourish the good microbes and speed up the breakdown of organic matter. Stir in well and apply around the base of plants. Do remember to use lightly, too much will attract rodents and other pets.

Energize freshly cut flowers. It gives them a huge boost! The stems feed on it and the blooms will last longer. Add a teaspoon of sugar to the base and add water. For best results change the water every few days. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago