Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Watering Plants With Vinegar
Watering Plants With Vinegar. Plants need the right level of nutrients, water and other conditions to grow and thrive. If you have plants that are not doing well, you might have a problem with the level of acidity in the soil. If the soil is not acidic enough, you end up with alkali buildup on the pot -- but that's not all. Too much alkalinity...
Plants need the right level of nutrients, water and other conditions to grow and thrive. If you have plants that are not doing well, you might have a problem with the level of acidity in the soil. If the soil is not acidic enough, you end up with alkali buildup on the pot -- but that's not all. Too much alkalinity means that the plant won't be able to absorb nutrients and it could even keep the plant from absorbing water.
Soil Alkalinity
The first step to determining whether or not you should water with vinegar is to test the alkalinity of the soil. You can get a pH soil testing kit at a local garden or hardware store. The soil should be between 5.8 and 6.6 for most plants, but some plants such as rhododendrons prefer a higher level of acidity.
Adjusting Alkalinity with Vinegar
If your pH is too acidic for your plants, you can adjust it with white vinegar. Mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar into 5 gallons of water or 1 cup of white vinegar into 5 gallons of water if you are using a hose siphon. Water your plants with the mixture and see if the plants improve.
Acidity Loving Plants
If you have azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas or gardenias, these plants actually like a higher level of acidity. To water these plants, mix 1 cup of white vinegar in a gallon of water. The vinegar helps the plants absorb more iron as well.
Killing Weeds and Pests with Vinegar
If you have grass, weeds or other unwanted growth in your garden, pour undiluted distilled white vinegar directly on the growth to kill it. You can also pour vinegar on ant hills or around areas where you have had ants before to keep them from coming back.
