Gardening tips: 6 ways to use lemon peels in your home garden

It is common to use lemons to add flavour to your food and drinks in multiple ways. However, what remains less known is that their peel is just as useful when it comes to helping your plants thrive.

Lemon peels contain natural acids that are potent against mosquitoes and other pests. Their benefits also extend to fertilisation, compost acceleration, garden freshening, and much more.

Here’s a look at six ways you can use them in your garden:

• Pest Control: Lemon peels act as repellents and help get rid of garden pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and ants. To use them, boil lemon peels in water and spray the solution on plants.

• Fertilisation: Lemon peels contain nutrients essential for healthy plant growth. Soak them in water for a few days, then strain the water. Use the nutrient-infused water to spray on plants.

• Boost Compost: Toss lemon peels into compost to accelerate the decomposition process. Their natural acidity helps break down organic materials faster, resulting in rich, garden-ready compost.

• Garden Fresheners: Lemon peels are fragrant and can help eliminate unpleasant odours from the compost pile. Add them to the mix to keep your garden smelling fresh.

• Clean Tools: Lemons and their peels can also be used to clean gardening tools used for pruning or trimming. This helps prevent the transfer of bacteria to plants, keeping them healthier for longer.

• Grow New Seeds: Reportedly, hollowed-out lemon peels can serve as natural seed starters. Poke a drainage hole in the bottom, fill with seed-starting mix, and plant your seed. When the seedling is ready, the entire lemon cup can be planted directly into the soil.