Gardeners should to sprinkle common kitchen spice on lawns this summer
It commands centre stage in most people's back gardens, but maintaining a verdant, thriving lawn involves far more than the occasional mow and sporadic weed removal. Actually, achieving the ideal lawn means waging war against moss, fungal infections, and countless bugs and creatures determined to tear it apart, destroy it, and leave it looking sparse and uneven.
That's precisely why green-fingered enthusiasts are being encouraged to dust their grass with cinnamon powder this summer - as it's an affordable and straightforward method to immediately enhance your lawn's appearance whilst deterring nuisances, preventing fungal growth and mildew, and encouraging grass development all in one go.
Cinnamon serves as more than just a delightful culinary spice, possessing remarkably beneficial qualities that transform it into an ideal lawn-restoration ingredient without resorting to harsh chemicals, reports the Express.
Based on findings from OutdoorGuide.com, cinnamon offers an environmentally conscious substitute to chemical lawn treatments, successfully driving away insects and unwanted visitors, including ants, aphids and mosquitoes. Additionally, it prevents squirrels from excavating holes in your turf to stash their food supplies.
The guide states: "Sprinkling cinnamon on your grass isn't just a quirky garden trick; it's a natural defence against a host of unwanted critters from industrious ants to delicate aphids to buzzing mosquitoes.
"Research, like a study featured in Molecules, suggests that cinnamon possesses remarkable properties that not only repel pests but can even deter insects from laying their eggs when applied in larger quantities. This repellent effect can be attributed to the presence of potent compounds like cinnamaldehyde as well as terpenoids, known for their insecticidal properties.
"Cinnamon isn't just a one-trick pony when it comes to pest control. It boasts a versatile repertoire, capable of warding off and even deterring larger nuisances like squirrels and raccoons, making it a comprehensive solution for safeguarding the grass in your garden."
The benefits extend further, as cinnamon's anti-fungal qualities also prevent moss, fungus and other damaging bacteria from taking hold in your lawn.
The research continues: "Cinnamon doesn't just stop at repelling pests; it's also a powerful ally in combating harmful bacteria and fungi that threaten the health of your grass, as shown by a study in Agricultural and Food Chemistry. This aromatic spice harbors remarkable antimicrobial properties, primarily attributed to compounds like cinnamaldehyde. When sprinkled onto your grass, cinnamon acts as a natural barrier, inhibiting the growth of detrimental bacteria in the soil."
Beyond this, it can prevent mildew whilst simultaneously encouraging healthy grass growth. All in all, cinnamon is nothing less than a garden powerhouse, capable of enhancing grass growth, warding off pests of all sizes and halting fungus, moss and mildew.
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