How to Use Aluminum Foil in the Garden

Aluminum foil can remedy several problems in the garden. First of all, it can protect your plants from pesky creatures; thrips and aphids detest aluminum foil! This material can also help your plants to grow faster and more abundantly. Here's how to use aluminum foil in the garden:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Protect your trees from pests. At the base of each tree trunk, wrap aluminum foil 1-2 feet high. The sunlight reflection and crinkling noises will keep animals like mice and squirrels from chewing on your trees.

2. 

   Speed plant growth and ward off insects. Lay the foil between rows of plants, using bricks to hold the material down. The extra sunlight reflected on the plants increases yield, and speeds growth by weeks.

3. 

   Keep birds away from your berries and fruit trees. Make cardboard cutouts of your favorite shapes and wrap them in foil. Hang them wherever you don't want them to go. This works better than a scarecrow would!

4. 

   Use sheets of foil to reflect sunlight toward your indoor plants. Paste a picture on one side for decoration after sunset. When the sun comes up in the morning, use the side with foil to help your plants grow.

Resources

• The Official Vegetable Gardener's Bible
• Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times
• The Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control
• Trowel and Error: Over 700 Tips, Remedies and Shortcuts for the Gardener

[ReuseItAll]

on 7/12/2009 Shannon, I've never thought of using foil this way! Super clever!!