How to Use Molasses in the Garden

Molasses is an organic pest control option.

Molasses is typically thought of as a dark, sweet syrup used for cooking and baking; however, it provides useful benefits in the garden as well. Just like table molasses, garden molasses is collected from sugar cane and is sold to consumers in both liquid and powdered form. Molasses applied to the garden is an organic solution that is used to repel undesired pests, such as fire ants, as well as to supplement the soil.

Things You'll Need

• Fertilizer spreader
• Dried molasses granules
• Hose or sprinkler

Instructions

1. Fill a fertilizer spreader with dried molasses granules and set the spreader dispenser rate to spread it at a rate of 10 to 20 lbs. for every 1,000 square feet of garden area.

2. Walk over the garden area, pushing the spreader in between the rows without disturbing the plants. Continue applying the molasses granules until you have covered the entire area.

3. Water the garden with 3 to 4 inches of water immediately after applying the molasses to dissolve it down into the soil.

Tips & Warnings

• If using liquid molasses, apply it at a rate of 1 to 2 oz. for every 1 gallon of water. Use 1/2 to 1 gallon of the solution for every 1 acre of land.

• If there is not enough room to push a fertilizer spreader, you can apply it using a handheld crank spreader, or apply the molasses in liquid form.

• According to the Dirt Doctor website, the approximate nutritional analysis of molasses is 1-0-5.

• Add molasses to compost piles at a rate of 10 lbs. per cubic yard of material to speed the decomposition process.

References

• The Dirt Doctor: Dry Molasses
• Garden Ville: Ask the Expert -- Molasses