Organic gardening and recycling go hand-in-hand, and aluminum foil is one of the common throwaway household items with surprising garden applications.
Make Homemade Scarecrows
The bright flash of aluminum scarecrows fluttering in the wind can deter bird pests from attacking ripening cherries or blueberries. Gardeners can make several mobile aluminum scarecrows by wrapping the foil around cardboard cutouts and dangling them from fishing line attached to tree branches.
Red Mulch for Tomato Plants
Some gardeners believe that different colored mulches, specifically red mulch, encourages plant growth. The science of the study of the effect of light wavelengths on plant growth is called photomorphogenesis. According to Clemson University, the red light spectrum stimulates plant proteins that encourage early maturity in tomato plants.
Nurseries commonly use colorful foil wrappers to decorate the pots of gift plants. Organic gardeners can lay this foil around their tomato plants to increase growth and production.
Houseplant Light Booster
During the winter months, many houseplants suffer in the wan light of the kitchen window. Instead of spending extra money to buy and operate grow lights, gardeners can increase the natural light from the window by laying foil under the plant area. Capture light that shines on an adjacent wall by covering a piece of cardboard with foil, and positioning it to reflect onto the plants.
Protect Trees from Mice and Rabbits
The gnawing habits of mice and rabbits can girdle the trunks of young trees, leading to death. The damage may occur undetected in the winter months, when rodents use the cover of snow to hide their midnight munching. Gardeners can wrap trees with aluminum foil strips to keep rodents away. As a bonus, the foil protects the tree trunks against sunscald.
Foilware Pots and Birdbaths
Foilware pie pans and casserole dishes also have a place in the organic garden. The shiny surface acts as a beacon for thirsty birds when filled with water and placed in the container garden. Poke a few holes in the bottom for drainage, and foilware containers of all sizes are ideal containers for seed starting, or as an in-between home for larger seedlings before they move to the garden.
Forcing Spring Bulbs
Forcing spring blooming bulbs requires tricking the bulbs into thinking winter has passed, a feat that requires cold temperatures and darkness. Organic gardeners that like large tulip and hyacinth displays in the late winter months may not want to give up that much refrigerator real estate for 12 weeks. Gardeners can add darkness to unheated garages, greenhouses, or garden sheds with foil caps placed atop potted bulbs. The caps exclude light, and the gardener can shape them so that emerging sprouts aren’t distorted against an unyielding lid. Check the pots every other day for growth after the recommended dormancy period has passed.
Source:
Clemson University Department of Horticulture
Jamie McIntosh - Jamie has written hundreds of garden articles for the web, and is your guide to Flowers on About.com.
