There are many different ways that cornmeal can be used in your garden. The great news is that using it allows jobs to be completed without risking harming pets or children. Here are some ideas on using cornmeal in your garden that you may want to consider.
Stimulate Composting
Compost is a great way to add nutrients for your plants to your garden. It also helps release those nutrients at a rate that your plants can use them.
Compost also helps the ground retain moisture so that your plants do not dry out in the hot summer sun.
Composting can also help remove toxins from the soil while leaving it in great condition to support the plant’s roots. When you are making your compost, be sure to incorporate cornmeal at the rate of one pound per cubic yard.
It will help your materials break down faster by supporting beneficial microbes, and it will also help speed up the composting process. If you got a late start on making your compost, then increase the amount of cornmeal as it will speed up the process.
Bed Preparation
When you are getting your garden ready for planting, then make sure to incorporate cornmeal into the ground. You should aim for a rate of about 30 pounds of whole ground or horticultural cornmeal per 1,000 square feet.
Your plants will appreciate the extra nutrients that they can get from the cornmeal.
Incorporating cornmeal will also help to keep weeds from getting started. Plants grown in gardens where cornmeal is incorporated into the soil often experience fewer diseases.
Treat Leaf Spot Fungus
If you notice brown spots on your leaves, then they may be suffering from some sort of spot fungus. While you should avoid watering the leaves when you give thirsty plants a drink, and insect can cause leaf spot fungus, many cases respond very well to cornmeal. Aim to apply the cornmeal at the rate of two pounds per 1,000 square feet.
While whole ground cornmeal usually works best, you can use just about any type of cornmeal.
You can also make a cornmeal tea by combining one cup of cornmeal to five gallons of water and spraying it on affected plants. While you are at it, you can also spray this treatment on brown spots on your yard to green them back up. In both cases, you should water after applying the cornmeal.
Weed Control
While you did a lot to stop weeds from growing by infusing cornmeal-based compost into your soil before planting your garden, if you spot weeds, then you can use cornmeal again. Try applying two pounds per 100 square feet. Try choosing a period when it is not going to rain to apply this mixture. Then, let your garden dry out if possible.
Insect Control
Using cornmeal is especially effective in controlling ants. Simply pour the cornmeal where you see the ants moving. They will carry the cornmeal back to their nest where they will feast on it. Since their systems cannot handle gluten, they will starve to death.
Algae Control
If you have a water feature in your garden or are growing a water garden, then use cornmeal there. Use it at a rate of five pounds per 1,000 square feet to tie up excess phosphorus in the water. It also helps to keep the pH balance in the water so that algae cannot start growing. Since this treatment is most effective when the cornmeal is at the bottom of the water, consider putting the cornmeal in a burlap or mesh bag along with some rocks. Then, toss the bag in the water.
There are many different ways to use cornmeal in your garden. The great news is that your garden will look beautiful and you will not be harming the environment.
