Don’t toss those orange peels! Check out these 6 Creative Ways to Use Orange Peels in Your Garden and see how valuable those peels can really be.
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Do orange peels help your garden?
They sure can. Orange peels contain nutrients that can help feed your soil when added to compost or the soil in general.
Orange peels also offer natural pest repelling properties which can also keep your plants and you protected.
6 Creative Ways to Use Orange Peels in Your Garden
One of the things I love most about gardening is I can use so many household items and scraps to make my garden shine.
Gardens thrive off of the items we may otherwise be inclined to throw away, making them even more frugal and affordable to enjoy.
Orange peels are no exception when it comes to household scraps you can use in your garden.
Take a look below at 6 Creative Ways to Use Orange Peels in Your Garden, and you might never throw a peel away again!
Here are some creative ways to use orange peels to get you started.
6 Creative Ways to Use Orange Peels in Your Garden
Before we begin, let’s chat about what kind of orange peels you should use. Ideally you want to use orange peels that have not been treated by or exposed to any chemicals.
It doesn’t hurt to rinse your peels prior to use, but chances are you may rinse them anyways before you eat the inside fruit.
Otherwise, you can use all varieties of orange peels for these projects. You don’t have to use a certain type of orange, so no worries there.
Do orange peels repel pests?
They certainly do. While orange peels smell amazing to us, bugs don’t care for their scent. Orange peels can help keep biting bugs away thanks to their fragrant citrus oils.
1. Make your own biting bug and insect repellent.
If mosquitoes and other biting bugs are an issue, orange peels can help.
You can place orange peels around the garden while you work to keep these insects away, or just try rubbing an orange peel on your clothing.
Some of the pests that orange peels can help repel include: aphids, slugs, mosquitoes, and biting flies.
How to make your own bug repelling luminary: If you are feeling fancy, fill a mason jar with orange peels and water. Add a floating votive.
As the water gently heats the orange peel oils will give off a scent that repels biting pests. This is a pretty and practical way to decorate your picnic table and patio.
RELATED: Do spiders give you the creeps? See how to make your own DIY Spider Repellent using essential oils. Just a little spray is sure to help keep those creepy crawlies far away!
Do orange peels add acid to your soil?
Yes. Orange peels can be dried and grounded and used to enrich your soil. The same effect can be obtained by adding orange peels to your compost.
2. Add some acidity to your soil.
Some plants thrive off of acidic soil. If you are planting a perennial that needs acidity in the soil, orange peels may be able to help.
You can always add some shredded orange peels into the hole prior to planting. So, how do you know if your plant likes acidic soil? It is always best to read the instructions tag prior to planting.
If there is no tag, be sure to ask a gardening center employee or head to a trusted gardening website to find out.
3. Keep aphids at bay.
Aphids may be tiny, but they can destroy your plants in no time.
Orange peels can help keep aphids away and protect your plants when you use them in a natural pest repelling spray.
Just add the peels to a spray bottle and fill with hot water. Shake well, then allow the mixture to cool thoroughly.
You can then spray the mixture wherever aphids are present. It is safe on plants and a more natural, chemical free way to repel bugs.
4. Make your own budget friendly fertilizer.
Did you know that orange peels are chock full of nitrogen? Nitrogen is essential to good fertilizer.
When your soil needs a boost, you can add in ground up orange peels.
The peels will release the nitrogen and the result is nutrient rich soil your plants will love.
Find my easy tutorial for How to Make Orange Peel Fertilizer here!
5. Keep furry critters out of your garden.
Did you know that dogs and cats dislike the smell of citrus? They sure do.
If you have problems with furry critters coming into your garden, citrus peels can help.
Place orange peels around the perimeter of the garden and the scent should keep dogs and cats from wandering in.
You can even try placing orange peels in areas where animals tend to dig as the scent may be enough to discourage them from the act.
RELATED: Are pests a problem? Check out how to repel garden pests using Irish Spring soap and say goodbye to mice, chipmunks, and deer bothering your plants.
6. Give your compost pile a boost.
Compost is one of the easiest and cheapest way to keep your plants nourished.
Start saving your kitchen scraps such as egg shells, orange peels, vegetable peels, and even junk mail so you can shred them and add them to your compost pile.
These kitchen scraps contain nutrients that will blend together and break down into what gardeners call “black gold” soil, a nutritious soil that will give your plants a tremendous boost.
RELATED: Are you limited on space? See how to make a mini compost bin plus learn what to put into your compost!
You can also find some helpful info when you check out ways to use lemons in your garden.
So there you have it, 6 Creative Ways to Use Orange Peels in Your Garden! As you can see all of these ways to use orange peels are quite simple and can be quite effective.
Using orange peels in your garden can save you money, time, and trips to the gardening center as well.
So the next time you treat yourself to an orange, don’t toss those peels.
Save them in a baggie so you can give one (or all!) of these gardening tricks a try! Then be sure to check out my tips on How to Grow a Garden for FREE.
Do you love to garden? See what other gardening content we have been working on:
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How to Repel Stink Bugs with Essential Oils
How to Plant Daffodil Bulbs and Care for Them
Ways to Use Egg Shells in the Garden
See how egg shells can make a huge difference in your garden when it comes to feeding your plants and keeping pests like slugs away!
How to Use Worm Castings in the Garden
Worm castings can benefit your plants in many ways and should be considered when planting a garden.
See how to use worm castings and get amazing results.
As an avid gardener with a passion for sustainable practices, I can attest to the transformative impact that incorporating orange peels into your garden can have. The information provided in the article aligns with my own experiences and knowledge gained from years of experimenting with natural gardening methods. Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article and explore the evidence supporting each one:
1. Nutrient-Rich Composting:
- Concept: Orange peels contain nutrients that benefit the soil.
- Evidence: Orange peels contribute organic matter to compost, enriching it with essential nutrients. The decomposition of peels adds valuable elements to the soil.
2. Natural Pest Repellent:
- Concept: Orange peels repel pests due to their fragrant citrus oils.
- Evidence: The aromatic compounds in orange peels act as a natural deterrent for pests like aphids, slugs, mosquitoes, and biting flies. The article suggests using orange peels as a bug-repelling luminary, leveraging the oils to keep insects at bay.
3. Acidification of Soil:
- Concept: Dried and ground orange peels can add acidity to the soil.
- Evidence: Orange peels, when shredded and added to the soil or compost, contribute acidity. This is beneficial for plants that thrive in acidic conditions, as discussed in the article.
4. Aphid Repellent Spray:
- Concept: Orange peel-based spray can repel aphids.
- Evidence: Creating a natural pest-repelling spray from orange peels supports the idea. The spray, when applied, acts as a chemical-free method to keep aphids away from plants.
5. Orange Peel Fertilizer:
- Concept: Orange peels are rich in nitrogen, making them suitable for fertilizer.
- Evidence: Ground-up orange peels release nitrogen into the soil, providing plants with a nutrient boost. This aligns with the principle of using kitchen scraps for composting.
6. Citrus Scent as Animal Deterrent:
- Concept: Citrus peels, especially orange, repel dogs and cats from the garden.
- Evidence: The unpleasant scent of citrus for pets is a well-known fact. Placing orange peels around the garden can deter animals, as mentioned in the article.
7. Compost Pile Enhancement:
- Concept: Orange peels contribute to nutrient-rich compost.
- Evidence: Including orange peels in your compost pile, along with other kitchen scraps, accelerates the formation of nutrient-rich soil, often referred to as "black gold."
The article provides practical and eco-friendly tips, emphasizing the versatility of orange peels in gardening. From pest control to soil enrichment, these creative uses align with sustainable gardening practices. The evidence supporting these concepts underscores the value of incorporating orange peels into your gardening routine, turning what might be considered waste into a valuable resource for your plants.
