Why Pickle Juice May Be The Secret Ingredient To A Happy Garden

If you're a fan of preserved pickled veggies, you might be left with a jar of pickle juice or two once you polish off the marinated items like dills, carrots, and onions. So, what do you do with the leftover liquid besides pouring it down the drain? Well, you can upcycle this liquid and use it in your garden, of course. Confused about how this fluid might be helpful to your flora and fauna? For starters, the vinegar in this liquid will improve the acidity of the soil and help plants like rhododendrons and hydrangeas thrive. Moreover, the salt in the juice will help kill the weeds and prevent them from taking over your garden.

A happy and thriving garden is the dream of every gardener. But weeds often spoil the fun and rob your plants and flowers of essential nutrients and moisture. So, homeowners have to resort to labor-intensive hand-plucking methods or use harsh chemicals to banish weeds. Not anymore — pickle juice is a secret ingredient that won't cost you anything and helps you get rid of weeds without effort.

To prevent common weeds from ruining your garden, put some pickle juice in a spray bottle and sprinkle it directly on the invasive plants. The deadly combination of vinegar and salt will increase the acidity of the soil and kill the weeds by making the growing environment inhabitable. However, make sure you avoid spraying your beloved plants or their roots as this juice can harm them, too. 

If you'd rather not risk harming your existing plants, you can err on the side of caution and dilute the juice before sprinkling it on weeds. Though the acetic acid level will vary from jar to jar, you can combine pickle juice with water in a 1 to 20 ratio. Even if the pickle juice goes bad and gives off an unpleasant odor, you can use it to eliminate pesky weeds without harmful chemicals. It lacks toxic chemicals, so you won't have to keep an eye on the pets or birds who frequent your garden. Further, spraying some marinated liquid on the stubborn moss clinging to your pavers will also help you remove it.