Epsom Salt works magic on plants

If you thought Epsom Salt was just for soaking those tired puppies after a hard day's work, think again. While the ingredient is ideal for relieving tired muscles, it is also a great way to infuse your plants with energy.

According to the Epsom Salt Council, Epsom Salt can help seeds germinate, make plants grow bushier, produce more flowers, increase chlorophyll production, improve phosphorus and nitrogen uptake, and deter pests.

Made up primarily of magnesium and sulfur, Epsom Salt has been determined effective by crop researchers, and unlike most commercial fertilizers that build up in the soil over time, it can not be overused.

Tests by the National Gardening Association confirm that roses fertilized with Epsom Salt grow bushier and produce more flowers, while the compound makes pepper plants grow larger than those treated with commercial fertilizer alone.

Try 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salt per 9 square feet of garden soil to see your evergreens, azaleas and rhododendrons flourish. For lawns, apply 3 pounds for every 1,250 square feet with a spreader, or dilute the salt in water and apply with a sprayer. As for trees, heap on 2 tablespoons per 9 square feet at the root zone three times a year and watch those trunks take off.

The Epsom Salt Council also recommends sprinkling one cup of salt per 100 square feet and mixing into soil before planting for a great garden startup. While roses and tomatoes also take kindly to a sprinkle of Epsom Salt, sage does not. The herb is one of the few plants that does not like the salty visitor.

For more information on how to use Epsom Salt in your garden, log on to www.epsomsaltcouncil.org.