You can have years of gardening experience and still accidentally put something in your soil that causes problems. A little household waste, too much fertilizer, or a common gardening shortcut can leave your soil in worse shape than you realized.
If your plants have been struggling despite regular watering and care, it may be worth looking at what is going into the soil. Some everyday items can degrade soil quality, harm beneficial organisms, or make it harder for plants to obtain the nutrients they need.
Here are 10 common items that are better kept out of your garden beds.
Salt
Salt can cause serious problems for garden soil, even when it gets there by accident. It can draw moisture from plant roots and interfere with how plants take up water and nutrients.
Ice melt is one common source of unwanted salt around garden beds. Try to keep salty snow and runoff away from planting areas during the winter.
Related: 10 Garden “Pests” You Should Think Twice About Removing
Paper With Colored Ink
Not every type of paper belongs in your compost pile or garden soil. Glossy paper and some older printed materials may contain coatings, dyes, or other substances you don’t want mixed into your soil.
Plain cardboard and many types of newspaper are commonly used in composting. If the paper has a shiny coating or lots of bright ink, it’s better to leave it out.
Cigarette Butts
Cigarette butts may be small, but they can contain nicotine and other chemicals that aren’t good for soil or plants. Their filters also break down very slowly, leaving unwanted material behind in the garden.
Never toss cigarette butts into garden beds, compost piles, or planting containers. Keep them in the trash instead so the chemicals and filter material stay out of your soil.
Related: 12 Perennial Vegetables for an Easy, Low-Maintenance Garden
Chemical Pesticides
Pesticides can control unwanted insects, but they can also harm the insects and other organisms you actually want in your garden. Earthworms, beneficial insects, and other soil organisms can all be affected by certain chemicals.
Using the right product for the pest and following the label directions can help reduce unnecessary exposure. For minor pest problems, physical barriers, hand removal, or other lower-impact methods may also work.
Artificial Fertilizers
Synthetic fertilizers can provide plants with a quick supply of nutrients, but using too much can harm the soil. Heavy applications can upset nutrient levels and may affect the organisms that help keep soil healthy.
A soil test can tell you what your garden actually needs before you add fertilizer. Compost and other organic materials can also help improve soil over time when used correctly.
Related: 14 Garden Plants That May Trigger Allergy-Related Breathing Problems
Dish Soap
A small amount of mild soap is sometimes used in homemade sprays for garden pests. Too much soap, especially products containing strong degreasers or additives, can damage plants and harm beneficial insects and soil organisms.
If you use soap on plants, choose a mild product and follow a recipe meant for garden use. Avoid pouring leftover dishwater directly onto your garden beds.
Coal Ash
Coal ash can contain heavy metals and other substances that you don’t want accumulating in garden soil. Adding it to your planting beds can expose plants to contaminants that may remain in the soil.
Wood ash is different and can sometimes be used in small amounts when it comes from clean, untreated wood. Coal ash should stay out of your garden and compost pile.
Related: 15 Practical Vole Control Tricks for a Healthier, Better-Protected Garden
Cat and Dog Waste
Pet waste can contain bacteria, parasites, and other organisms that make garden soil unsafe. Unlike properly processed manure from certain livestock, cat and dog waste should not be added to vegetable beds or home compost.
Pick up pet waste from the yard and dispose of it properly. This is especially important around areas where you grow food or spend a lot of time working with the soil. Source on the risks of soil and pet waste
Vinegar
Vinegar can kill weeds, but spraying large amounts around garden beds can also affect the soil and nearby plants. Strong applications may change soil acidity and harm plants or helpful organisms in the area.
If you use vinegar for weed control, keep it away from places where you plan to grow plants. Walkways, pavement cracks, and other areas without desirable vegetation are better choices.
Bleach
Bleach is useful for certain household cleaning jobs, but it has no place in garden soil. It can harm plants and soil organisms, and concentrated bleach can interfere with the conditions plants need to take up nutrients.
Keep bleach and bleach-based cleaning solutions away from planting beds. If you need to clean gardening tools or containers, use the appropriate method for each item and rinse thoroughly before they come into contact with plants or soil.
