5 Ways to Use Orange Peels in Your Garden

Oranges are an amazing source of Vitamin C and contain an abundance of other health benefits. But many people just toss the orange peels after they enjoy the fruit. This wastes a valuable resource that can be used in your garden.

Instead of using pesticides and chemicals, you can enhance the quality of your soil and keep pests away for an organic and sustainable garden by using orange peels, according to The Spruce. The best way to use them is to chop them well, use them in moderation, and remember to replace the peels frequently. So, if you want to give your oranges a second life, check out these five effective ways to use orange peels in your garden:

Enriches Compost
The peels of the fruit are just as nutritious as the fruit you eat. Besides vitamin C, oranges contain nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, explained Southern Living. The smaller the pieces of peel, the faster they will biodegrade and enrich your soil with nutrients. You can also add the peels directly around plants that thrive in acidic soil.

Helps Deter Insects
Citrus peels are a natural insect repellent due to their limonene content and the citrus oil they contain. “Limonene is a compound shared with marigolds. The scent is very strong to sensitive insects, so it generally helps as a deterrent,” Dominique Kline, farm director at The Hope Farm told Southern Living.

Just sprinkle the peels around your garden instead of using chemicals. Orange peels repel garden pests including aphids.

Keeps Cats Away From Your Garden
If you don’t want cats using your garden as a litter box or damaging plants, just scatter piles of shredded orange peels throughout your garden, according to the Imperfectly Happy blog. This will also work in house plants.

Keep Mosquitoes Away When You Garden
To keep those annoying biters away, rub fresh orange peels on your skin before gardening. You can also use fresh peels around your garden, patio, and porch to keep mosquitoes from ruining your outdoor experiences. Here are some additional ways to keep mosquitoes from biting you.

Natural Disinfectant
You can use orange peels to disinfect items in your garden like garden tools, compost bins, seed trays, and gloves, without using harsh chemicals, explained The Spruce. That’s because the peels are packed with bioactive compounds including citric acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, and limonene. These natural compounds give the peels antimicrobial and antioxidant properties so they can organically clean bacteria and fungi.