My $8 baby buy combats compacted soil – it works just as well as chemical looseners for a fraction of the cost
A LAWN care fan has shared an affordable buy that helps break down compacted soil.
They explained that it works just as well as more expensive chemical looseners and saves them money.
Redditor RI-Lawn-Guy shared the gardening tip in a viral post.
After depending on chemical looseners for years, the effectiveness of the alternative was a pleasant surprise.
“I’ve used expensive soil loosener chemicals every season for a couple [of] years and love them and their rapid effectiveness,” they wrote.
While loosener chemicals are great for aerating compacted soil, the high price point wasn’t ideal.
“This week, I used some leftover baby shampoo to loosen some compact soil before rain,” they said.
“This worked just as well for a fraction of the cost.”
The expert explained that any unscented baby shampoo worked.
“Use three ounces per 1,000 square foot of area to be treated in a hose-end sprayer [and] fill the remainder of the sprayer with water,” they said.
After giving the mixture a stir, they recommended setting the hose dial to a three-ounce spray rate.
“Go to town. Do this on [a] day of rain or water afterward!” they said.
The baby shampoo also helps to penetrate compacted soil where water otherwise wouldn’t be able to enter.
“How often do you apply? Also, why do you stir it?” asked one viewer.
“Compact, dry soil is generally hydrophobic,” they explained.
“The baby soap acts as a wetting agent to promote water absorption.”
Easy gardening tips to save money, maximize space, and repel pests
*If you click on a link in this article, we may earn affiliate revenue.
- Banana peels, vinegar, and coffee grounds are often recommended as natural fertilizers.
- Dollar Tree sells four packs of seeds for $1.25.
- Try a vertical planter like Amazon’s Mr. Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Planter, $35 to make more use of a small space.
- Use netting like the Garden Netting Pest Barrier, $8, from Amazon to keep away bugs that eat your vegetables.
- Try sacrificial planting to reduce the use of pesticides and keep pests away from your garden. Deliberately growing certain plants to attract agricultural pests can keep them away from the plants you want to protect. Examples include marigolds, lavender, catnip, and chives.
- For pesky weeds in your garden, the Grampa’s Weeder – The Original Stand-Up Weed Puller Tool with Long Handles, $45, from Amazon is a helpful tool you can use without having to bend over.
The Redditor urged lawn owners to repeat the technique once every few weeks for best results.
“[You] can apply every couple of weeks until [the] soil is no longer compacted,” they said.
Their baby shampoo of choice, the $8 Aveeno Baby Wash and Shampoo, required a stir due to its viscosity.
“I stirred mine gently because the soap I used was really thick.”
The shampoo, they explained, made a real difference in their soil’s performance.
“How can you tell that it works?” asked one curious commenter.
“Before: compacted soil (can’t push a stake or screwdriver deep into it). After: loose soil, stake goes in easily,” they explained.