Gardeners urged to sprinkle cinnamon powder on lawns

It takes pride of place in the heart of most people's gardens, but keeping a lawn lush, green and healthy isn't just a case of giving it a trim once in a while and the odd bit of weeding.

In fact, keeping the perfect lawn is a constant battle with moss, fungus, and all manner of insects and animals who try to rip it up, ruin it and generally make it look patchy and uneven. That's why gardeners are being urged to sprinkle cinnamon powder on their lawns this summer - because it's a cheap and easy way to instantly boost the look of your lawn which repels pests, stops fungus and mildew and boosts grass growth, all at once.

Cinnamon isn't just a sweet spice to season food with, but it actually contains some very useful properties that make it a perfect lawn-fixing feed ingredient without using chemicals.

According to OutdoorGuide.com, cinnamon is a good eco-friendly alternative to spraying chemicals on a lawn which will repel insects and pests, including ants, aphids and mosquitoes. But it will also stop squirrels from digging in your lawn to bury food too.

It says: "Sprinkling cinnamon on your grass isn't just a quirky garden trick; it's a natural defense against a host of unwanted critters from industrious ants to delicate aphids to buzzing mosquitoes.

"Research, like a study featured in Molecules, suggests that cinnamon possesses remarkable properties that not only repel pests but can even deter insects from laying their eggs when applied in larger quantities. This repellent effect can be attributed to the presence of potent compounds like cinnamaldehyde as well as terpenoids, known for their insecticidal properties.

"Cinnamon isn't just a one-trick pony when it comes to pest control. It boasts a versatile repertoire, capable of warding off and even deterring larger nuisances like squirrels and raccoons, making it a comprehensive solution for safeguarding the grass in your garden."

It doesn't stop there, because cinnamon's anti-fungal properties also block the growth of moss, fungus and other harmful bacteria that would mean to do your lawn harm.

It adds: "Cinnamon doesn't just stop at repelling pests; it's also a powerful ally in combating harmful bacteria and fungi that threaten the health of your grass, as shown by a study in Agricultural and Food Chemistry. This aromatic spice harbors remarkable antimicrobial properties, primarily attributed to compounds like cinnamaldehyde. When sprinkled onto your grass, cinnamon acts as a natural barrier, inhibiting the growth of detrimental bacteria in the soil."

Not only this, but it can stop mildew, and all the while, cinnamon can also stimulate plant growth for your grass.

Taken altogether, cinnamon is nothing short of a garden superfood, able to boost grass growth, repel pests big and small and stop fungus, moss and mildew.