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All the Ways to Use Cinnamon in the Garden

Sticks of cinnamon and the spice in powder form
Oksana Shufrych/Shutterstock.com

Cinnamon is an aromatic spice loved worldwide for its warm and comforting flavor, but it has more uses than just enhancing your favorite dishes. This versatile spice can also be utilized in the garden to improve the health and vitality of your plants. Here are all the ways you can use cinnamon for gardening.

Deter Furry Pests

A rabbit eating in a garden
LorraineHudgins/Shutterstock.com

If you’re struggling with pests like rabbits, squirrels, or moles invading your garden, cinnamon might be the solution you’re looking for. Cinnamon not only adds a warm and inviting scent to your garden, but it also contains irritants that can cause discomfort to these pesky creatures, deterring them from entering your garden in the first place.

To ward away animals using cinnamon, all you need to do is sprinkle cinnamon powder around the garden perimeter or near the areas where you’ve spotted the pests. The smell and irritants in the cinnamon will discourage them from venturing further into your garden, keeping your plants safe.

Kirkland Organic Ground Saigon Cinnamon

A lot of cinnamon for a great price.

Protect Seedlings from Diseases

Plant seedlings in a garden
nazarovsergey/Shutterstock.com

Cinnamon can be a powerful ally in your garden when it comes to protecting young plants. This spice has natural antifungal properties that can help prevent fungal diseases like damping off, which can be a common problem for seedlings.

Cinnamon works by inhibiting the growth and spread of fungal infections. To use cinnamon for plants, just sprinkle a bit of cinnamon powder on the soil surface around your seedlings to create a protective barrier that deters disease-causing fungi from taking hold. Make sure to reapply the cinnamon as needed, especially after watering or after heavy rainfall.

Spicy World Premium Cinnamon Powder 5 Pound Bulk Bag

If you have a big garden, it makes sense to buy in bulk.

Fight Fungal Diseases

A plant leaf with a fungal disease
Plant Pathology/Shutterstock.com

Fungal diseases can be a common and frustrating problem for gardeners, but cinnamon can come to the rescue as a natural and effective solution. Cinnamon has antifungal properties that can help prevent the growth of fungus on your plants.

To utilize cinnamon’s antifungal powers, mix a few tablespoons of powdered cinnamon with one or two quarts of warm water. Let the mixture sit overnight to allow the cinnamon to infuse into the water.

After it has steeped, strain the mixture to remove any solids to create an antifungal spray ready to go. Apply this cinnamon-infused solution to affected areas of plants, making sure you cover the plants. Repeat this process twice a week to effectively combat fungal diseases once you notice signs of diseases spreading. Cinnamon can provide protection against a wide range of fungal diseases, including damping off, powdery mildew, and root rot.

Tolco Empty Spray Bottles

These spray bottles can have many uses around your garden and home.

Repel Bugs

Aphids on a plant
Aleksandr Rybalko/Shutterstock.com

By incorporating cinnamon into your gardening routine, you can repel insects without the use of harmful chemicals. Sprinkle cinnamon powder around plants and onto the soil surface to deter a wide range of pests, including ants, gnats, flies, and mosquitoes. The strong scent of cinnamon serves as a deterrent, preventing these bugs from approaching your plants.

If you have a serious bug problem, reapply cinnamon several times a week to make sure the pests stay away. If you just want to play it safe, you can apply the mixture once a week and adjust the frequency as needed.

Trifecta Crop Control

If cinnamon isn't cutting it, this pest control can help deter bugs.

Treat Plant Injuries

A leaf with a hole in it
cldemara/Shutterstock.com

When your beloved plants suffer injuries such as cuts or broken leaves, cinnamon can be a lifesaver when it comes to helping them recover. Cinnamon acts as a natural antiseptic and can help protect plants from infections and promote healthier growth as they heal. It can also reduce the risk of infections or diseases taking hole during the recovery process.

To treat plant injuries using cinnamon, simply apply a bit of ground cinnamon or cinnamon oil directly to the affected area. The antifungal properties of cinnamon can help prevent fungal infections that can slow down or even kill plants.

Jute Twine

If stems or branches on your plants are broken, you can tie them up with twine for support.


Cinnamon is a powerful tool in the garden with a wide range of benefits for plants. If you’re wondering how to use cinnamon on plants, here’s how to harness the power of this amazing spice and watch your garden thrive.

Anne Taylor Anne Taylor
Anne Taylor is a writer with a BA in Journalism and a passion for storytelling. Her work has been published on a variety of websites including Mental Floss and Well + Good, and she recently published her first novel, What it Takes to Lose. When she's not writing, Anne loves to travel (19 countries and counting), spend time outside, and play with her dog, Pepper. Read Full Bio »
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