Surprising Uses For Copper Wire In Your Garden
Copper is one of man's most versatile metals, and can be found in a staggering array of uses. From coins to electronics and even to medicine, copper is used for its electrical and heat conductivity, its incredible recyclable properties, and even its antibacterial properties. Humans, animals and plants all need copper in their systems as well and some even folks take copper supplement tablets. However, there is one surprising place where copper can be of help – in the garden. Here are some unique ways copper can help in your garden.
Tomato Blight
Tomato blight can affect tomato plants any time during the growing season. A fungus that can ruin an entire crop of tomatoes, blight can be combated by growing plants specifically resistant to blight. However, should blight rear its ugly head in your tomatoes, you can cut three inch pieces of 16 gauge copper wire and insert it through the base of the stem. This simple remedy can be used for both prevention and treatment of blight by acting as an antimicrobial.
Slug Prevention
Slugs can decimate your plants when they chew and eat the leaves and stems. You can use copper wire to help prevent a slug infestation by simply wrapping the wire around the base of the plant or around any containers that hold your plants. The slugs will not die if they come into contact with the copper wire, but they will essentially get a slight electrical shock if the slug "slime" comes into contact with the copper and this is usually enough to repel slugs.
Improved Growth
There is an entire field of research devoted to using electromagnetism via copper to boost the health and production of crops and plants. Known as electroculture, this agriculture based field of study uses magnetic fields and electricity to stimulate plant cellular growth. While electroculture itself can be a fairly involved process, you can potentially help heal unhealthy plants by using what is known as a Lahkovsky coil – a simple open-ended copper wire that circles about 12 inches around the plant stem.
Aside from using copper wire to fasten things together in your garden, you can actually use copper to help protect your plants from illness, insects and slow growth. While electromagnetism and gardening may not seem to go hand-in-hand, there are a number of fascinating applications for it in your garden. Be sure to look into these simple ways to improve your plant's health with simple copper wire! Talk to experts like Pasco Inc. for more information.