Can someone explain how and why epsom salts are good for your garden? If so, how to apply?

I have a small garden (vegetables and flowers) around perimeter of my house. Often see it in the fertilizer sections of stores. Don't understand the concept of how it is useful in gardening. Also, any ideas on how to deter bugs from plants?

Can someone explain how and why epsom salts are good for your garden? If so, how to apply?
To improve sandy, acidic soils with an excessive ammount of calcium or potassium, creating a temporary magnessium deficiency. Epsom salts supply sulphur through a foliar spray. You are correcting the alkalinity by supplying sulphur. Supplying magnessium would make the soild too alkaline, so you use Epsom salts.
Reply:Epsom salts are used if your plants are in need of magnesium,i.e if the leaves are going yellow , scatter a small amount around the base of the plant and hoe in
Reply:Believe the epsom salts should be sprinkled around base of plant at rate of about 1 tsp/2 tbls per plant depending on size, then water, it will dissolve into the soil. I was told it helps to clear the naturally occuring sodium cloride from the soil that surrounds the roots. This Na/Cl is like table salt and comes from the water placed on the plant.
Reply:Don't know why it works or how it works, I just use it. It WORKS. I mix it according to the directions on the package for houseplants. I put one gallon per rose bush and water the rest of the flowers outside with it in a flower waterer bucket. We used this method also on our vegetable garden. I also use it on my flowering and non-flowering houseplants. You will be surprised with the results.

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