Cinnamon is a great addition to desserts and coffees, but the spice can also be used to protect your garden from mould and pests, experts say. The cinnamon powder you can buy in powdered form is derived from the inner bark of a number of tree species and is often used to add its sweet flavour to dishes.

But Plantura Magazine says it can also be a godsend for gardeners, and is "used as a base for ecological plant protection and pest control". According to the outlet, the spice has been shown to prevent grey mould and some water moulds.

Fiona Jenkins, houseplant expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk says cinnamon is a natural fungicide that's great at repairing broken stems.

The houseplant expert recommends making "a clean cut on the broken stem and sprinkle cinnamon powder on it, this will stop it from becoming infected". 

“Mixing cinnamon powder into the soil of your houseplant will also help to prevent mould and fungus,” she added.

Not only that, it can be a great way to stop gnats and other pests from proliferating, using ingredients you may already have in your home.

The Simple Garden Life recommends various methods including sprinking power on the soil or foliage of plants that area affected, mixing up a repellant spray with warm water, and using cinamon essential oil. 

The outlet notes that it wont harm the leaves if powder comes into contact with them, as cinnamon's "antibacterial and anti-fungal properties" help "heal cuts and wounds on plants".

However, gardeners should be careful as cinnamon can have a negative effect on some plants, Plantura warns, so it's best to check beforehand whether or not it could harm your garden.

Plantura provides tips on using cinnamon to tackle mould and explains in depth the various ways in which the spice can be employed. You can find out more here.

Cinnamon has other, non-culinary applications, and can even be used on your vaccuum cleaner to freshen up the smell around your home.

Ants aren't the only ones who don't like the aroma the spice gives off, and pest control experts at Pest Pointers, say it can be used to keep rats and mice away in the home.

The compound cinnamaldehyde in it can deter rodents by “overwhelming their sensitive sense of smell”, the experts explain.

“The spicy smell can irritate the sensitive noses of rats and mice, so they’ll avoid areas where the cinnamon powder is present," they add.