Trash or Garden Treasure?
Gardening is both an art and a science. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, there are always new tips and tricks to learn that can make gardening easier, more fruitful and even more enjoyable!
I have 20 gardening hacks that have been used for generations to help your plants thrive, reduce waste, and save you time and money. From using things like egg shells as fertilizer or growing plants from your kitchen scraps, this list will revolutionize the way you take care of your garden.
Now, let’s dive into the best gardening tricks you’ll wish you had known sooner!
Eggshells as Fertilizer
Eggshells are packed with calcium, which is essential for your plants to grow! So, instead of just throwing them away, you should crush them and mix them into the soil or add them to your compost bin.
How to use your eggshells properly:
Rinse and dry the eggshells
Crush them into small pieces using a mortar and pestle, a rolling pin or meat mallet
Sprinkle them around your plants. You can use this technique with indoor plants, greenhouse plants or plants that are planted directly in the soil
Be sure to mix them into the soil. This is particularly important to prevent blossom-end rot in tomatoes and peppers
2. Coffee Grounds to Enrich Soil
Used coffee grounds add nitrogen, improve soil structure and attract beneficial earthworms in plants directly planted in soil. Have your morning cup of Jo and don’t waste a thing!
How to use your leftover coffee grounds:
Sprinkle around plants to boost their nutrients
Mix with compost for organic matter enrichment
Even use as mulch for your acid loving plants. Some examples of acid loving plants are blueberries and roses!
3. Vinegar to Kill Pesky Weeds
Vinegar can be a great addition to your cleaning routine or laundry but white vinegar is also an amazing natural weed killer that works wonders in your garden without using harsh chemicals. Talk about versatile!
How to use that versatile friend:
Fill a spray bottle or watering can with undiluted white vinegar. Be sure if you’re using a watering can to not over do it!
Spray or “water” directly on weeds during a sunny day
The sun will help with getting the desired results
Be sure to avoid contact with any of your growing plants or veggies
4. Kitchen Scraps to Grow New Plants
Many common vegetables and herbs can regrow from scraps, saving you money and again, reducing waste.
How to use your “trash” and turn it into treasure:
Place onion roots, celery bases, lettuce, sprouting potatoes or carrot tops in water until they begin to sprout roots. My favorite way to do this is place them in recycled pasta jars on a kitchen windowsill
Transplant your new babies into soil once they develop roots. When planting be sure to place the roots down and sprouts facing up!
5. Epson Salt for Plant Growth
Much like using epson salts in your bath to relax, they provide magnesium and sulfur. These essential nutrients promote better seed germination, stronger plants and greener leaves.
How to use:
Mix 1 tablespoon epson salts with a gallon of water. You can double or even triple this recipe using the same ratios
Use your mixture once a month as a foliar spray or soil drench
6. Banana Peels for Fertilizer
Banana peels decompose quickly and provide potassium and phosphorus for flowering and fruiting plants. This is a great way to help zap those sad looking plants back to life.
How to use your yellow friends:
Bury old peels near plant roots
Blend into compost for a nutrient boost
Chop peel into small pieces and add to a spray bottle with water. There is no exact ratio needed but I typically fill my bottle half way with banana peels and fill to the top with water. Wrap your spray bottle tightly with aluminum foil and let this ferment overnight, then your mix is ready to spray directly on your plants
7. DIY a self-watering system with recycled water bottles
Going on vacation, want your garden or house plants to be low maintenance? Keep plants hydrated with DIY self-watering bottle system.
How to create your own:
Fill a recycled bottle with water
Poke small holes into the cap of the bottle (bonus points if you have the “sport cap” bottles to reuse) and invert the bottle into the soil
Water will slowly seep out, keeping the soil moist
8. Cinnamon as a Natural Fungicide
Cinnamon prevents fungal diseases and deters pest like ants and gnats. Amazing to use indoors to keep the little flying creatures away.
How to sprinkle:
Sprinkle cinnamon directly on to soil or sprinkle and rub into plant wounds
Use around growing seedling to prevent damping-off disease
9. Newspaper as Mulch
Layering the comics (haha) suppresses weeds and retains soil moisture.
How to “fold” your newspaper:
Lay newspaper around plants leaving space for them to sprout
Shred newspaper into small strips and bury into your soil
Lay newspaper and cover with mulch to block weeds and conserve water
10. Companion Planting for Pest Control
Planting certain crops together naturally deters pest and enhances growth. Work smarter and not harder!
Some examples:
Tomatoes & Basil planted together repels aphids
Carrots & Onions planted together prevents carrot flies
Marigolds & Vegetables plants together keeps nematodes and insects away while adding a beautiful touch to your garden
11. Hydrogen Peroxide for Root Health
Hydrogen peroxide oxygenates soil, killing harmful bacteria and fungi before they can attack your plants.
How to use:
Mix 1 tablespoon per gallon of water. You can also double or triple this recipe depending on the amount of space you need to cover
Use when planting as a soil drench for root rot prevention
12. Soap to Keep Deer and Pests Away
Strong smelling soap repels deer and rabbits from eating garden plants. I love using Irish Spring or other strong smelling soap that is easily accessible at the Dollar Store, if you don’t have anything already on hand.
How to “freshen up”:
Hang soap bars from stakes near plants
Grate soap with a cheese grater and sprinkle it around the garden. Be sure to not over do it, for this hack- less is more in most cases
13. Grow Tomatoes in a Hanging Basket
Growing tomatoes upside down saves space and prevents soil-borne diseases. Finally an infomercial from the 2000’s that is worth it!
How to hang:
Cut a hole in the bottom of an old hanging basket or burlap sac
Insert tomato plants roots first
Fill with soil and hang in a sunny area
14. Baking Soda for Sweeter Tomatoes
Baking soda lowers soil acidity, making tomatoes sweeter. Just be sure to use away from your acid loving plants like blueberries.
How to use:
Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda around the base of your tomato plants
15. Beer Traps for Slugs & Snails
While slugs and snails are beneficial to the environment they can be damaging to your plants. Slugs and snails love beer and will crawl in a shallow dish for it.
How to drink your problems away:
Place shallow dishes filled with beer around your garden
Thrift shops are a great place to find cheap and shallow dishes if you don’t have any at home
Check your traps regularly and empty them. Dishes should be able to hold beer but shallow enough to not drown the animals. You should return the slugs and snails to the yard but far enough away from the garden
16. Aloe Vera for Plant Cuttings
Aloe vera is so versatile and you can check our other blog “Say Aloe To My Little Friend…” to find more uses, but aloe vera gel promotes faster root growth in plant cuttings.
How to sooth your cuts:
Dip cuttings in aloe vera gel before planting in soil
17. Aspirin Water for Disease Prevention
Aspirin can be a way to improve your health and it can do the same for your plants! Asprin boosts plant immunity against diseases.
How to dose:
Dissolve one aspirin in a gallon of water
Use as a foliar spray or watering solution
You only want to water with aspirin a few times a month
18. Reuse Water from Cooking
Another simple hack to reusing “trash” or “waste.” Water from boiled vegetables or pasta contains nutrients that can feed your plants.
How it boils down:
Let the water completely cool and use it to water your plants
You can use this indoors or outside
19. Use Old Sponges to Retain Soil Moisture
Similar to our DIY bottle watering system, sponges help soil retain moisture and prevent root rot. Don't throw them out after a scrub! Reduce, reuse, recycle!
How to sponge:
Place old sponges at the bottom of pots before adding soil
There is no reason to wet the sponges before placing them in the pot. The sponges will wet overtime
20. Grow Strawberries in a Vertical Planter
Strawberries are one of the easiest plants for beginners because they grow so well. While this can be amazing, it can take up lots of space. A vertical planter saves space and keeps strawberries off the ground.
How to plant:
Use a stacked container or hanging planter
Plant strawberries in pockets for easy harvesting
If you have made it this far - Congratulations! These 20 top gardening hacks will transform your gardening routine, making it easier, more efficient and even more fun! From using your kitchen scraps as fertilizer to creating DIY watering systems, these simple yet effective tips will help you grow the garden of your dreams. Your garden will be healthier and more bountiful, thanking you in return.
Try a few of these hacks today, reach out to let us know how it goes and watch your plants thrive like never before!