Gardening is one of those creative hobbies that requires patience and diligence. But that doesn’t mean you can’t “garden smarter” and make your life easier! – Our list of useful garden tips and gardening hacks will be sure to help you get more our of your garden, with less effort.
These gardening hacks are super easy to follow and SUPER CHEAP! So everyone can do it!
Use eggshells as seedling pots
Eggshells are super rich in calcium which is great for the soil and of course, for your plant growth.
So, instead of throwing those eggshells away, you can make some DIY tiny pots that are healthy for the plant and absolutely super cheap! Chop the top, plant the plant seed inside and give some water. You can also mark each “pot” to help you distinguish the plants.
Pro Tip: add an egg carton as a base so you can move them together easily.
Use a citrus peel as a cute little planter
A citrus peel is a perfect size for a small succulent or cactus. And it’s biodegradable so you can plant the whole thing!
To make, cut a circle around the base of the fruit, then score the flesh in a spiral pattern before carefully peeling it away.
Cut a drainage hole in the base of the peel, then fill with soil. Good drainage will help avoid root rot. Water well and place in a bright spot. It’s nutritious, it’s cute, and guess what, it’s so affordable!
Cardboard Seed Tubes
Cardboard toilet paper or paper towel rolls can be used as seed-starting tubes. Just fill them with potting mix, plant your seeds, water well and place in a bright spot.
When the seedlings are ready to transplant, cut the tube open and plant the whole thing – cardboard and all! It will break down in the soil over time.
Prevent Weeds with Pinecones
If you often find weeds in your garden, then this gardening hack is for you! You can use pinecones as a natural weed suppressor. Just lay them around the base of your plants and the pinecones will do the work for you!
Quick and Simple Vegetable Garden
You don’t need a lot of space to have a vegetable garden. Just about any sunny spot will do, even a balcony!
To get started, all you need is some potting mix and some veggie seedlings. Simply plant them in pots or tubs and water well. Place in a sunny spot and you’ ll be harvesting your own vegetables in no time!
Keep Animals Away with Garlic
If you’re finding that animals are snacking on your plants, then try this gardening hack! Plant garlic around the perimeter of your garden. The smell of garlic will deter animals from coming into your garden and eating those vegetables you’ve worked so hard to grow. Also if you have left-over cloves, you can grow some more – Plus, you’ll have the added bonus of fresh garlic to use in your cooking!
Create a PVC pipe self-watering system
This is one of the best gardening hacks, especially if you’re going away for a weekend or on vacation. And it’s great for plants that require a lot of water like tomatoes.
To make, poke holes in the sides of a PVC pipe, then bury it upright in the ground next to your plant.
Fill the pipe with water and as the soil around the plant dries out, it will draw moisture from the pipe.
Create your own Potting Soil Mix
You don’t need to buy expensive potting soil from the gardening store. You can make your own for a fraction of the cost!
To make, mix together 1 part peat moss, 1 part perlite, and 1 part vermiculite.
This potting soil mix is perfect for container gardens and it’s so much cheaper than store-bought potting soil! If you have potted plants, you can use a coffee filter to keep the water from making the plant dirty and muddy. Simply place the coffee filter over the drainage hole before adding potting mix.
Create DIY organic fertilizer from leftovers
Who says you must buy expensive fertility to grow your plant?
With some ground coffee, banana peel, and eggshells from the kitchen, you can make DIY natural fertilizer!
Just get them in the blender, add some water, and mix them well.
You can add the mixture directly to your lawn soil and let the magic happen.
P.S. If you want to put this natural fertilizer in your pot, just use a little bit of it since it’s super concentrated.
Put your gardening tools in a self-cleaning pot
In a terra-cotta pot, mix sand and mineral oil. And there! You now have a self-cleaning and self-sharpening gardening tool holder.
The sand will help remove the dirt from your tools and the oil will lubricate and protect them.
You can also use this tip to store other things like BBQ utensils!
Convert a plastic milk jug into a smart watering tool
With some scissors, make a few small holes in the bottom of an empty milk jug, then fill it with water and invert it over your plant.
As the soil around your plant dries out, the water will seep through the holes, watering your plant gradually and evenly. It barely leaves messy drips so you can let your kids learn watering houseplants using this tool!
Don’t throw away milk carton! You can reuse it as a planter!
When your plant is too easy to grow and they produce new babies before you knew it, you might be wondering where to plant the new plants.
Buying some new pots sounds amazing, but when you are on a tight budget, what can you do instead?
Use the trash!
I mean, reuse the milk carton.
Cut the top using scissors, crush the carton with your hand, and “peel” it to make it thin and easy to roll.
Then just roll it up (like rolling up a sleeve).
Put your plant and the planting media inside.
DIY Insect Spray – Protect your plants!
Mix garlic, mint leaves, cayenne pepper, a little drop of dishwashing liquid, and some water. You’ve just created your very own DIY insect spray. This works really well to deter common garden pests Spray the mixture to your plants here and there and be amazed with the result!
Saving Soil with Old Cans
I love it when I can upcycle something that would normally be thrown away. Start by filling the bottom of deep planters with old cans and plant pots for improved drainage and greater aeration. The cans and pots aid in drainage and provide air pockets, which are beneficial to soil aeration and health.
Reusing old cans and plant pots as drainage material is an excellent way to reduce waste and save money – this gardening hack is not only brilliant, but it’s also eco-friendly!
Make Your Own Mini Greenhouse
Making your own mini greenhouse is a great gardening hack because it helps to protect your plants from the cold weather and pests. You can make one out of a variety of materials, including old windows, plastic bottles, or metal cans.
To construct your own mini-green house, start by creating a simple frame from timber, and then either get a large poly sheet and staple to your frame, or you can recycle old plastic bottles, and re-purpose them. Just cut the bottoms off and then screw them into the frame so that the neck of the bottle is pointing downwards. Once you have your desired amount of “panes”, simply cover the whole thing with a large clear plastic sheet or old shower curtain and then secure with bricks, rocks, or anything else that will keep it in place.
Now you have your own mini-greenhouse – perfect for starting off seedlings or keeping delicate plants alive during colder months!
Save Space – Hang your plants!
You can hang your plants using macrame plant hangers, which are easy to make yourself
Hanging your plants from the ceiling is a great way to save space and can help make your home look uber stylish.
If you don’t have much space for plants, then this is a great gardening hack for you!
You can purchase macrame plant hangers from most homewares stores, or you can easily make your own.
To make your own macrame plant hanger, start by cutting 4 lengths of cord, each around 1.5 meters long. Tie the cords together at one end to form a loop, and then divide the cords into 3 sections.
Start by knotting the center cord around the other two cords, and then continue to knot all 3 cords together until you have reached your desired length.
To finish, make a loop at the end of the hanger so that you can easily hang it from a ceiling hook.
Turn an Old Tire Into a Planter
This is such a brilliant gardening hack! Old tires can be re-purposed into stylish and modern planters.
To create your own tire planter, start by flipping the tire onto its side. Fill the bottom of the tire with some drainage rocks, and then add your potting mix and plants.
Water well and then place in your desired location. You can also paint your tire planter to add a pop of color and personality.
Make Your Own Compost Bin
Making your own compost bin is a great way to reduce food waste and create nutrient-rich compost for your plants. To make your own compost bin, start by drilling some holes into an old plastic bin for ventilation. Then, fill the bin with alternating layers of green and brown materials. Green materials include things like grass clippings, old fruit and any bio-waste. Turning your food waste into compost is not only a great way to reduce landfill, but it’s also free fertilizer for your plants!
Use Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Coffee grounds are a great source of nitrogen and can be used as Fertilizer for your plants. You can add coffee grounds to your compost bin, erracotta Pot Feet
Terracotta pot feet are a great way to elevate your flower pots and improve drainage. Simply pop the feet into the bottom of your pot before adding your plants and soil. You can usually find terracotta pot feet at your local gardening store, or you can make your own by drilling holes into some old terracerracotta pot feet are a great way to elevate your pots and improve drainage. Simply pop the feet into the bottom of your pot before adding your plants and soil. You can usually find terracotta pot feet at your local gardening store, or you can make your own by drilling holes into some old terracotta pots.
“The Newspaper Trick” – Tired of weeding?
Lay down a layer of cardboard or newspaper over the area you want to weed, and then top with some mulch. Becareful not to cover young plants or flower beds as they will need direct sunlight to thrive.
The cardboard will kill the weeds by blocking out the sunlight, and the mulch will help to keep the area moist. Let’s face it, weeding is time consuming. This is a great way to reduce the time spent and is also eco-friendly!
Water Your Plants with Recycled Water
You can save water by collecting rainwater or reusing water from your kitchen sink. Simply place a bowl or bucket under your kitchen tap and let the water run for a minute before turning it off. This water can then be used to water your plants.
You can also water your plants with grey water from your shower or laundry. Just make sure that you’re only using water that is free from toxins and chemicals.
Spice up your Potted Plants with some bright paint
Adding a pop of color to your pots is a great way to brighten up your garden. You can either paint the entire pot, or just add a design around the top. This is a great way to personalize your garden and make it unique.
Grow Your Own Herbs
Herbs are so versatile and can be used in cooking, baking, teas and more. Plus, they’re really easy to grow! Start by planting some of your favorite herbs in pots or in your garden. Then, water them regularly and enjoy the freshest herbs imaginable.
Ensure your garden is producing all year round, and be sure to check out our guide on edible perennials.
Adding a Birdbath
Whilst not strictly one of our garden hacks, getting a birdbath can attract wildlife to your garden. You don’t have to buy one – simply make your own by upcycling an old bowl or dish.
Place the birdbath in your garden and wait for the birds to come! Not only will this add some charm to your garden, but it’s also a great way to keep the bugs at bay and can be done with simple household items.
Make a DIY Scarecrow
Pest birds can be a real problem in the garden, but you can deter them with a homemade scarecrow. Simply stuff an old pair of trousers with straw and place them in your garden. Then, add an old shirt and hat to complete the look.
Looking for more? – Check out these awesome gardening hacks for beginners:
