Whether it’s the growing season, you’re struggling with certain plants, or you feel like weeds are taking over, you don’t always need a professional to help out in your garden. In fact, lots of people take care of their gardens themselves, without any external help.
There are certain things you learn the easy way, by asking neighbours and friends for ideas. Then, there are things you’ll usually learn the hard way. The good news is everything in terms of gardening can be easy if you do your homework upfront.
With these thoughts in mind, here are a bunch of gardening hacks to make your life easier.
Ideas that will transform your green space
- Coffee grounds are great fertilisers
Everyone loves a cup of coffee every now and then. And if you use coffee grounds instead of instant coffee, you probably know already how stressful it is to get rid of the grounds. You want to pour them down the drain, but you’re worried it may get stuck in there. The bin isn’t such a good idea either.
Well, believe it or not, these coffee grounds are excellent fertilisers, so instead of stressing yourself over them, just use them in the garden. They’re rich in a few helpful substances, including magnesium and nitrogen. Besides, they work well against snails and slugs, not to mention their anti-fungal capabilities.
- Throw in some fake greenery
Natural plants are excellent for gardens because they provide fresh air, smell nice, and are lovely to look at. They simply bring nature closer to you. But on the same note, they also require maintenance. And while some plants are easy to look after, some others are a nightmare.
Looking after certain plants means you’ll need to research all the time, learn, spend money, and stress yourself. So, how about some outdoor artificial plants then? Exactly! You can get artificial plants that look even better than the natural alternative. Plus, they don’t need any maintenance whatsoever.
Worst case scenario, you may have to spray them every now and then to get the dust off, but that’s it.
You can find fake plants in all shapes and sizes. No matter what trees or plants you prefer or what the garden theme is, chances are you’ll find something suitable in no time.
- Cayenne pepper keeps pests away
Cayenne pepper makes an amazing addition to any kitchen, suitable in a wide variety of dishes and great in terms of health benefits. But then, cayenne pepper is just as useful against pests too. Rather than struggle with harsh chemicals that can harm you or your pets, stick to the natural alternative.
Compared to other substances against pests, cayenne pepper won’t cause any harm to your plants. It won’t bother you either, while pets will normally stay away from it anyway. From this point of view, cayenne pepper is just as useful against bugs and animals that could munch on your work sometimes.
You don’t need to prepare any special potions. Just get a cup of cayenne pepper and sprinkle it all around the garden and plants on a weekly basis. You’ll notice beneficial effects become obvious within a few weeks only.
- Get a natural weed killer
There are lots of chemicals in pretty much every gardening store and yes, they work wonders against weeds, able to destroy invasive plants within a few days only, with nothing but a few sprays. However, this could be an issue as well.
If you have kids or pets hanging around the garden, you probably know already such chemicals can cause serious health problems, such as irritations. Also, if these weeds grow around other plants, using chemicals could destroy your work as well.
If you can’t handle the issue with weed pulling procedures, mix in a gallon of white vinegar, about one cup of table salt, and a tablespoon of dishwasher soap. Get the mix into a spray bottle and you’ll see some results within days only.
Sure, chemicals are stronger and faster, but they also come with adverse reactions.
- Sparkling water is great for crops
Sparkling water may sound a bit unusual when it comes to watering your garden. Besides, it’s not like you get it out of your tap, so you’ll have to carry quite a few bottles to get the job done. The good news is you don’t have to do it all the time.
Do it once at the beginning of the growing season, then give it another try about halfway through.
Soda water adds some extra acidity to your soil, which many plants love. Now, the thing with this hack is there’s a fine line between boosting your plants and hurting them. Therefore, don’t exaggerate, but do it twice per season and you’ll love the results.
- Milk jugs are the perfect watering cans
In need of a watering can? While in theory they’re great, the truth is they’re also bulky and difficult to fill up. Besides, you may not always have one when you need it, so how about recycling your old milk jugs? It’s a simple DIY project that requires at least an empty jug and a craft knife.
Wash it out on the inside, poke some small holes around the top and the cap, fill the jug up and get to work. Given the size, jugs are much easier to fill up. Sure, they don’t hold as much water, but it’s still a good gardening hack.
- Recycle your eggshells
Stop throwing eggshells in the bin, but use them around your gardens. They have quite a few useful applications. First of all, they’re amazing as fertilisers because they have rich amounts of calcium, not to mention other minerals that your plants will love.
Apart from using them crushed, you can also crack them into small bits and sprinkle them all around the garden. They’ll prevent common pests like snails and slugs, which love feeding on plants and flowers.
Moreover, ground eggshells can be added to compost bins to enrich the compost with valuable nutrients. Additionally, when placed at the bottom of planting holes, eggshells can benefit plants by slowly releasing calcium as they decompose, helping prevent blossom-end rot in tomatoes and peppers.
- Save on water bills
You can recycle certain types of water and use them again in your garden. It doesn’t mean you can use the water you take a bath in. Instead, use the water used for different cooking sessions. For instance, if you’ve just made some pasta or boiled some veggies, use the same water for your garden too.
Make sure you let it cool down to the room temperature first or you risk killing your plants.
Additionally, you can collect and store rainwater in barrels to use for watering plants in your garden. Installing a rain barrel system can further decrease your reliance on municipal water sources and help lower your water bills.
- Sponges in pots
Two of the most popular issues with plants are underwatering and overwatering. However, figuring out what some plants need could be tricky too. The good news is you can rely on sponges to help out. Throw some sponges at the bottom of your pots before planting.
This way, if the soil is too wet, sponges will absorb it, but without affecting the air circulation. And if the soil goes dry, it will draw moisture from the sponges. How convenient is that?
In addition to regulating moisture levels, sponges also act as a buffer against temperature fluctuations, helping to maintain more stable soil conditions around the roots. Furthermore, the presence of sponges can prevent soil compaction, promoting better drainage and root aeration.
- Use toilet paper tube for seed planting
Using toilet paper tubes for seed planting supports sustainable gardening and creates a welcoming space for your seeds to sprout and flourish. Just cut them into smaller pieces, fill them with soil, and plant your seeds in these biodegradable containers.
This not only reduces waste by reusing the cardboard tubes but also has benefits for your plants. Cardboard is porous, allowing air to flow and roots to grow easily. The tubes break down in the soil after planting, which is great for young plants as it reduces shock when transplanting.
When it’s time to move the seedlings to the ground, you can plant the whole tube, keeping roots safe and ensuring smooth growth.
Bottom line, there are countless ideas out there that can help you gain as much as possible from your garden. Some are great against pests, others can save you time or money.
No matter what you choose, keep in mind that you don’t really need an expert to sort your garden out, but just use your imagination and pay attention to all kinds of tips and tricks.
So, gather your tools, have fun growing, and see your green space burst with life and colour.
