30 gardening secrets that’ll take your “green thumb” to the next level

If you love gardening, you’ve likely felt the joy of harvesting your first crop or bloom, alongside the challenges of plant care. Gardening can be costly, with purchases like tools and supplies adding up. But there are hacks to help you garden economically and sustainably. Explore these 40 gardening secrets every gardener should know!

Milk Jars Can be Designed into Watering Cans

Create your own watering can by puncturing the lid of a milk jug. This DIY solution is eco-friendly and perfect for nurturing your plants. Simply heat a needle and poke holes in the lid to allow water to flow through, transforming the jug into a convenient watering tool.

Toilet Paper Rolls as Biodegradable Planters

Opt for eco-friendly alternatives to plastic planters by repurposing toilet paper rolls. Cut the rolls in half with a knife and make four cuts one-third of the way up. Fold the bottom section in half to form a base. Fill these homemade seed pots with soil and plant your seeds to kickstart your garden!

Trash Bins Make Excellent Water Barrels

Creating a rain barrel might seem daunting, but it’s simpler than you think. Attach an ordinary trash can to your gutter using online guides for assistance. All you need are basic materials like PVC pipes and electrical connections. Stack them up to suit your needs, place the barrel near a downspout, drill a hole at the bottom, and attach a drain valve.

You Can Use PVC pipes to Fertilize Dense Plants

Watering dense plants can pose a challenge due to their protected root systems. To tackle this, try using a PVC pipe to direct water to the roots. Simply slide one end of the pipe down to the base of the plant and pour the fertilizer through it. For easier pouring, cut the top of the pipe at a 45-degree angle to create a larger opening.

Mulching is Made More Accessible by Using a Small Container

Mulching can be a time-consuming task, but there’s a simple trick to make it easier. Transfer the mulch into a smaller container before you start. Working from a bucket instead of a large bag can make a big difference. It’s easier to get the mulch close to flowers and bushes this way. Simply fill your wheelbarrow with mulch by using buckets and pails, and you’re good to go!

Fertilize Your Garden Beds with Epsom Salt

Epsom salt, often overlooked for its home and garden benefits, is actually a potent fertilizer thanks to its magnesium content. To use it effectively, mix the required amount with water and spray it on plant leaves or sprinkle the crystals directly onto the garden bed for optimal results.

Quickly Redesign Your Yard After Your Plants are Mature

Many gardeners find that once they’ve planted their garden in the ground, they may want to rearrange their yard. However, you can easily transplant your plants by first placing them in separate planters and then transferring them directly into the ground.

Use Kitchen Sponges to Keep Your Plants Hydrated

Struggling to keep the bottoms of your planters hydrated? Try this simple trick: place a couple of kitchen sponges in the bottom. This helps water collect near the root system, maintaining moisture and providing adequate air space. The sponges act as a reservoir, preventing water from draining out too quickly and keeping the soil moist for longer.

Secure Your Climbing Plants Using Zip Ties

Climbing plants such as tomatoes and ivy can be beautiful, but they may need some help to avoid collapsing and damaging their foliage. To guide them in the right direction, use zip ties to gently secure the stalks to a firm support. Be careful not to cinch the vines too tightly, allowing them room to grow naturally.

A Tarp is the Perfect Gardening Tool

A tarp is an invaluable tool in the garden, serving multiple purposes like protecting plants, waterproofing structures, and eliminating unwanted vegetation. Simply lay it over the area you want to address. Using a tarp can effectively smother weeds before planting and discourage future weed growth in garden beds. Additionally, the heat-absorbing properties of the dark tarp can warm the soil and improve its structure, as noted by Fortier.

A Shoe Rack Will Make a Great Vertical Garden

When space is limited for gardening, think vertically! A simple solution is to repurpose a shoe rack into a vertical herb garden. This clever approach maximizes vertical space, allowing you to grow numerous plants in a compact area.

Croquet Wickets for Keeping a Hose in Place

If you have old lawn games tucked away, like croquet wickets, they can serve a practical purpose in your garden. Use them to secure your hose to the ground, ensuring it stays on track and doesn’t trip anyone passing by. This simple solution prevents accidental damage to your plants and flowers while watering. Just feed the hose through the openings as you water to keep your garden protected.

Hydrogen Peroxide Can Help Protect Your Seedlings

Hydrogen peroxide, famous for its antiseptic properties on skin cuts, can also combat soil-borne illnesses. If you’re concerned about your plants contracting diseases from the soil, spraying them with peroxide can help. When added to the soil, peroxide reacts with living and dead bacteria and organic matter, generating oxygen in the form of bubbles. This reaction is reminiscent of an older method used to gauge the organic content of soil.

Coffee Grounds For Keeping Pests Away

Instead of discarding coffee grounds, why not sprinkle them around your flower beds? Not only is this a sustainable way to repurpose them, but it also serves as a natural deterrent for pests like slugs. Coffee grounds create a barrier that slugs and snails avoid crawling over, helping to protect your garden plants.

Eggshells Keep Unwanted Pests from Your Garden

If you don’t drink coffee, you can still utilize eggshells as an effective insect deterrent in your garden. Simply collect empty eggshells and crush them into smaller pieces using a food processor or by rolling them with a bottle or rolling pin. Then, sprinkle the crushed eggshells around your garden in areas where slugs, caterpillars, and other crawling pests are problematic. Eggshells serve as a safe and environmentally friendly solution for insect management.

A Mailbox is a Great Gardening Tool Holder

Installing a mailbox in your backyard is a charming and practical solution for storing gardening tools. It keeps your tools conveniently accessible yet out of the way. Fill the mailbox with hand tools and gloves, and place it directly in the garden for easy access. This simple addition saves time and effort by reducing trips to the garden shed to retrieve misplaced tools. Plus, you can personalize it with a coat of paint to add style and functionality to your garden space.

Cooking Water Can Serve as Fertilizer

Instead of pouring boiling water down the drain after cooking vegetables or eggs, put it to good use in your garden. Once the water has cooled, use it to “fertilize” your plants in the garden or planting containers. This nutrient-rich water can be a beneficial fertilizer alternative for your plants.

Pinch Your Garden Plants for Growth

There’s an ancient proverb that says to encourage hair growth, you have to cut it. Surprisingly, the same principle applies to plants. Regularly pinch off the dead heads of your plants to promote thick and vigorous growth. Pinching is most effective on younger plants, typically when they have established two to three pairs of leaves on the stalk. This practice helps stimulate healthy growth and encourages branching.

Transform Plastic Containers into Planters

Repurposing plastic clamshell boxes from restaurants and salad bars as storage containers is a great idea. They make excellent planters for seedlings, providing a small, warm, and moist environment ideal for growth. These boxes are inexpensive and portable, allowing you to easily move them around your garden or patio as needed. It’s a simple and eco-friendly way to give your seedlings a healthy start.

A Knife Prevents Damaging Your Plant Roots

Moving plants can be challenging, and it’s easy to damage their roots when removing them from pots. Instead of pulling the plant out by force, try slicing down the sides of the pot with a standard knife. This method makes it easier to free the plant without harming it. Carefully cut the container at two points from top to bottom, then pull down the cut piece, ensuring all the roots remain intact and ready for replanting. It’s a gentler approach that helps ensure the plant’s health during transplantation.

Cinnamon is a Disease Killer in the Soil

Cinnamon’s natural antifungal properties make it a great solution for keeping your plants healthy. Simply sprinkle it throughout your garden to protect your plants. Not only does it help fend off fungal infections, but it also leaves a pleasant cinnamon scent in your soil. Additionally, cinnamon can serve as an effective rooting agent for plants, similar to commercial rooting powders derived from willow or hormones. Apply it to the stem when planting or cutting to promote root development in various plant varieties.

Vinegar can Kill Weeds

You can tackle weeds without resorting to store-bought weed killers. Just reach for some vinegar, a common household item found in most kitchen cupboards. Vinegar’s acetic acid is a natural weed killer used in organic farming. The higher the concentration of acetic acid, the more effective it is at killing weeds.

A Regular Wooden Board Can Help in Edging Lawns

For a neat lawn edge, try using a regular wooden board or post as a guide. Simply lay it down and follow its shape with a shovel. This method ensures clean and defined edges, enhancing the overall appearance of your garden. Irregular edges can make the garden look untidy and cause difficulties in demarcating points, so using a wooden board or block can provide excellent results.

Plastic Forks are an Easy Technique to Prevent Garden Creatures

To deter deer, rabbits, and other garden pests from grazing on your plants without causing harm or installing fences, repurpose old plastic forks. Simply bury them upright in the soil around your garden beds. This low-cost method effectively discourages pests from returning and helps protect your crops. With this approach, you can safeguard your vegetables and fruits without resorting to harmful measures.

Milk Jugs Can Act as Greenhouses for Seedlings

If you’re tired of exposing your seedlings to the elements, consider creating a miniature greenhouse out of a milk jug. This simple solution protects delicate plants while providing a warm and humid environment conducive to growth. Plastic greenhouses are also a cost-effective alternative to traditional ones, offering several benefits:

– They come in various sizes, including small ones suitable for personal use.
– They extend the growing season, especially for early sowings.
– They can aid in the successful cultivation of heat-loving vegetables.

Use Newspapers to Suffocate Weeds

Instead of spending hours pulling weeds or resorting to smothering them, try covering the garden bed with newspaper. This simple method suffocates the weeds while allowing water and nutrients to reach the flower bed. As the newspaper decomposes, it also provides nutrients to the soil and surrounding species. It’s an effective and environmentally friendly way to control weeds and nourish your garden.

Make a Watering Can out of a To-go Coffee Cup

Coffee cups are ideal for watering houseplants on the go. Their size and shape make them convenient, and the hole in the top acts as a perfect spout. Simply rinse the cup thoroughly before use. This quick watering solution is particularly suitable for plants like Aloe Vera and cacti that require minimal water. Alternatively, clean to-go coffee mugs with lids can be used for office plants. Just ensure to clean the cup and lid properly before using them as watering cans.

A Posthole Digger Can Make Vegetable Planting Easier

Planting vegetables can be made much easier with the use of a posthole digger. This tool drastically reduces the time spent on planting. Simply drop the blade, close the handles, and push out the soil to create a perfect planting hole in seconds. A posthole digger typically creates a hole 6 to 8 inches wide and can reach a depth of 8 to 10 inches, making it ideal for transplanting vegetables.

Keep Your Tools in a Sandbox

To maintain the sharpness and cleanliness of your gardening tools, lightly rub them with mineral oil and store them in a bucket of sand. This helps sharpen and polish the tools, keeping them in excellent shape. Ensure the sand is somewhat damp with oil but not completely soaked. When returning a shovel to the shed, remove excess soil and dip the tool’s head several times into the sand. Finally, remove the sand from the tool and store it away.

Citrus Peels Make Perfect Planters

Hollowed-out citrus peels make excellent containers for early seedlings, providing a natural and biodegradable option. These makeshift planters are easy to transplant, but it’s essential to ensure that the plants you use don’t mind an acidic environment. By using the citrus rind as the outer rim of a tiny planter, you create a cozy home for the next generation of sprouts. As the peels decompose, they release nutrients that nourish the seedlings. Once the seedlings outgrow their citrus quarters, you can transplant them into your garden or raised bed, allowing them to continue thriving.

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