14 Brilliant Gardening Hacks to Make Your Life Easier
When you saw the title, you probably thought, “Oh great, another list of so-called ‘hacks’ from a gardener.” Honestly, I wouldn’t blame you—I’d probably think the same! But stick around, because these tips might actually make your gardening experience much easier and more enjoyable.
1. Use Coffee Grounds as Fertilizer
Coffee grounds provide a great nutrient boost for acid-loving plants like hydrangeas, blueberries, and tomatoes. Just be careful not to overdo it, as too much can make the soil overly acidic.
2. Grow Vegetables in 5-Gallon Buckets
Short on space? 5-gallon buckets are a great alternative for growing vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes. Just make sure they have proper drainage.
3. Eggshells for Natural Pest Control & Fertilization
Crushed eggshells can help deter slugs and snails while also adding calcium to the soil, benefiting plants like tomatoes and peppers.
4. Banana Peel Fertilizer
It may sound odd, but soaking banana peels in water for 24 hours creates a nutrient-rich solution that provides plants with a healthy potassium boost.
5. DIY Self-Watering System
For those who forget to water their plants, try this: Poke a small hole in a plastic bottle, insert a piece of rope, and fill it with water. It will slowly release moisture to the roots, keeping your plants hydrated.
6. Cinnamon as a Natural Antifungal
Sprinkling cinnamon on your seed-starting mix can help prevent fungal diseases from harming your seeds.
7. Toilet Paper Rolls for Seed Starting
Toilet paper rolls make great biodegradable seed starters. They allow easy transplanting without disturbing delicate roots.
8. Reuse Cooking Water for Plants
Instead of pouring vegetable or pasta cooking water (unsalted!) down the drain, let it cool and use it to nourish your plants—it’s packed with nutrients.
9. Epsom Salt for Lush Green Leaves
Magnesium deficiency can cause weak foliage and discoloration. Mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt per gallon of water and spray it on plants to give them a boost.
10. Milk Jug or Plastic Bottle Mini Greenhouses
Cut the bottom off a milk jug or plastic bottle and place it over seedlings to create a mini greenhouse, keeping them warm and protected.
11. Vinegar for Natural Weed Control
Spraying weeds with full-strength white vinegar can effectively eliminate them—but be careful not to spray your plants!
12. Mulch with Grass Clippings
Grass clippings work as an excellent mulch, helping to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and enrich the soil as they break down.
13. Use Forks to Keep Squirrels & Cats Out
If animals keep digging in your garden, stick plastic forks upright in the soil—they’ll act as a deterrent and keep your plants safe.
14. Plant Marigolds for Natural Pest Control
Marigolds not only add vibrant color to your garden but also help repel pests like aphids, nematodes, and even rabbits.
Try these hacks, and your gardening experience will be smoother, more efficient, and more enjoyable!