Whether you have a green thumb or you’re a first-time gardener, finding gardening hacks that work can save you so much time in the yard, house, and garden. Many tips out there claim to work wonders but just end up being complicated, impractical or expensive, which just causes more work for you. Our hacks are so simple that anyone can do them, and they are tested and proven to improve your garden along with your house plants.
The best part is that most of these tricks can be done with household items or recyclables, saving you more time and money and making them more environmentally friendly as well.
Best Garden Hacks to Try
Some of the best DIY gardening hacks are so effortless that you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of them yourself. These tricks can be done by anyone with things found around the house, but when implemented, they’ll do magic for your plants both in the garden and in the home.
Plastic Bags and Containers
Everyone has a ton of plastic bags in their home that they don’t know what to do with. Rather than throwing them in the trash, they can be used for one of the best vegetable garden hacks out there!
- Sturdy plastic packaging, such as large, black trash bags can be used for planting potatoes and other root vegetables. Their depth allows for bigger root systems and high yields. Plus, the bags can simply be tipped over and dumped out once your veggies are ready to harvest. Make sure to put some holes in the bottom of the bag to allow water to drain – otherwise, your vegetables will rot.
- One of the other simple and effective gardening hacks is laying down some plastic bags over an area you want free of weeds and then weighing the bags down with rocks. Over time, this will prevent weeds from germinating in that area, and your soil will be ready for planting.
Looking for more garden hacks that work? An empty plastic bottle or container can help you with that.
- Use a sturdy, empty container to make a planter for small plants. Anything from a yogurt can to an old Tupperware will do the trick. Simply cut some drainage holes in the bottom of the container and fill it with soil. Then you can plant your seeds or seedlings and watch your plants thrive!
- There are also many gardening hacks with plastic bottles that are easy to implement in any garden or home. Use the top of a clear bottle to cover small seeds that have just germinated. This will help protect them and will trap moisture and heat around the young plant.
- Other container gardening hacks include using toilet paper rolls as seed starters or taking an old garbage bin and using it as a planter for bigger plants in your garden. Toilet paper rolls can simply be put vertically and packed securely together (so that they don’t fall over) and filled with soil. This creates the perfect little receptacle to start seeds with. If you place another clear plastic lid on top of the container that the rolls are in, you’ll make a little greenhouse that will help speed up the germination of your seeds.
- If you have an old plastic garbage bin you’re no longer using, drill holes in the bottom for drainage and put soil in there. You can then plant larger plants or vegetables in it. This will give you a bountiful harvest thanks to all that space the plants have to develop roots.
Beer
If you’re looking for cheap garden hacks, you can take advantage of any half-empty beer cans laying around your backyard after barbeques and parties.
- Beer has many beneficial nutrients that plants love, so you can dump it at the base of your hungriest plants, like tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables. Your plants will love the fizzy boost of nitrogen and yeast.
- Once those cans are empty, you can use them to fill the bottom ¼ or ⅓ of a container, saving you money on potting soil. Placing cans in the bottom of a planting container improves drainage and airflow around the roots, and you’ll become more environmentally friendly by recycling material right in your backyard.
- You can use any aluminum can as a small container or seed starter. As long as you add a few drainage holes in the bottom, you can use old soup or vegetable cans. This is one of the best and easiest gardening hacks for beginners, as it’s easy, cheap, and good for the environment.
Coffee
Coffee may be one of the most versatile household items you can use in your garden. Some of the best gardening hacks of all involve coffee grounds. Before you throw away your coffee leftovers, here are some garden hacks ideas.
- Sprinkle the coffee grounds around the base of your hungry fruits and vegetables. It will enrich the soil and improve the quality of the food your plants produce. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen and potassium along with many other micronutrients beneficial to the soil.
- Use coffee leftovers in your compost. The grounds will help break down the other plant material that is already in the waste, making for a more nutrient-rich batch of compost that will keep your plants happy and healthy.
Flower Garden Hacks
Everyone wants healthy and colorful flowers in their garden. One of the best ways to ensure your flowers grow strong and produce all season long is this aspirin hack.
- Aspirin contains salicylic acid, which is found in willow bark. It enhances a plant’s immune system, making it stronger and more resilient. Exposure to salicylic acid gives a boost in immunity power, which helps the plants combat pests and prevents the formation of fungus leading to an increased growth rate overall.
- Simply crush 1 aspirin tablet into 1 gallon of water and mix to dissolve. Then add this mixture to your flower bed every 3 or 4 weeks during the growing season. In summer, your flowers will thank you with a magnificent bloom.
These tips and tricks will help save you time, energy, and money, and you’ll be a little kinder to the environment, too. If you implement these genius gardening hacks, you’ll have a beautiful garden to share with friends and family all year round.
