There are so many gardening hacks out there, and it can be hard to know which ones are the best.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of our top free gardening hacks, guaranteed to help you in the garden.
Whether you’re looking for ways to save water, prevent pests, or get better crops, we’ve got you covered.
20 Easy and Free Garden Hacks
- Make your own compost bin out of an old garbage can with a few holes drilled in the bottom or use an enclosed tumbler composter such as this one on Amazon.
- Make your own plant markers and labels out of stones you come upon outside or with any plastic spoons or forks you may have laying about for them.
- Use a colander to water your plants – this will help prevent soil erosion and distribute water evenly.
- Soak your seeds in warm water 24 hours before sowing to help them germinate faster.
- Mulch your garden beds to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and promote healthy soil.
- Hang a bird feeder in your yard to attract songbirds that will eat pests like aphids from your plants.
- Place a cloche or row cover over plants during cold weather to protect them from frost and wind.
- Prune your perennials after they flower to encourage new growth and more blooms next season.
- Train vines like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peas to grow up a trellis or fence to save space.
- Weed your garden regularly to keep pests and diseases at bay.
- Encourage potted plants to grow by trimming their roots when you transplant them as this will help to stimulate new root growth.
- Keep eggshells to use in the garden by crushing them into tiny pieces and sprinkling around delicate plants and seedlings to deter slugs and snails.
- Use an old pair of boots as a planting container for small annuals or herbs like strawberries, thyme, and marjoram.
- Water your plants with leftover tea – the caffeine and nitrogen in tea is great for plants
- Use old toilet roll tubes as plant pots for seedings – you can plant the whole thing, pot and plant into the ground as the tube will decompose naturally.
- Bury banana peels near to the roots of garden plants as they are high in potassium and nitrogen – this will help to promote healthy growth.
- Use a large ice cube to water hanging baskets and containers – the ice will slowly melt and release water into the soil without over-watering.
- Cut used plastic bottles in half and use them to cover seedlings to give some cold weather protection – like a mini greenhouse.
- Paint old plant pots or other containers to give your garden a splash of color and that personal touch.
Final words
We hope you’ve found these gardening hacks helpful and that they’ll help make your gardening experience a little easier and more enjoyable.
Gardening can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work – so why not make it a little bit easier with these handy tips?
Happy gardening.
