Transform Your Garden on a Dime with These Brilliant Hacks!
1. Aid Plants With Hydrogen Peroxide
Supplies needed: one gallon of water and 3% hydrogen peroxide
Cost to Make: $8.49 for each 16-ounce jug
You would be mistaken to believe that plants are harmed by hydrogen peroxide with a strong odor. Because this solution adds more oxygen to the air, it can actually benefit your plants. Hydrogen peroxide is, after all, H202. Extra oxygen is added to the roots of plants when hydrogen peroxide is applied.
2. A Handmade Garden Tool Holder That Self-Sharpens
Materials required: mineral oil, sand, and Terracotta pot
Made for $10*
Do you have an old, unused terracotta pot laying around? Use it as a DIY tool organizer and holder. It's likely not a good idea to just throw your tools around the garden as that could cause them to rust or become unclean.
DIY Garden Tool Holder with Self-Sharpening Razor @byjillee/Pinterest
Sand and mineral oil should be combined in a terracotta pot to create a sort of moist, chunky slurry. The viscosity of the mixture will hold your instruments upright in the pot while the sand and mineral oil clean and sharpen them at the same time. This hack should only set you back about $10 total.
3. Use Newspaper to Smother Weeds
Supplies required: water and newspaper
Making Cost: $1–$5*
One common household item you may use in your garden is newspaper. Like pests, weeds are an annoyance that every gardener must eventually endure. Newspapers can be used to efficiently suffocate weeds. Watering your flower garden beforehand will help the newspaper adhere to the soil.
Use Newspaper to Kill Weeds @thegardeningsoul/Pinterest
Rewater the bed and cover it with newspapers. While allowing water and nutrients to reach the plants you do want there, the newspaper will choke out any weeds. If cardboard is more readily available, you may also use it for this hack.
4. Make Sure Your Garden Has Mulch
Supplies required: Mulch
Cost to Produce:* $10 to $50 per bag
Mulch is crucial, and while it may require an additional step and may even be somewhat odorous depending on the type you buy, it is well worth the effort. Mulch acts as an insulator to help control the temperature of the soil. It keeps the roots of your plants cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Mulch Is Essential For Your Garden: @bhg/Pinterest
Since fall plantings are delicate and must withstand sharp drops in temperature, this procedure is particularly crucial. Mulching also helps to retain moisture. You will need to water your garden less the more mulch you use. Shredded rubber, cocoa shells, wood chips, compost, and stone are among the greatest mulch materials. Also available at your neighborhood garden supply store is prepared mulch.
5. There's Use for Plastic Wrap in the Garden
Supplies required: plastic wrap
Making It: $5–$8*
There may be advantages to using the same plastic wrap (sometimes called Saran wrap or cling film) in your garden as you use in your kitchen. If you want to create the illusion of a greenhouse with your plants, this film is an excellent tool because it retains moisture and heat.
In the garden, plastic wrap might be useful ©progressman/Shutterstock
Use plastic wrap to cover the container or planter if you are planting plants that may require some TLC to get going. By doing this, the greenhouse effect will be strengthened, protecting these seedlings and promoting the fastest possible growth. Both Amazon and your neighborhood grocery shop carry this wrap.
6. Consider pests when planting
Supplies required: flowers resistant to pests
Cost of Making: $5–$50 Per Blossom
Although many gardening how-tos concentrate on treating pests, it's equally critical to consider pest prevention. Think about pests when you plant your garden. Plant flowers that will discourage pests. Beautiful, resilient flowers are available that will keep insects out of your garden.
Think Before You Plant @onelittleproject/Pinterest
Among the plants that discourage pests are petunias, nasturtiums, marigolds, lavender, geraniums, chrysanthemums, calendula, asters, and more. Plant these flowers among your more fragile fruit and vegetable plants to create a visually appealing, durable, and insect-resistant garden.
7. Conduct a Home Soil pH Check
Supplies needed: a bowl, water, vinegar, baking soda, and two tablespoons of soil
Making It Cost: $5*
Although soil pH testers cost $7 to $12 at places like Amazon and Walmart, you may use the "Pantry pH Test" to test the pH of your soil at home. You will need a bowl, a half-cup of vinegar, and two tablespoons of the soil you wish to test for this test. If the soil fizzes when placed in vinegar, it is alkaline soil.
Assess the pH of Your Soil at Home @thespruceofficial/Pinterest
It's time for another test if it doesn't fizz. You will need distilled water and a half-cup of baking soda for this one. Use two fresh tablespoons of distilled water to wet the soil. Add a half-cup of baking soda after that. Your soil is acidic if the mixture fizzes.
8. Tool Vat
Supplies required: a 5-gallon bucket
Expense of Making: $5 at Home Depot
There are many tips that gardeners provide on how to make yard work easier, and this one is quite clever. You can put the cover on a five-gallon bucket to keep equipment dry from rain, which makes it a great container for holding tools.
Pinterest/@family_handyman/Tool Bucket
This bucket also doubles as a transportable stool for times you need to prune or simply relax. It can be a little difficult to take the lid off, but you can get around that by trimming all but two of the plastic tabs. The lid will then swiftly and easily pop on and off after you've done that. This bucket is available at Home Depot for around $5.
9. Grow annuals
Supplies required: Perennials
Cost of Production: $10–$50 per plant*
Because they may be planted virtually anytime the soil is workable (though there are certain seasons that are better than others), perennial plants are extremely hardy and can survive for more than two years. These plants are distinguished from biennials and annuals, which have shorter lifespans, by the term "perennials."
Grow annuals © Shutterstock/Vladiri
Perennials including Russian Sage, Cranesbill Geranium, Salvia, Bleeding Heart, Poppy, Giant Allium, Black-Eyed Susan, and Money Plant are among the most exquisite plants. Although you may technically plant these perennials in the ground anytime the soil is workable, the optimal seasons to do so are fall and spring.
10. Select Simple Crops
Materials required: water, soil, and seeds
Production Cost: $5–$25* (Depends on Plant)
Nobody says you have to start at Level 10 in order to become a crop farmer. Grow simple crops like sweet potatoes, winter squash (including pumpkins), beans, turnips, radishes, lettuce, and sunflowers. Southern Exposure claims that all of them are "easy crops to grow from seed."
Select Simple Crops 2/Shutterstock/Sunny25
Because green beans fix nitrogen when they sprout, they are especially simple to grow—even in poor soil. In contrast, celery, carrots, watermelon, cauliflower, artichokes, and onions are among the "Level 10" crops that are the most difficult to cultivate and manage. After tackling the simple crops, you can attempt one or two difficult ones if you're feeling very daring.
11. Gather Herbs With A Fork
Supplies required: fork
Making Cost: $0*
Harvesting methods vary depending on the type of herb. For instance, to gather several leaves at once, pinch the tip of the leafy annual herb basil. On the other hand, parsley, cilantro, and rosemary should be chopped off close to the bottom of the branch. Meanwhile, gather the oregano, sage, thyme, and tarragon sprigs by their stems.
Harvest Herbs With A Fork @5-Minute Crafts/YouTube
Using a fork instead of your hands or a more awkward tool can make harvesting certain herbs easier. Harvesting is made easier by the precision of forks and their tines. If you need to dig up the roots, they can also help loosen the soil surrounding the plant.
12. You Could Actually Benefit From Ladybugs
Supplies required: ladybugs
Making Cost: $0*
In your garden, you may be inclined to eradicate any insects that you come across while tending to your priceless plants. But when it comes to the black-and-red ladybug, you may wish to ignore this amiable creature.
You May Actually Be Helped by Ladybugs @dengarden0056/Pinterest
HGTV claims that because these insects enjoy consuming common garden pests, they are beneficial insects for the garden. Aphids are a very tasty meal for ladybugs. Nevertheless, don't fall for it. Although multicolored Asian beetles and ladybugs have been known to resemble one other, these invasive beetles are a different species that can do harm to your plant.
13. Keep Those Guidelines Close at Hand
Supplies required:Guidelines
Making Cost: N/A
As with baking, a surprise catastrophe can result from not reading the back of a seed packet's instructions. There are instructions on every bag of mulch, gardening implement, and seed packet. If you're new to gardening, especially, make sure to read these guidelines.
Remember Those Directions Convenient at @gardenerspath/Pinterest
You will learn how to plant, how much to water, and what not to do from the directions. Planting will be a lot more successful if you adhere to the basic how-tos. Each plant is distinct, and you need to treat them as such to ensure that they grow appropriately.
14. Look for Crops in Your Grocery Bag
Supplies required: Scraps
Making Cost: $0*
It may surprise you to learn that several fruits, vegetables, and herbs may be grown from just cuttings and scraps. Before you recycle or throw away your grocery bag, make sure to check the bottom because there may be a brand-new plant hiding inside that needs some love and care to flourish.
Look for crops in your grocery bag @ella777111/Pinterest
You may produce a variety of vegetables and herbs from scraps, including celery, green onions, romaine lettuce, garlic, potatoes, sweet potatoes, ginger, cilantro, and basil. Though the degrees of difficulty vary, each has its own instructions and procedures. With a little effort, though, you may have a self-growing supply of some of your favorite kitchen essentials.
