Gardening is a popular activity in which someone grows and cultivates plants and or flowers. According to the National Garden Association, one in three households are now growing food. This is the “highest overall participation and spending levels seen in the United States in a decade,” the National Garden Association said.
Listed below are six gardening hacks that you wish you had heard of before.
Milk Jug Can Serve As Watering Can
Put your recyclable goods to use and make a watering can out of a milk jug. This can save you money and is a quick, affordable, do-it-yourself (DIY) project. All you have to do is poke numerous holes in the cap of the milk jug. After doing so, fill the milk jug up with water, put the cap on, and watch as the water comes tricking out through the holes. The milk jug will be able to water all the plants and flowers in your garden thoroughly. It can be reused at your convenience and stored away easily.
Prevention Of Fast Water Drainage With Coffee Filter
After watering plants or flowers in a pot, you can be left with a mess of water drainage at the bottom. A way to slow down and prevent fast water drainage is by adding a coffee filter to the inside of the pot. The coffee filter will absorb access water, force the water to stay in the pot, and reduce spillage. This is an easy gardening hack because all you have to do is purchase a coffee filter, which are usually priced under $10 for a bundle.
Sand And Mineral Oil Make Gardening Tools Last Longer
Gardening tools can last longer when you place them in a pot filled with a combination of sand and mineral oil. This powerful self-cleaning duo is quick and easy to make and can be stored outside your home or next to your garden. The sand, being an abrasive agent, sharpens the tools when placed and removed from the pot. The mineral oil lathers the gardening tools in lubrication. It applies a protective layer that prevents dirt build-up and rust. If mineral oil can not be found, baby oil can be used as a substitute. It will serve the same purpose. Making sure that the combination of sand and mineral oil is thoroughly mixed is crucial. You can customize the outside of the pot, and it could serve as a decoration piece.
Eggshells Or Forks For Plant Protection
Source: ShutterstockPlacing eggshells or forks around the plants in your garden will protect them from animals or creatures that can bring about harm. The cracked eggshells should be scattered around the plant evenly, so all places of entry are blocked off. The eggshells can also provide the plant with nutrients to grow.
If you decide to use the fork method, you should place the forks into the soil with the handle-side underground. The fork tongs should be sticking out of the ground. This will help in preventing animals from going near the plant. Each of these plant protection methods is effective in allowing your plants to grow in peace.
Use Fillers In Pots and Serrated Kitchen Knife For Garden Bed Edges
Fillers, like packing peanuts or styrofoam, can be placed in big pots to take up space. This allows you to use less soil and save money. The soil and roots that are added to the pot will fill in around the fillers. This also helps with the drainage of water in the soil. Ditch the numerous bags of soil to fill your big pot and try out this method.
Source: ShutterstockA serrated kitchen knife can be used to trim garden bed edges. Many people may turn to a spade or clippers, but a serrated kitchen knife gets you the neat, crisp borders you are aiming for. Clean edges that frame a garden make it appear more visually appealing. The serrated kitchen knife can get into the grass and make for perfect precision cutting.
Binder Clip Plant Tags
Gardens usually contain numerous different kinds of plants. It may be hard to tell one plant from another. To help in determining which plant is which, you can label the plant with a binder clip plant tag. This can be made by using either the seed bag or a card with the plant name written on it. After you have one of those, you attach it to a little metal pole or stick and clip the seed bag or card onto the pole. This is a quick and easy way to label your plants to avoid confusion.
These gardening hacks will save you time and money. Most of the items required for each hack are already items that you have at home. Gardening is a fun and relaxing hobby that allows you to be one with nature. You can grow your own fresh plants in your own yard without having to visit the grocery store.
