For all of you having some issues around the garden, whether it is about maintaining the garden or the financial expenses, here are the best 28 secrets to help you save time and money!
This autumn is the perfect time to make your garden magnificent. The following tips will help you achieve that.
1. Create a planting template
We all know how to work with a document template, but do you know how to make a “planting template”? You can do it right in your garden, by starting with a square shaped wooden board. Add the wooden spools to “punch” seed holes into the fertile soil.This procedure will save you a lot of time and will keep the planting lines straight. Your garden will finally look neat and organized.
2. Create a vertical tube planter
If you want to grow strawberries you can use a vertical tube. Just cut round holes all over the tube, this way you will allow the stretching space for the strawberries to be able to grow outward. If you live in the more urban places, this is the best way to grow strawberries because they need a little space.
3. Create Rubbermaid container gardens
Put soil into a Rubbermaid container and make a nice porch garden, at the same time, save some space.
Note: It is advisable to use hack #14 in order to keep the container movable and light.
4. Very practical and cute bike rim trellis
All of you in the urban areas, this works great for you. Put a steel rod in the middle of 2 recycled bike rims. Then, tie some lines of garden twine from one tire to another, and be careful since they should be at least 2 inches apart. Place them vertically and enjoy when they start to thrive.
5. Remember: Epsom salts are healthy for your “green pets”!
You must have heard a lot about Epsom salt (click here if you haven’t). Not only this salt is good for your skin, but it is even better for plants.Epsom salt is rich in magnesium and sulfate. These minerals are everything that a plant needs in order to stay healthy.
6. Grow roses with potatoes
If you want to help your rose cuttings to survive, you might want to use potatoes. All you need to do is place the cutting in a potato before you put it in soil, then add some extra moisture from the vegetable, because this will help you garden a beautiful rose plant.
7. It takes 1 single pot to grow 100 pounds of potatoes
If you grow potatoes in a barrel, you will help reduce the multiplication of pests, insects, and fungi, and you will eliminate shovel damaged potatoes.
8. Switching plants now made easy
The pot-in-pot method is so simple. You should use buried pots in your garden and place grown, potted plants inside. Many benefits come with it, such as being able to switch seasonal plants, or experimenting with plans placement in areas of shade or sunshine too.
9. Start seedling in a lemon
A lot better chance of survival for your plants comes if you start planting them in a lemon citrus fruit. Crazy huh?
Just cut the lemon in half, scoop out the middle of it, then add a handful of soil and seeds and watch the fast growth of your new plant !
10. Or you can start your fragile seedlings in an eggshell
The essential minerals for survival of seedlings, before being transferred in the garden are contained in eggshells! You want to hear the best part? These natural pots come completely free of charge!
11. Ground eggshells make a good fertilizer
You can recycle grind eggshells and make a natural fertilizer. Trust me, your garden will be thankfull for all the calcium you’ll give it.
12. Diapers retain moisture in potted plants
Sounds insane, but it’s true. Next time you have a spare baby diaper, don’t throw it, but place the diaper at the bottom of your planter before adding soil to keep the moisture.
13. Coffee filters will do the job too
I am sure you have already heard that coffee filters can help your garden a lot.Get some coffee filers and retain the moisture in your potted plants. I’d suggest using whatever you have around the house to save yourself a trip to the market.
14. Milk jugs make a perfect watering container and more
You can easily recycle empty milk jugs and turn them into a water container. Just poke holes in the lid and put water in it. It is cheap, actually cost-free. These jugs have potting soil. Place them at the bottom of your pot in order to reduce the amount of soil. This will help your plants to move easier, but most importantly, it will save you some money.
15. Easy to grow squash
If you want to grow squash, all you need to do is dig a hole and put the pot into the soil. Then, plant squash seeds around the base of the pot. Pour some water in the pot and make sure to get water straight to the root of the squash. By doing this, you will keep the hydrated for a long time.
16. The right warmth
The right temperature is a very important factor for your houseplants. Most of the plants you keep at home don’t like dryness as well as extreme warmth. What they like is moist and cooler temperatures. It is useful to have a thermostat so that you can change the room temperature. It is best to lower it for 10 degrees.
17. Use ice cubes to water
Although it may seem odd to you, ice cubes are a great option for watering your plants. It is important to put the cubes around, and not touching the stem. Your plants will be watered with the ice melting process.
18. Use mayonnaise or milk for shiny leaves
This is a great way to freshen up your plants’ leaves. Yes, it is safe to use it on your plants. You just need to apply a small amount of mayonnaise using a paper towel and the leaves with become shiny and bright in no time. This will go on for weeks. Instead of mayonnaise, you can also use a 50-50 mixture of milk and warm water. Apply with a soft cloth and enjoy your shiny leaves.
19. Use mouse pads
In order to keep your furniture and floor undamaged, it is best to use old mouse pads underneath your plant containers. You will end up with a clean floor and a nice decoration.
20. Plants also like coffee in the morning
Coffee is a plant’s best friend as well. If you happen to have some leftover coffee, add an equal amount of water to it and pour it to your plant, the acid-lover. Coffee can replace the regular act of watering.
21. Filter your plants
We are still connected to the coffee subject. This time we are going to help you in maintaining your plants with coffee filters. It is the cheapest way to maintain your plants and keep them clean. What you need to do is put a filter on the base of the pot right before filling it with compost. In this way, the compost won’t go all over the pot, like it usually happens with most plants.
22. Recycle water
The water you use every day when cooking or washing up can be used to water the plants or anywhere in your personal garden. It is completely safe and ecological. So, when you cook pasta, rice, or vegetables, use the leftover water for your plants (not salted). When using dish-washing water, use it if it is with a plant-based detergent. Don’t use water previously used for cooking meat.
23. Read a newspaper to your plants
This is an interesting way to keep your plants happy on a daily basis. It is very beneficial because your breath’s carbon dioxide will energize the gas exchange cycles that happen in the plant. Also, you will need a well-lit room to read the newspaper, so it is a great way to expose your plants to extra light that helps them grow.
24. Choose the right plants
Some plants are particularly easy to maintain and you don’t need a gardener’s experience to keep them alive. For instance, such plants include jade, the spider plant, Aloe Vera, and ponytail palm. These are not going to die if you forget about them for some period of time. So, if you happen to lack a green thumb, choose one of the above-mentioned plants or research for more to find plants that are easy to maintain.
25. Keep your plants away from bugs with garlic
Garlic can kick away all bugs that are trying to attack your plant. You just need one clove of garlic per a houseplant and all the pests will be gone for good. You can use garlic as an insect-repellent inside and outside (in your garden) as well. If the garlic happens to sprout, just cut it back.
26. Re-pot
Important note: Re-potting is very important for your houseplants. Winter time is not a great time to be doing this, because as you know, winter is the season when plants are resting. The plants will not grow well because of the lack of light and other conditions.
When re-potting, make sure you choose the right size of the pot. Look for a size no more that 2’’ or larger than the existing pot. If you love to decorate the pottery, you can pot the plants in cheap plastic pots, because those can be moved from container to container without disrupting the roots.
27. Find the right light for your plant
South-facing windows get more light than north-facing ones. If your windows are facing east or west, you need to observe to see how much light there is so that you can decide which plants to put there. If your plants have bright foliage, they need more light than normal. You may also need to half-turn the pot on a daily basis to keep the plant’s growth even. Also, if the sun is too intense during the summer, make sure you move the plant away during the hot period.
28. Add oyster shells and eggshells to your garden beds
Boost your soil’s health by using a slow-release fertilizer made of oyster shells and eggshells. Make the crushed pieces as small as you can, so you will be able to use a rolling pin. The calcium carbonate in the shells will alkalize your soil.