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8 Gardening Hacks That Can Save Money, Time, and Messes

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Think you’ve got a black thumb, and no amount of gardening advice can help keep your plants from meeting untimely demises?

Growing flowers and veggies is definitely an art, but it’s one you can learn fast with a few gardening hacks.

Here are some of the best gardening tricks of the trade approved by experts who say they really work. And the best part? Many of these ideas use items that you’ve got lying around the house already.

large flower pot

1. Fill your planters with bottles and cans to save dirt

Ever wonder how those ginormous planters get filled? Sure, you could use a 50-pound bag of pricey potting soil to get the job done, or you can try an easier, less expensive, and more environmentally friendly approach. The trick here: Fill the pot about two-thirds of the way with cans or plastic bottles from your recycling bin, then pile the dirt on top. This way, you use a lot less costly soil from the garden center, plus you improve the aeration and drainage at the bottom of the planter. And it’s easier to move it around your patio.

tulips

2. Divide your bulbs in half for more flowers

This one’s a two-fer: You can double your garden’s beauty and save money simply by dividing annual bulbs. (Tulips, irises, and daffodils are ideal for this.)

“When you see your flowers aren’t producing the way they used to, yank them up and then carefully pull the small, offset bulbs away from the base of the plant,” says Susan Brandt, master gardener at Blooming Secrets. Plant these new bulbs, plus the original one if it seems in good shape (it’s worth planting again if the base is firm to the touch), and you may double your blooms without spending more money.

3. Line pots with coffee filters for easy repotting

Transferring plants to new pots or into the ground is a tricky project. The reason? Dirt can drop all over when you try to lift them out, and disturb their delicate root system. The fix here filters.

Place one at the base of your pot, fill it with dirt, and plant your seeds or plants right in this paper nest.

“And when you go to repot it, lift up the filter gently and evenly so it keeps loose soil from spilling on your workspace,” says Brandt.

4. Keep climbing vines in place with zip or twist ties

A gorgeous grid of climbing clematis or other vines is easily achieved by grabbing a few twist ties (the ones that come with loaves of bread). Secure the vine stems to a wire backing, fence, or post, and you can arrange the growth in any way you like.

5. Crush eggshells and mix them with your soil

This gardening hack has some science behind it.

“Eggshells are an excellent source of calcium, and you can use them as fertilizer in areas with clay soil,” says Brandt.

When planting, add a little pulverized shell to each hole, suggests Oscar Ortega, maintenance care manager at FormLA Landscaping. The eggshells contain potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which can help perk up house plants, too. (Sprinkle some in the dirt every couple of weeks.)

6. Fill an over-the-door shoe holder with plants

An old shoe holder is easily made into a pocket planter for succulents, ivy, or any perennial you want to showcase. Poke a few small holes in each section for drainage, add dirt and plant seedlings or small plants, and then hang it on a fence, shed wall, or any exterior door that gets good light.

7. Pour vinegar on weeds

Who doesn’t have a cabinet full of random vinegar bottles? The acid in this pantry staple kills weeds like dandelions, so douse a bit on each garden offender. You’ll have to put up with the sharp scent for a little while, but it’s a fair trade for weed-free flower beds.

8. Trap slugs and pill bugs in beer

While you might hate to share your suds this way, by putting a small dish of PBR near your plants you can catch and kill slugs and other slimy bugs. The reason: They’re attracted to the sweet odor of beer—and when they get close to it, they end up drowning. RIP!

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