There ’s no deficit of garden hacks drift around online — some cagey , some questionable , and a few that just waste your time ( and sometimes your plants ) . It ’s gentle to get catch up in a quick fix or voguish tip , especially when it promises to make gardening easier or more productive . But the truth is , not every viral trick holds up when it ’s put to the trial outdoors .

We assail up six popular nag that vocalize helpful but do n’t really deliver , along with ten solid tips that real nurseryman really swear on . From deliver money to keeping plant life healthier for longer , these tried - and - rightful method have earned their place in the stain . So before you spend another afternoon forget banana skin or spraying soda on your roses , here ’s what ’s deserving keep — and what ’s better left behind .

Burying Banana Peels for Fertilizer

Many gardeners believe that bury banana peels provide an instant food boost to plants . While bananas are full-bodied in potassium , simply bury the Peel does n’t break them down speedily enough to be efficient . The skin must moulder first , which takes meter and can appeal unwanted pests .

or else , consider compost the peels first to break them down into a nutrient - rich compost . This method see the nutrients are more promptly available to your flora , promoting healthier growing .

Skipping the compost stride might not yield the lush results promised by this political hack .

6 Popular Garden Hacks That Don’t Actually Work (+ 10 Tricks Gardeners Swear By)

Using Sugar Water to Revive Plants

It ’s tantalizing to reach for sugar water when plant look droopy , but this machine politician can do more harm than sound . Sugar can break up soil balance , leading to microbial overgrowth , which bottle up plant growth .

A skillful approach is to assess the flora ’s watering needs or check for origin issue . conform water supply oftenness or repotting may help revive your unripe friends .

Stick to balanced fertilizers for an vim boost or else of repair to sugar . This ensures your industrial plant get the nutrients they need without the minus side effects of this sugary quick - fix .

Burying Banana Peels for Fertilizer

© MasterClass

Epsom Salt for Lush Roses

sprinkle Epsom salt around rosaceous bushes is often tout as a cure - all for vivacious peak . While magnesium sulphate can do good plants deficient in magnesium , most garden soils contain enough to begin with .

Overuse may lead to salt buildup , harming plants more than helping . rather , soil testing can determine if your garden need additional magnesium .

Relying solely on Epsom salt may miss other nutrient needs of your roses . Use it wisely , if at all , and supplement with a balanced fertiliser to ensure all - around respectable growth for your peak .

Burying Banana Peels for Fertilizer

Coffee Grounds for Acid-Loving Plants

Coffee flat coat are commonly evoke for window pane - loving flora like azaleas and blueberries . While they can slightly acidify grime , using too much can lead to imbalances and hinder plant growth .

To apply successfully , mix grounds into compost first . This ascertain they break down by rights , enhance alimentary availability without flood out your plant .

Interestingly , spent coffee ground may also dissuade pests , but moderation is key . Overdoing it can impede piddle drain , so sprinkle slenderly for best results .

Using Sugar Water to Revive Plants

© The Spruce

Baking Soda for Sweeter Tomatoes

The theme of pitter-patter bake soda on soil to grow sweeter tomatoes sounds delicious , but it ’s more myth than reality . Baking sodium carbonate slightly raises soil pH , which may trim down sour but does n’t necessarily affect sugar content .

Focusing on proper lachrymation , sun , and soil condition will lead more to flavor than baking soda ash . Testing territory pH and adjusting as need bring home the bacon a better access .

Growing conditions and love apple kind primarily determine sweetness , make this hack more aspirant intellection than garden soundness .

Using Sugar Water to Revive Plants

Aspirin in Water for Plant Health

Adding acetylsalicylic acid to water is trust to boost plant unsusceptibility and growth . While salicylic pane in acetylsalicylic acid can mimic plant internal secretion , it ’s not a guaranteed therapeutic - all .

Some studies suggest it helps plant resist disease , but it might also accentuate plant if not used correctly . Careful lotion and frequency are crucial .

Rather than relying only on Empirin , ensure your plants have the right environment , nutrients , and care for racy wellness . This hack might offer episodic benefit but is n’t a substitute for comprehensive plant life care .

Epsom Salt for Lush Roses

© Kellogg Garden Products

Companion Planting for Pest Control

Companion planting is a beloved proficiency among gardeners to naturally discourage plague and bolster plant growth . Planting marigolds near Lycopersicon esculentum can assist guard off nematode worm , while basil nearby enhances flavour .

The idea is to make a balanced ecosystem where plants back up each other . However , it requires cognition and planning to succeed .

intellect which plant benefit each other can make a world of difference . This method is tried , tested , and favour by gardeners for cultivating thriving garden without chemical interventions .

Epsom Salt for Lush Roses

Eggshells for Calcium

Using mash eggshells to add Ca to garden grease is a pragmatic and sustainable style to enhance flora growth . They decompose slow , releasing calcium and improving ground structure .

Sprinkle them around tomatoes to preclude blossom ending rot , or commix them into compost for gradual nutritious release . This method acting supports salubrious industrial plant development without man-made fertilizers .

Eggshells also deter slug , providing a natural pest control meter . This round-eyed hack is a front-runner among gardeners for its multiple benefit and eco - friendly feeler .

Coffee Grounds for Acid-Loving Plants

© PlantIn

Mulching with Straw

Mulching with shuck helps conserve moisture , suppress mourning band , and determine dirt temperature . It ’s a clip - honored method that enhance stain health while reducing the need for synthetic aids .

Lay a thick bed over garden seam , permit flora to peek through . Over clip , straw breaks down , enrich the soil with organic topic .

This jade is beloved for its easiness and effectiveness in creating a palmy garden surroundings . Straw mulch is a gardener ’s ally , nurturing plants by nature and sustainably without harsh chemicals .

Coffee Grounds for Acid-Loving Plants

Rainwater Harvesting

pull in rainwater is an eco - friendly recitation that supplies gardens with chlorine - free water , ideal for plant wellness . Rain barrel capture and store rainfall , put up a sustainable water reference for dry spells .

Position barrel under roof downspouts for maximum collection . Use this natural imagination to water plants without relying on municipal piddle supplies .

This hack is praise for its environmental benefits and price - economy potential , making it a smart choice for conscientious gardeners . Embrace rainwater harvest as a step towards unripe gardening practice .

Baking Soda for Sweeter Tomatoes

© Gardener’s Path

Growing Herbs Indoors

Cultivating herbs on a cheery windowsill brings reinvigorated flavors to your kitchen year - round . Select herbs like basil , rosemary , and thyme that flourish indoors .

Ensure they encounter plentiful sunlight and regular watering for optimal growth . Utilize pots with good drainage to prevent root rot .

This commodious hack allows easy access to fresh herbs , enhancing culinary creative activity while adding greenery indoors . Many gardeners swear by this method for its easiness and rewarding results , perfect for seasoned and novice gardeners likewise .

Baking Soda for Sweeter Tomatoes

Introducing Beneficial Insects

Introducing good insects like ladybugs and bee to your garden supply raw pestilence control and pollination . Ladybugs devour aphid , while bees assure yield and seeded player production .

Create a welcoming home ground with divers plantings to attract these ally . obviate chemical pesticides to keep a safe environment .

Gardeners treasure this hack for its eco - favorable approach , fostering a balanced ecosystem while promoting flora wellness . good insect are a gardener ’s expert protagonist , work inexhaustibly to keep garden vivacious and productive .

Aspirin in Water for Plant Health

© Gardening Know How

Creating a Compost Heap

compost transforms kitchen scraps and 1000 wastefulness into deep , constitutive material for your garden . build up a mass with layers of greens and browns , wrick regularly to aerate .

This cognitive process recycles waste product , reduce landfill contributions , and nourishes plants by nature . compost is a cornerstone of sustainable gardening practices .

Gardeners appreciate this nag for its two-fold benefit : environmental responsibility and sizable plants . Embrace composting to enrich your garden soil and contribute to a green major planet , one heap at a time .

Aspirin in Water for Plant Health

Vertical Gardening for Small Spaces

perpendicular gardening maximise space by growing works up alternatively of outward . Ideal for small space , it brings greenery to balconies , patios , or small yards .

Use rampart - mounted planters , hang baskets , or trellises to create vertical garden . Choose plants like herbs , flower , and small veggie that thrive in detain distance .

This innovative hacker is loved for transforming limited areas into lush , vivacious spaces . upright gardening is a creative solution for urban dwellers and small - place gardeners , proving that circumscribed space does n’t signify limited growing .

Companion Planting for Pest Control

© The Gardener Magazine

Using Vinegar as a Herbicide

Using vinegar as a natural herbicide objective weed without harm the surround . Its acetic acid content collapse down carapace walls , efficaciously killing undesirable growth .

Apply direct to weeds , nullify desired plants , as acetum is n’t selective . Reapplication may be needed for refractory weeds .

Gardeners favour this hack for its eco - friendliness and restraint . acetum propose a safe alternative to commercial herbicides , staring for those seek chemical - free gardening solvent . Use with care to maintain a palmy , weed - gratuitous garden .

Companion Planting for Pest Control

Cinnamon for Fungus Control

Cinnamon is a surprising yet efficient tool for controlling fungal maturation in garden . Its fungicidal prop avail preclude muffle - off disease in seedlings .

dust a light layer on soil surfaces or mix with water for a spray to protect young plant . This redolent spice is an excellent natural redress for seedling care .

Gardeners treasure this hack for its docile yet efficacious coming to fungus control . Cinnamon is a fragrant friend in maintaining respectable seedlings , provide a natural choice to chemical fungicides .

Eggshells for Calcium

© Healthline

Eggshells for Calcium

Mulching with Straw

© eBay

Mulching with Straw

Rainwater Harvesting

© Save Our Water

Growing Herbs Indoors

© Platt Hill Nursery

Growing Herbs Indoors

Introducing Beneficial Insects

© HOMESTEAD BROOKLYN

Introducing Beneficial Insects

Creating a Compost Heap

© Airtasker

Creating a Compost Heap

Vertical Gardening for Small Spaces

© Bob Vila

Vertical Gardening for Small Spaces

Using Vinegar as a Herbicide

© Martha Stewart

Using Vinegar as a Herbicide

Cinnamon for Fungus Control

© Gardening Know How

Cinnamon for Fungus Control