garden

10 Gardening Hacks You Need to Know

Eva Niessner

10 Gardening Hacks You Need to Know

Who says it's too early to start thinking about your garden this spring? Whether you have a lot of space or just a little window box, you can make something amazing grow this year. We've got a couple of hacks for you -- check them out below.

 

1. Use coffee grounds as fertilizer

When you're finished with your coffee, save the grounds! Your plants like them just as much as you liked your cup of joe. This is a great way to reuse grounds if you're a big coffee drinker.

2. Put sponges on the bottom of plant pots

Don't let water sit on the bottom of the pot -- it could rot away the roots of your plants. Adding sponges will help keep the soil airy and prevent water from sitting on the roots.

3. Turn a milk jug into a watering can

Want to keep a whole gallon of water ready to go in your garden? Just remove the cap from a milk jug and carefully piece it with holes. Fill it with water, and you've got a brand new watering can!

4. Or recycle a to-go coffee cup

Don't throw away that cup with a lid! Wash it out instead, and then you've got a mini watering can with a handy spout that you can use to easy water your indoor plants or window boxes.

5. Add a few forks to your outdoor garden

If cats, birds, or other critters are trying to eat up your hard-won plants, stick some plastic forks in the soil around your garden with the tines facing up. This will deter the unwanted guests without harming your plants!

6. Keep soil where it belongs with a coffee filter

If you're planting things in a terra cotta or ceramic planter, you want your soil to stay inside but the excess water to leave through the hole in the bottom. Lining the pot with a coffee filter will allow that water to drain without taking any soil along.

7. Seeds can get started in all kinds of things

Some extra nutrition goes a long way when you're a seed getting ready to sprout! Start seeds in eggshells or citrus fruit rinds and then replant them in your window box or raised bed when they begin to bud.

8. Replant like a pro

Pulling new plants that you bought at the garden store out of their flimsy plastic pots can be tricky -- you don't want to yank too hard and pull them apart! Instead, use a knife or scissors to carefully cut down the sides, leaving an intact plant that's ready to be repotted.

9. Don't waste water!

Did you wash potatoes or carrots off? Don't let that water go down the drain! Designate it for watering your garden, and your plants -- and the planet -- will thank you for doing so.

10. Protect seedlings under terra cotta pots

Maryland is known for having wacky weather, so things may suddenly get chilly again after your plants have started to grow. If the forecast is looking cold, put terra cotta pots over your seedlings to protect them from the wind and cold.

 

Leave a reply

sort by date

Latest articles

5 Maryland First to Be Proud of

03/20/23

5 Maryland First to Be Proud of

Maryland isn't just rich with history -- we're a state full of historic firsts, too! Want to know more about some of the things that started right here in the...

read more
10 Hacks for Your Next Ocean City Trip

03/21/23

10 Hacks for Your Next Ocean City Trip

It feels like we just celebrated the holidays, but time is flying, and soon, it'll be time to start thinking about going to the beach! Want to make the most...

read more
5 Must-Have Spring Items

03/05/23

5 Must-Have Spring Items

Spring has sprung, and there's so much to do! Springtime in Maryland means that there are hiking trails to wander, farmers markets to explore, and road trips to take. Want...

read more
Say Goodbye to Winter With these Crab Soups

03/20/23

Say Goodbye to Winter With these Crab...

Spring is here, and that means warmer weather is on the way...right? Well, any Marylander knows that the weather can turn on a dime, and there may still be a...

read more
ST PATRICKS DAY
5 Irish Eateries in Maryland to Enjoy This St. Patrick's Day

03/05/23

5 Irish Eateries in Maryland to Enjoy...

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, and if you don't feel like peeling your own potatoes and steaming your own cabbage, you should take advantage of the fact...

read more
If The Zodiac Signs Were Made For Marylanders

03/05/23

If The Zodiac Signs Were Made For Mar...

Do you read your horoscope every month? Many of us regularly check in to see what's going to happen in the coming week or month based on when we were...

read more
6 R1A Goodies to Put in the Easter Basket

02/20/23

6 R1A Goodies to Put in the Easter Ba...

Whether you're filling up an Easter basket for a child, your significant other, or your bestie, it's important to give them stuff that they'll actually love! Forget marshmallow chickens and...

read more

03/02/23

It is officially MARYLAND MONTH

USE CODE: EARLYMD TO GET 30% OFF OUR EARLY MARYLAND DAY COLLECTION >>> https://bit.ly/3mlvbd1  

read more
Madame Maryland's Horoscope: March 2023

03/01/23

Madame Maryland's Horoscope: March 2023

Happy March, Marylanders! This month brings us all the promise of spring, and we're getting more daylight, too. What could be in store for us as the seasons change and...

read more