Gardening can be quite expensive and if you want to break into this game without spending much, then have a look at these Cheats for Garden!
Taking care of your plants can be time-consuming and expensive in the long run. If you want to save some bucks and enjoy more time in the garden, follow these amazing Cheats for Garden!
Have a look at some amazing balcony homesteading ideas here
Cheats for Garden
Testing Soil
1. Check the Soil Texture for Free
Gather up a small scoop of moist soil and make its ball. Poke your finger in the middle–if the soil is loamy and sandy, then it’ll crumble. If it doesn’t crumble, the soil is mostly clay. Simple!
Check out our article on soil testing here
2. Testing the Soil pH
Pour the garden soil into a glass jar, and add water to make it muddy. Now, add half a cup of white vinegar to the container and stir well. You will know your soil is alkaline if it bubbles or fizzes.
If you want to test for acidity, follow the same steps as above and add half a cup of baking soda to the container and stir properly. If it fizzes or bubbles, it is acidic.
Learn how to check the soil pH at home here
Amending the Soil
3. Grass Clippings
Collect grass clippings after you mow your lawn to make a grass clipping fertilizer. They are exceptionally high in nitrogen content with smaller doses of phosphorous, potassium, and several micronutrients that can help your plants grow well.
Learn how to use grass clippings in the garden here
4. Leaf Mold
Collect the fallen leaves from trees to make your own leaf mold, especially in autumn. It is one of the best organic fertilizers and soil conditioners, which also boosts water retention in soil by more than 50 percent.
5. Humus
Humus is considered to be the ultimate soil fixer as it is the end-product of composting. It is packed with beneficial microorganisms and nutrients that help plants grow.
Start a compost system at home that will help to provide you with a regular supply of this organic matter.
Seeds
6. Seed Saving
Saving seeds from your existing vegetables, grain, herbs, and flowers is a great way to grow plants for free! It is one of the best cheats for the garden!
Check out the free seeds you can find in your pantry here
7. Seed Swapping
Trade seeds with a friend, gardener, or neighbor to get some other varieties of free seeds. You can also sign up for some online community program or check out the local free classifieds and even different Facebook pages and groups for seed swapping.
Plant Starts
8. Regrow Your Food
You can buy several kinds of foods once and then regrow them forever, including potatoes, green onions, leeks, ginger, bok choy, garlic.
Check out the vegetables that regrow themselves here
9. Plant Cuttings
Several varieties of flowers, herbs, and foliage plants can be propagated easily from cuttings without causing any harm to the guardian plant.
Here are the best houseplants and herbs you can grow from cuttings
10. Division
Perennial plants can self-propagate through roots, rhizomes, and bulbs. Many of these can be divided every year to cover up any empty patches in the backyard. It is one of the best Cheats for the Garden!
Check out the best plants you can grow from division here
11. Freebies
You can check out the free section of the Freecycle Network and Craigslist for some good spots where you can connect with people giving them away for free.
Check out the plants you can grow for free here
12. Growing Succulents from Leaves
There are many beautiful succulents that you can grow for free. All you need are their leaves, and you will soon have your own plant at home!
Learn all about growing Succulents from Leaves here
Garden Materials and Supplies
13. Potting Soil
You don’t always have to buy a commercial potting mix. Make one at home by going through our detailed article here.
14. Reclaimed Wood
Select wood pallets and scrap lumber for free and check out some DIY projects to install in your garden, including flower pot holders, compost bins, garden walkways, raised garden beds, and more.
Have a look at some amazing wood pallet projects here
15. Containers
You can choose from so many things lying around your house that can be upcycled into unique pots and hanging baskets like mason jars, old boxes, and furniture. Some of the ideas are here.
16. Plant Supports
Make your own support system for plants by using old wire hangers, ladders, mattress springs, patio umbrellas, and more such things.
Check out some amazing trellis and stake support ideas here
17. Irrigation
You don’t always have to water the plants yourself. Check out our article on some amazing DIY self-watering projects here!
18. Seed Starters
Using toilet paper rolls, eggshells, ice cube trays, and plastic yogurt cups are some of the most creative ways to start seeds for free.
Check out some amazing seed starting hacks here
Fertilizers
19. Tea Leaves and Bags
Use some spent tea leaves to prevent nitrogen deficiencies in the soil. Add a handful to the topsoil for the plant to supplement phosphorus and potassium, which will help your plants to grow well. You can also use tea bags similarly!
Have a look at the best homemade liquid fertlizer recipes here
20. Coffee Grounds
Add some used coffee grounds into the soil as they are rich in nitrogen and help the plant grow better. You can also add them to the compost mix.
Check out our article on using Coffee Grounds for gardening here
21. Epsom Salt
Adding Epsom salt helps the plants to absorb nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium better. It is also an essential element that aids in photosynthesis.
Here are some fantastic Epsom Salt uses in the garden
22. Banana Peels
Banana peels are an excellent source of potassium and phosphorous. They can also be dried and ground up to be mixed up in the soil to promote root development, flowering, and overall health.
Have a look at some amazing Banana Peel uses here
23. Wood Ash
Wood ash is a rich soil amendment that also offers small amounts of zinc, copper, iron, and other trace elements. Mix it directly into the soil to fertilize and even raise pH levels.
See what more it does in the garden here
24. Eggshells
All plants require calcium to support healthy tissues and cell walls. Supplement the growth of calcium-loving plants like apples, tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce using eggshells, which are made up of 95 percent calcium carbonate.
Have a look at some amazing Egg Shell uses in the garden here
25. Fertilizer Tea
Use some wood ash, finished compost, or grass clippings to brew up some fertilizer tea. It can act as a great organic fertilizer.
26. Aquarium Water
If you have a fish tank at home, do not dump the old water. Use it to boost plant growth as it is loaded with fish waste, nutrients, and beneficial plant bacterias.
Learn how to use Aquarium Water for plants here
27. Vinegar
The occasional vinegar treatment can be beneficial for acid-loving plants like strawberries, blueberries, azaleas, gardenias, and rhododendrons. Add one tablespoon of white vinegar to 2 gallons of water and pour it around the base of the plant or spray it.
Check out some amazing Vinegar uses in the garden here
28. Produce Plant Probiotics
Probiotics are useful bacteria that improve nutrients and plant’s bioactive compounds, ensuring lush growth and more production in vegetables and fruits.
We have an awesome article on DIY Plant Probiotic Recipes here
Pest Control
29. Hot Peppers
Hot peppers consist of capsaicin, which can help to keep garden pests at bay. Use habanero, cayenne, and jalapeno to make a spray. Mix 2-3 cups of ground pepper in 2 liters of water and spray on the affected areas.
30. Garlic
Garlic can naturally deter rodents, pests, and fungi as they are high in sulfur compounds. Make a garlic foliar spray and use it to keep the pests at bay. It is one of the best Cheats for the Garden!
31. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt contains sulfur that helps to fight against beetles and hungry slugs. Mix one cup into a gallon of water to make a spray. You can even spread some dry Epsom salt on the soil to control snails, slugs, and other slimy undesirables.
32. Cinnamon
True cinnamon acts as a strong fungicide. You can sprinkle it directly on the soil to tackle mold. Or, steep 1-2 teaspoons of the spice into 1-2 cups of warm water overnight and spray the same on plants to treat slime mold, damping off, and powdery mildew.
33. Baking Soda
Combine 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, a 3-4 drops of liquid soap, all in 1-2 gallons of water. Shake well and use it as a spray to control powdery mildew, bugs, and fungal infestations.
Have a look at some awesome Baking Soda uses in the garden here
34. Buddy Planting
Buddy planting or companion planting boosts yields, improves soil, encourages pollination, and such. It also helps to keep the creepy crawlies away.
35. Attract Beneficial Insects
Attracting beneficial insects to the garden will contribute to the well-being of the plants. Some of the good insects will also take care of the bad ones.
These were some really amazing, smart & savvy ideas to boost soil nutrition, plant growth, and protection. Amazing blog!