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    Home » Trending

    Published: May 22, 2025 by Kristen Wood · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. ·

    11 Clever Gardening Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

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    Sometimes the best gardening secrets don’t come from fancy tools or expensive supplies—they come from clever tricks that make use of what you already have. Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or just starting out, a few simple hacks can save you time, money, and effort while boosting your garden's success.

    Here are 11 smart, easy gardening tips you’ll wish you had discovered sooner!

    Use Coffee Filters in Pots

    A red mug with a coffee filter filled with brewed coffee sits on a dark surface, with cookies and a red napkin in the background.
    Photo Credit: NoName_13/Pixabay

    Place a coffee filter in the bottom of a planter to keep soil from falling out while still allowing for proper drainage.

    Start Seeds in Citrus Peels

    A partially peeled orange with several segments exposed, resting on a white surface.
    Photo Credit: congerdesign/Pixabay

    Hollowed-out orange or lemon halves make great biodegradable seed starters. Just plant them directly in the soil when you're ready.

    HERB OF THE DAY · Explore today’s herb →

    Add Crushed Eggshells to the Soil

    A hand holds a bowl containing coffee grounds and eggshells near a potted plant with green and white leaves.
    Photo Credit: ThamKC/Envato

    Eggshells add calcium to your soil and help deter pests like slugs and snails. Just rinse, crush, and mix into your planting beds.

    Reuse Toilet Paper Rolls for Seedlings

    Four empty cardboard toilet paper rolls are standing and lying on a white surface with a white background.
    Photo Credit: Shutterbug75/Pixabay

    Toilet paper rolls are perfect for starting seedlings. They’re biodegradable and make transplanting simple—no root disturbance!

    Use Epsom Salt for Magnesium-Loving Plants

    A person scoops purple bath salts from a glass jar with a small wooden spoon.
    Photo Credit: tete_escape/Deposit Photos

    Tomatoes, peppers, and roses benefit from magnesium-rich Epsom salt. Mix a tablespoon into a gallon of water and feed monthly.

    Plant in a Spiral for More Space

    A person wearing a hat stands at the center of a circular stone labyrinth surrounded by grass, seen from above.
    Photo Credit: anelehbakota/Envato

    A herb spiral maximizes vertical space and creates microclimates, letting you grow more in a small area with varying sun and moisture needs.

    Line Garden Beds with Cardboard

    A wooden raised garden bed filled with dark soil stands on green grass, with white liner visible along one edge inside the bed.
    Photo Credit: Kinek00/Envato

    Suppress weeds and enrich the soil by placing cardboard under your mulch or garden beds. It breaks down over time and feeds the earth.

    Create DIY Watering Globes

    A potted rosemary plant with a transparent glass self-watering bulb in a white textured pot on a wooden kitchen counter.
    Photo Credit: FotoHelin/Deposit Photos

    Fill an old wine bottle with water and stick it upside down into the soil. It will slowly release moisture as your plants need it.

    Use Cinnamon on Seedlings

    A bowl of ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks placed on a piece of burlap on a wooden surface.
    Photo Credit: magone/Envato

    Sprinkle cinnamon over your seedlings to prevent damping-off disease and discourage fungus gnats. It’s a natural anti-fungal!

    Freeze Fresh Herbs in Olive Oil

    Close-up of ice cube trays filled with chopped green herbs submerged in water, prepared for freezing and later use in cooking.
    Photo Credit: ellinnur/Envato

    Preserve excess herbs by freezing them in ice cube trays filled with olive oil. Pop them into a pan for instant flavor and zero waste.

    Soak Seeds Before Planting

    A bowl filled with white beans soaking in water sits on a wooden surface with some beans scattered nearby.
    Photo Credit: oykuozgu/Deposit Photos

    Speed up germination by soaking seeds in water overnight. This softens their coat and helps them sprout faster once in the soil.

    These clever gardening tricks may be simple, but they can make a big difference. Try a few this season and watch your garden thrive—with less effort and more reward.

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    About Kristen Wood

    Kristen is a plant lover, gardener, certified functional nutritional expert, cookbook author, writer, and photographer. Her work has been featured in many online and print publications including Willow & Sage Magazine, Forbes, NBC, New York Daily News, Healthline, MSN, Elle, Yoga Journal, and many more. She is also a syndicated writer for The Associated Press.

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    A close up of a woman's face in the sun, radiating with the gentle glow of schisandra and bergamot home.

    About Kristen Wood

    Kristen is a plant lover, gardener, certified functional nutritional expert, cookbook author, writer, and photographer. Her work has been featured in many online and print publications including Willow & Sage Magazine, Forbes, NBC, New York Daily News, Healthline, MSN, Elle, Yoga Journal, and many more. She is also a syndicated writer for The Associated Press.

    Learn more about me →

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