10 Weird Garden Tips and Tricks That Actually Work

Are the sunflowers in your garden looking less than sunny? Is your kale wilting before you harvest it? Or perhaps your tomatoes are the victims of some vicious garden pests?

No matter what the problem is, if your garden could use a little lift, a few weird garden tips and tricks will help.

Want to know more?

Keep reading to learn about some strange old tricks that will turn your garden into a beautiful, bountiful oasis. Let’s get started!

1. Eggshells for Calcium

Did you know that eggshells have a high calcium content?

It’s true! That’s why ground eggshell powder is a popular nutritional supplement.

Not only are eggshells an effective way for humans to get more calcium, but they also work wonders in getting more calcium into your garden’s soil. Calcium helps plants grow stems and roots. It also supports new plant growth.

To add calcium into your soil, simply crush or blend some eggshells and sprinkle them onto the soil, incorporating them as you go. This weird trick is also a huge money-saver. After all, buying calcium-enriched soil isn’t cheap!

2. Coffee Grounds in Soil

Speaking of gardening tips that repurpose kitchen refuse, coffee grounds are great for soil, too. These grounds (what’s left after you brew your morning coffee) add a ton of helpful minerals to garden soil like magnesium, nitrogen, potassium, and copper. They also do a great job of keeping away pests like snails and slugs.

3. Rubber Tire Planters

If your plants need both structure and plenty of room to grow, try making rubber tire planters. Here are a few simple steps to get the job done:

• Take an old tire and slice off the outer rim using a utility knife (be careful)
• Turn the rubber circle inside out
• Create as many of these as you need, stacking them on top of one another
• Fill the planters with soil and the seedlings of your choice
• Watch your plants flourish

With these rubber planters, you can give deeply rooted plants like potatoes everything they need to grow. They’re also ideal for plants that prefer warm conditions, as the black color attracts heat.

4. Hydroponic Gardening

For a unique approach to gardening, look into hydroponics. This method completely removes the possibility of weeds and pests because it’s soil-free.

Instead of soil, plants grow in a supportive substance like gravel. This is a great option if you have a greenhouse or would like to grow your garden indoors. Just make sure your plants have plenty of access to water and natural or artificial sunlight.

5. Roses in Potatoes

If you’re into weird or unique plants, check out this odd trick. You can multiply your rose bushes by using potatoes!

Simply take some trimmings from your current roses and stick them directly into potatoes. Then, dig some holes in your garden’s soil, stick the potatoes into the holes, and cover them. These crazy, Frankenstein’s monster-esque plants will turn into new, beautiful rose bushes one day.

6. Blended Bugs

If you spend hours in your garden picking pests off your precious plants, don’t let them go to waste. Use this home gardening trick instead.

It may sound like one of the grossest garden ideas of all time, but if you’re brave enough to pop these bugs into a blender with some water, you’ll create a safe and natural insect repellent.

But keep in mind that if you’re going to use this weird trick, it’s useful to have a separate bug blender. You don’t want to find any insect remnants in your morning smoothie!

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

We know how to get rid of pests, but what about weeds? Don’t worry, we’ve got a trick to help you with them, too.

All you need is apple cider vinegar. By pouring or spraying vinegar on weeds, you’ll kill them without needing to pull them up by their roots. This method is an easy, safe, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional weed-killers.

8. Bring Your Garden Inside

If you love the look of your garden and want to recreate the same beauty inside your home, trying making a terrarium. A terrarium is a glass container that houses soil, plants, and whatever other decorations you choose.

Terrariums are great for succulents, which need very little water to survive. Because they’re so low maintenance, you can put a terrarium in any room of your home for a cute garden flair.

9. Use Wine Corks for Easy Spacing

If you struggle to plant your flowers or veggies in straight lines, don’t stress. We’ve got a weird trick that will help you plant a visually perfect garden. All you need to achieve optimal symmetry are some wine corks and a plank of wood.

Just screw the wine corks into the wood, using a ruler to ensure even spacing. Once they’re secure, gently press the wood (cork-side down) into the soil. Use these marks to guide your planting and you’ll have perfectly-spaced plants.

10. Use Goldfish in Your Rain Barrels

If you water your garden with collected rainwater, then you know how badly rain barrels can attract mosquitoes. Prevent a mosquito infestation near your home by adding some goldfish to your rain barrels!

Goldfish eat mosquitoes and their larvae, so they’ll keep your rainwater bug-free all year long. Just make sure to bring your fish inside for the winter if you don’t live in a mild climate. Also, put netting on top of your barrels to protect them from birds.

Use These Garden Tips and Tricks for a Bountiful Harvest

To achieve a garden that’s beautiful and bursting with life, just reference the weird garden tips and tricks above. Although they may sound strange, they’ll work wonders to balance your soil, deter pests, reduce weeds, and help your plants grow.

Want to read more quirky articles like this one? Check out our weird tips and tricks gallery for tons of insider information and advice.

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