Speaking of awesome biodegradable things to plant your seedlings in – citrus peels are another great choice. Slice your oranges, lemons or limes in half, scoop all of the sticky juiciness out completely (to eat, of course,) and rinse them out. Then, grab a nearby kitchen knife and poke a couple of small holes in the bottom of each half.
Once you’ve got your peels ready, set them on (or in) something to catch the water, such as a napkin or paper towel, and fill each with dirt. Then, you’re ready to give your seedlings a new home! One of the best parts about this is that when those babies are ready to go, you can plant the whole thing and the fruit will act as a natural fertilizer, thanks to all of the nutrients in the peels. Talk about a simple, Earth-friendly gardening hack!
Coffee Grounds: A Natural Fertilizer
You probably just toss your used coffee grounds in the trash like most people do, right? Well, instead of wasting them, why not recycle them and use them in your garden for a natural compost? Coffee grounds are loaded with nutrients and can help fertilize your plants if you mix a bit in with your soil.
Adding used coffee grounds to your regular soil can do wonders for your garden. It can help good microorganisms to thrive while attracting plant-healthy earthworms and deterring insects that will ruin the plants, such as snails. Adding coffee grounds also helps with aeration and water retention.
White Vinegar Weed Killer
If you’re looking for an organic way to handle those invasive weeds in your garden, try this hack, which uses vinegar and salt to do away with those pesky plant killers. Before you get started, keep in mind that white vinegar is very acidic and should only be sprayed on weeds, as it can kill your good plants, too.
Mix one gallon of white vinegar with a cup of salt and put in a squirt bottle – the more control you have over the spray, the better. Apply to all of the weeds in your garden, avoiding your herbs and veggies. Don’t plant anything new where you’ve sprayed for at least two weeks afterwards.
Broken Eggshells Keep Critters Away
Instead of tossing out your broken eggshell the next time you eat hardboiled eggs or omelets, why not rinse them off and throw them in the garden, instead? Doing this can help to deter small pests from crawling near enough to eat your plants. Eggshells are completely organic and biodegradable, so you don’t have to worry about harming the environment, like most pesticides do, or cleaning them up in the future.
Use an open container to store all of your eggshells after you eat them, so you can crush tons at once and have a more effective amount. Just make sure you rinse them completely and allow them to fully dry to avoid any unpleasant smells. Eggshells can also make terrific seed starters, when used in halves, rather than small pieces.
Check Soil’s pH Levels Using Stuff from Your Kitchen
The pH levels in your soil can affect the way in which your plants grow. It can make all the difference in the world between healthy and unhealthy plants, which is why it’s important to ensure the pH levels in your soil remain stable. If soil is either too acidic or alkaline, soil doesn’t get the right amount of nutrients and plants won’t become properly fertilized.
Luckily, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to check the pH in your garden’s soil. In fact, all you need is some vinegar and baking soda. Simply pour some of the tangy liquid on the ground and watch for bubbles; if you see them, the soil is alkaline. Alternatively, if you mix baking soda into the soil and it starts bubbling, it’s more acidic.