Gardening Hacks: Recycle Household Items to Reduce Waste

In gardening new ideas always find a way to be useful. If you love gardening and want to help the environment you might think about using everyday things from your home as useful tools for your garden. This helps reduce waste saves you some cash and adds a unique touch to your garden. Check out these clever ideas for turning common stuff into useful tools for your garden.

Egg cartons can be used to start seeds.

Think about it for a second before you throw that egg carton in the recycling bin. Cardboard egg cartons are great for starting seeds. Just cut the carton pieces to match your seed trays if you have to. After that put soil in each section and plant your seeds. Cardboard has tiny holes that help water drain out but still keeps enough moisture for young plants to grow well. When the seedlings are big enough you can put them right into the ground. The cardboard will break down and make the soil better.

Plastic bottles can be used to create small greenhouses.

Plastic bottles like big soda bottles can be really useful for gardeners. If you cut them in two they can act like small greenhouses to keep young plants safe from the cold. Take the lower part to keep the soil in and use the upper part without the cap as a lid. This makes a small environment that is great for growing sensitive plants and helps them get the warmth and moisture they require. Using clear plastic lets in a lot of sunlight.

Using coffee grounds for fertilizer

If you love coffee you can use the leftover grounds in your garden and they can really help your plants grow. Coffee grounds are full of nitrogen and they can make the soil better while also bringing in helpful tiny creatures. Spread used coffee grounds around plants that like acidic soil such as tomatoes roses and evergreens or toss them into your compost pile if you're worried about the soil pH. The yard can keep away pests such as slugs and snails so it works like a natural pesticide.

Toilet paper rolls can be used as supports for roots.

You can use toilet paper rolls to help support the roots of fragile seedlings since they break down naturally. Slice the roll into little circles and set them around the bottom of your plants. As the plants get bigger the cardboard rings will break down and mix into the soil. This simple trick helps keep seedlings from getting stressed and also makes them grow taller which helps them adjust better to the busy outdoors.

Aluminum cans can be used to make labels for plants.

A lot of people don’t realize that aluminum cans are a valuable find in the recycling bin. They last a long time can handle different weather and you can make them into useful labels for plants. Just take the cans and cut them into long pieces then grab a permanent marker to write on them. Take a nail and make a small cut at the top of each label. Then use a piece of string or thin wire to attach it to a post or to loop it around a plant stem. This free option makes it easy to identify plants while looking stylish.

Corks from wine bottles can be used as mulch.

Do you have a bunch of wine corks saved up somewhere? These corks are worth more than they look like. After being shredded, they make really good mulch, particularly for potted plants. Corks keep the soil moist and stop weeds from growing. Over time they break down and add nutrients to the soil. Also corks float which gives your garden a different look and feel.

Using these gardening tips helps you stick to being eco-friendly and makes your gardening easier. It adds a bit of creativity and cleverness showing a more personal and eco-friendly vibe. If you think about what you can do with your trash you might end up with a garden that helps the Earth and gives you plenty of fresh produce.