Reuse boiled vegetable water as fertiliser.

Next time you boil some veggies, don’t throw the water down the drain! Instead wait for it to cool down and pour it onto your plants to fertilise them. It’s amazing what goodness is left behind from the veggies which is super beneficial for your plants and especially for small herb gardens.



Egg shells used in the garden.

We all love our eggs for breakfast in the morning.. Or anytime of the day for that matter. Well you’ll love them even more when you learn how to use them in gardening!

Did you know? Laying crumbled egg shells around your small plants, herbs or seedlings, will form a protective barrier against garden pests such as snails and slugs. They simply can’t stand slithering over them.

Egg shell halves for growing seedlings.

Also! Next time you crack an egg into the frying pan, keep the 2 halves of shells for when you want to grow some seedlings. Simply put the halves back in the egg carton, fill them with potting mix and plant your seeds.

Once the seedlings have grown and are ready to move into a pot, all you need to do is pick them up by the egg shell and plant the whole thing in the pot. The egg shell is biodegradable and will eventually disintegrate into the soil while also providing extra nutrients for your plant.

This hack is probably one of our favourites for it’s pure brilliance and it’s appearance. There’s something magical about tiny seedlings sprouting out of an egg shell. Also, get your kids involved and get creative by drawing little faces on each egg shell. Cuteness overload.

Ground cinnamon

Now go grab some ground cinnamon from the pantry and spread it around your seedlings. This is because ground cinnamon has antifungal properties that will protect your seedling from  damping off disease.

Cinnamon also deters ants from entering into your garden and crawling all over your much loved citrus plants. Cats dislike the smell as well which will steer them away from sticking their noses in while giving it a more pleasant aroma for us humans.

Cinnamon can also be used as a really effective rooting agent when planting cuttings. Dip the tip of the cutting into some Cinnamon before planting and you’re done!

Used coffee grounds

Add used coffee grounds into your compost to give it a boost of nutrients that your plants will absolutely love. It provides an abundance of energy for the bacteria in the soil which turn organic matter into nutrient rich compost.

Or just add a few tablespoons into your potting mix which will add a fertilising boost to the soil. Also, much like cinnamon, ground coffee beans are a great way to deter pests from your garden too!

You may have a coffee machine at home and can source this yourself, but if not, try asking your local cafe for a bag or two of their used coffee grounds for this tip. They would have so much to give away which would normally go to waste and in effect cost them more money to dispose.

Plastic soft drink bottle for a mini greenhouse

Use empty soft drink bottles as little mini greenhouses to help your seedlings and cuttings take off. The “greenhouse effect” will provide your young plants the warmth and humidity they need to get a great start in life.

Simply cut the bottle in half and push the open end into the pot, making sure it completely covers your plant. They look quite effective when the pot is the same diameter as the bottle, but is no deal breaker and will work just as fine in a large pot too!

Vinegar as weed killer

Run out of weed killer? Better yet, would you prefer a more pet friendly and environmentally friendly alternative to weed spray? Try vinegar! We experimented this ourselves and got great results. Poor or spray vinegar into the base of the weeds, and watch it dry out within a few days. Make sure you do this on a day that won’t rain.

Epsom salts for your lawn

Put 1 metric cup (250ml) of Epsom salts in a spreader or dissolve it in water and apply it with a sprayer for every 10m2 of lawn. It is safe to use on your lawn and is a natural solution to help with nutrient absorption, growth, vibrancy and overall lawn health. This is because It contains magnesium which is the secret ingredient to help with the above. Great for lawns that need a bit of a pick me up. Best times to do this is in Autumn or Spring

Epsom salts are also great for your tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Dissolve half a cup with water inside your watering can, and water your veggies. It adds a good amount of nutrients and is known to help boost their flavour.

Lawn clippings soaked in water

If you prefer to catch while mowing your lawn, save some (about 4 heaped handfuls) and soak them in a bucket of water for a few days. The steeping effect over those few days will release beneficial nutrients such as potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus and amino acids into the water which is everything your grass will thrive off. Strain the water and use it to water your lawn and garden. The more buckets you have, the more you can make!


There you have it! Our 9 gardening hacks from things you most likely have available at home. Keep a lookout on our socials as we post these sorts of tips (hacks) all the time.