Gardening Hacks That Save Money, Time, Messes, and More

1. Fill your planters with bottles and cans to save dirt

Ever wonder how those ginormous planters get filled? Sure, you could use a 50-pound bag of pricey potting soil to get the job done, or you can try an easier, less expensive, and more environmentally friendly approach.

The trick here: Fill the pot about two-thirds of the way with cans or plastic bottles from your recycling bin, then pile the dirt on top. This way, you use far less costly soil from the garden center, plus you improve the aeration and drainage at the bottom of the planter. Oh, and you can move it around your patio more easily, too.

2. Divide your bulbs in half for more flowers

This one’s a two-fer: You can double your garden’s beauty and save money simply by dividing annual bulbs. (Tulips, irises, and daffodils are ideal for this.)

“When you see your flowers aren’t producing the way they used to, yank them up and then carefully pull the small, offset bulbs away from the base of the plant,” says Susan Brandt, master gardener at Blooming Secrets.

Plant these new bulbs, plus the original one if it seems in good shape (it’s worth planting again if the base is firm to the touch), and you may double your blooms without spending more money.

3. Take your soil’s temperature with a kitchen thermometer

That oven and grill thermometer isn’t just for your barbecues and Thanksgiving turkey. Yup, you can actually stick it in the dirt to determine whether your soil is warm enough (meaning above freezing) for planting. A standard meat or digital thermometer will work as long as it tests colder temperatures in the 40-degree range, says Brandt.

4. Line pots with coffee filters for easy repotting

Transferring plants to new pots or into the ground is a tricky project. The reason? Dirt can drop all over when you try to lift them out, and disturb their delicate root system. The fix here is run-of-the-mill coffee filters.

Place one at the base of your pot, fill with dirt and plant your seeds or plants right in this paper nest.

“And when you go to repot it, lift up the filter gently and evenly so it keeps loose soil from spilling on your workspace,” says Brandt.

6. Crush egg shells and mix with your soil

This gardening hack has some science behind it.

“Eggshells are an excellent source of calcium, and you can use them as fertilizer in areas with clay soil,” says Brandt.

When planting, add a little pulverized shell to each hole, suggests Oscar Ortega, maintenance care manager at FormLA Landscaping. These delicate wonders also contain potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which can help perk up house plants, too. (Sprinkle some in the dirt every couple of weeks.)