Who doesn’t love a household hack? They’re simple, effective, and the best part — free.
“There’s lots of things that we can do. Things that you have around your home that you can use in your garden, to where you’re not having to spend as much money to do the things around your house,” said Jeff Wallitsch, with Wallitsch Gardens.
Eggshells
Since eggshells have a lot of calcium, Wallitsch said they can help with calcium deficiency in tomatoes. All you have to do is crush the shells and mix them into your soil. You can also use broken up eggshells around your plants as a slug and snail repellent. Slugs and snails don’t like the sharp edges, and it will help keep them away.
Coffee Grounds and Banana Peels
Coffee grounds and banana peels can be used to make a compost tea. You let it sit for a week or two and then add it to your soil. Wallitsch said it is full of potassium and makes a great fertilizer for both flowers and vegetables.
Gallon Jug
If we get a cold night, grab an empty gallon jug, cut it in half, and use it as a mini greenhouse. Simply place it over your young plant to save it from freezing and dying.
Cardboard
No need to feel guilty about online shopping, because all those cardboard boxes can be used in your garden. You can cut them up and place them in and around your plants to help control weeds.
“We’ll put the cardboard down. This is going to also decompose, so you’re being a little more earth-friendly,” said Wallitsch. “And then I just use basic hardwood mulch in my vegetable garden, and you’re basically going to do a layer like that. And you can do that all through your vegetable garden.”
