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With gardening season in full swing, you may be looking for tips on how to keep your flowers and plants alive through the rest of spring and summer.
We’ve already given you some green thumb tips—including the kinds of plants to have to ward off mosquitos, ones you should not grow (unless you want them forever), ones that will help you sleep and how to get rid of weeds naturally.
After reading the below, you’ll feel even more inspired to continue growing your garden, or even start one.
1. Help Save Little Plants And Seedlings… With Plastic Soda Bottles
The Kitchn has a way we can save little plants and seedlings from, literally, getting eaten alive: empty plastic soda bottles. Just remove the top and the label, then cut off the bottom.
Next, put it over your plant or seedling, making sure it’s embedded in the ground well. Voilà! Instant greenhouse! (The Kitchn said they got this tip from the book You Grow Girl by Gayla Trail.)
2. Use Hot Pepper Spray To Deter Aphids And Rodents
You may have heard that hot pepper flakes deter certain pests from invading your garden, but Old World Garden Farms has a new take on this old remedy: Hot Pepper Spray.
In a pan, they combine a gallon of water with 3 tablespoons of hot pepper flakes or 10 fresh peppers, like cayenne, chopped up. They simmer this for 15 minutes, the peppers infusing the water.
Then, they let it sit for about 24 hours, so it becomes even stronger. Afterwards, they strain it and add a few drops of biodegradable dish soap (to help the spray stick to the plants).
Old World Garden Farms also says you can make this solution without heating it up, but then you should leave it be for 36-38 hours before straining it. Plus, as you may have guessed, this recipe is nontoxic, unlike a lot of anti-pest products you’d buy at the store, so it’s worth a try for sure.
3. Water Your Plants With A Paper Towel And A Glass
This tip is so ingenious and easy, anyone can do it. Perhaps you have plant-sat for a friend when they’re on vacation.
Now, a paper towel and a glass can do the work for you, and you won’t need anyone to come watch your plants. Just roll a few sheets of paper towels together tightly. One end should be placed into a glass of water, while the other end should be placed across the soil.
The paper towels “drink” the water and act as a watering can for your plant. Easy, huh? You’ll never have to pay a plant-sitter again! Then, save the empty roll from the paper towels for the below.
4. Use Paper Towel & Toilet Paper Rolls To Plant Seedlings
If you want to be environmentally conscientious and Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, save your toilet paper rolls—especially since it’s not too late to plant seedlings.
Plus, this makes for a great parent-child bonding experience, literally getting your hands dirty together and creating something beautiful.
Some people buy seed starting kits, but you don’t need to with this trick. You can plant your seeds indoors, by using paper towel and toilet paper rolls. You just cut the rolls in half or fourths, respectively, and fill them with seeds and potting soil or compost.
Bonus tip: fold the tube at the bottom to keep in the dirt better.
Once you plant and water them, and give them light and keep them inside until they sprout. The best part? When the seedlings sprout, no transferring is necessary—just take them outside and plant them right in the ground, tube and all, since it’ll dissolve! You can even watch a how-to here, courtesy of Garden Girl Home & Garden TV. Happy planting!
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Photo by HerryLawford 