45 Yard Hacks That Would Make Anyone Feel Like An Expert Gardener
By Larissa C
At this point, there is no shame in admitting that gardening is no longer a hobby — it is a lifestyle. It is actually quite interesting to think that, not too long ago, gardening seemed like something that only our mothers and grandmothers were into. Nowadays, however, even teenagers enjoy gardening! The thing with it is that, even if you are a busy person, you can find plants that you can tend to. And you don’t even need to have a large house with a huge backyard to have your very own nursery. If you are looking into acquiring the habit of gardening and growing your own beautiful flower, vegetables, and herbs, this article is ideal for you. Here are 45 essential tips that every gardening lover ought to follow!
Make your own ladder planter.
There is nothing worse than wanting to grow your own vegetables but not having enough space to do that where you live. Apartment owners know this feeling all too well! If you want to have your very own garden, here’s a great idea:
If you don’t have a lot of room for plants, you can make your own ladder planter. These are perfect for small spaces because you can grow your garden vertically. All you need are a few pieces of wood, nails, a hammer, and some free time to make this DIY planter!
Save money on vegetables by regrowing them!
While most people would love to have their own gardens and grow their own food, an important factor makes people give up on this idea: money. However, there is a way of having your garden and saving yourself some cash too!
Instead of using your money to buy a bunch of seeds time after time, you can simply reuse the vegetables you have and regrow them. You only have to do two things if you follow this tip: cut off the stem of the vegetables and plant them. Pretty simple, right?
Water your plants while you’re away.
When we have pets, we worry about what we’re going to do with them when we go on vacation. The most logical option is to get someone to take care of them during your time away. Well, the same goes for plants — only they don’t need someone caring for them.
If you want to keep your plants watered while you’re traveling, fill a pot with water, bring your plants close to this pot, and connect the plants to the water by using yarn strings — this way, your plants will remain healthy and alive, and you won’t have to pay anyone to watch them!
Use recycled materials to make a plant stand.
Most households have enough material that can be reused instead of thrown away, like plastic bottles. Do you have plenty of reusable materials at home, but you don’t know what to do with them? You can make a planter using them!
Grab all those empty gallon bottles that we’re sure you have, cut them in half, and put your seeds in. Then, make a plant stand using the pieces of wood you have lying around the toolshed. In the end, you’ll have something that looks like the stand you see in the picture.
Support the fruits using crochet.
Crochet is a big sensation these days — especially after Olympic medalist Tom Daley was seen working on a crochet sweater he was making during the Olympic Games — and lots of people have taken on this hobby. But did you know that you can combine crocheting and gardening?
Some plants are still fragile by the time they start producing their fruits. This can be damaging to the plant, especially when the fruits are heavy. If this is happening, you can make a crochet hammock to support the fruit and prevent your plant from struggling with its own weight!
Use a mirror to help your plants get enough sunlight.
In school, we are taught that plants need light, water, and space to grow healthily. Even if you live in a small apartment, you can try your best to give your plants these basic things — thought light can sometimes be an issue.
Maybe there’s not enough lighting in your apartment, or maybe there is no way you can put your plants near a window or other source of natural light. In this case, you can simply put a mirror behind your plants — when the light reflects on the mirror; your plants get more light!
Make gardening beds out of old pieces of wood.
Have you just had your backyard fence rebuilt, and now you have a bunch of unused wood? Instead of throwing it away, we can suggest a better use for it. You can make gardening beds using those leftover boards.
Looking at the picture, you can tell that it is not that hard to make a flower bed using random pieces of wood. You’ll just need a hammer and a bunch of nails to put it together. Luckily, there are plenty of tutorials online that can help you make this!
You kids will love this outdoor tipi!
Tipis (or teepees, if you will) are quite popular nowadays. Lots of children’s rooms have one of these dwellings, and kids absolutely love them. If you want to make your children even happier but there is no space in their rooms for a tipi, here’s what you can do:
This tip is obviously meant for the readers who have a backyard at home. Make the structure of the tipi using thick and long tree branches. Then, you can plant ivy plants and wait until they’ve grown enough to cover the structure. We bet your kids will love this!
Do you want to have the nicest garden in the neighborhood?
If you feel like taking your gardening to a whole new level, we can help you raise the bar. This next garden design idea is quite fancy, though we are sure that you will love to recreate just so you can have the nicest garden in your area!
Do you know when they say that the grass is always greener on the other side? Well, that’s exactly how people are going to feel when they see this amazing garden in your backyard. It will take you quite the time and effort to build this — but it will be totally worth it!
Plant flowers near water features.
Not everyone has fountains in their backyard, but if you do, you know that these features can be quite challenging when it comes to gardening. The area surrounding a fountain (or pond, or any other water feature you may have in your backyard) becomes quite moist.
Now, while plants need water, not all flowers will thrive in these extra moist areas. This means that you can’t just plant any flower near a fountain. If you want to plant flowers around your backyard fountain, you can try to plant irises, cannas, swamp sunflowers, among other water-loving plants.
Vertical gardens are really helpful.
While vertical gardens are ideal for those who live in confined spaces but want to have their own gardens, you can also have one in your backyard. Even if you have plenty of space to have a regular garden, you can plant your flowers vertically!
Not only are vertical gardens helpful (especially if you want to save some space), but they can also be charming. For instance, this person put up a tarp against their backyard fence and sewed “pockets” in this tarp. Then, they added fertilizer in the pockets and planted a bunch of flowers.
You may want to do this next Halloween.
If you are thinking of innovating for next year’s Halloween celebrations, we may have an idea for you. Have you considered planting your own pumpkins? While this will certainly require that you have space to grow a full-sized pumpkin, the results will be amazing.
Not only will you be planting them, but you can also decorate them! While the pumpkins are still green, you can carve out a word or drawing. Once the pumpkins are ready to be harvested, they will look as cool as that one in the picture. Oh, and you can also do this for Thanksgiving!
Turn your unused pool into a beautiful garden.
Let’s be honest: having a pool in your backyard is really cool at first, but most of us grow out of the pool phase eventually. Having one requires time and money (you have to keep it clean and well-maintained, after all), and not all of us have those things.
Instead of dwelling on what to do with that unused pool in your backyard, why not turn it into a beautiful garden? Hire some contractors and have them fill the pool with concrete and build gardening tanks on top of the pool once the concrete is dry. It may take some time for you to get the final results, but we assure you that the wait will be worth it!
Your guests are going to love this table.
Not everyone appreciates having guests over, but you probably love it if you are a social person. In case you are receiving your friends for a meal, and you want to enjoy this meal outside, here is a great idea:
This beautiful dinner table will turn any backyard into a fancy, fairytale-like environment. Can you imagine having a delicious meal with your friends and being surrounded by nature like that? If you want, you can even grow your own spices on the table, so your guests can harvest and eat them right there at the table!
Don’t throw your pineapples away.
One of the best parts about plants is that you can easily regrow them. Sometimes, you just need to cut a piece of the stem and plant it to grow a new plant. With pineapples, it is no different. Instead of throwing away the peel and crown of a pineapple, plant it in your backyard!
Look, we are not saying that the pineapples will grow overnight — in fact, it will take quite a while until you get to have your very own pineapples — but when they do grow, they will look amazing and taste delicious.
Fairy lights always turn up the glam!
Gardening is not all about growing healthy and beautiful plants. There are also many aesthetics involved in this hobby, and most gardening lovers want to have a good-looking garden. If you are looking for ideas on how to decorate your garden, you may like this one:
This is a simple design idea, but it will make your space look amazing when it’s nighttime. If you want to try this in your garden, you’ll just need a metal watering can and fairy lights. It’s not much, and the result will make your garden look even cuter than it is now!
Succulents are the perfect plants for busy people.
Surrounding yourself in nature is the best way to let go of all the stress of living in big cities and having a demanding job. In case you relate to that and are in dire need of some sort of stress reliever, plants may be the answer to your problems.
Let’s think of the pros and cons of succulent plants. Pros: 1) they don’t grow a lot, so they don’t require a lot of space; 2) they don’t need lots of nutrients and water to live, so you won’t have to dedicate a lot of your time to taking care of them; 3) they’re adorable. Now it’s time for the cons — just kidding, we can’t think of any!
Vines will turn your house into a magical place.
If you ever watched a fairy movie (or maybe just a movie that had magical creatures of any kind), you certainly know how the houses in those movies have lots of plants and look adorable. What if we told you that you could have your own magical house?
All you need is a vine. Plant a climber plant (like ivy or Virginia creeper) outside your house and wait until it has grown enough to cover your home. Placing flower pots in a vertical planter will also add to the magical feel.
Encourage your neighbors to invest time in their gardens.
Having your own garden is a lot of fun, but having other people with whom you can share accomplishments and gardening ideas is even better. In case you’re feeling a bit lonely with your hobby, you can encourage your neighbors to get into gardening as well!
Next time you’re attending a dinner at your neighbor’s, maybe bring up your new hobby when you deem it appropriate. Start dropping hints that you’d like it if your neighbor also tried their hand and gardening. And then make this “seed library” and put it outside your house so anyone can come and get free seeds to start their own garden!
Having a garden in the big city is incredible!
When we think of big cities, it is quite hard to imagine having a garden when you live in a compact space. Houses in big cities are expensive, and apartments are tiny, so there is basically no space to start your own garden, right?
Well, that is not necessarily true. Even if you only have a tiny backyard or balcony in your apartment, you can still turn it into a beautiful garden. Get smaller plants, make a vertical planter, try to build a small greenhouse. Your home will look greener — and that is a great contrast to the grey of concrete jungles!
Sometimes, all you need is a little time!
Having a garden is an issue for some people because they don’t have enough space in their homes for it. And then there are those people who have the room, but they don’t have the time or energy for it.
Are you part of the group of people who have space for a garden but no energy/time? If you want to change that, we are here to tell you that you sometimes just one hour of work every other day, and you’ll have a garden as pretty as this one in the picture in no time!
Environment-friendly gardens are especially important.
Look, it is not a secret that our planet is very fragile and it needs our help more than ever. Even the littlest things that we do can help us protect the environment, and there are many things we can do to ensure that our garden is sustainable.
For instance, when you regrow your vegetables or fruits, you are already doing something good for the environment. Another way of maintaining a beautiful garden and helping save the planet is to try and reuse water. This gardening tank uses rainwater to water the plants — you could try making one of these at home!
No space in the backyard? Use the front lawn!
Contrary to what apartment-owners may think, not every house has space for a garden. Maybe your house doesn’t have a backyard or maybe you are already developing a different project in the backyard. Either way, you could always turn the front lawn into an oasis!
Imagine how refreshing it would be to come home after work and see this beautiful sight every single day? It will certainly take you some time to get there, but if you put in the effort and hard work, you’ll have a garden just like this one making your front lawn the prettiest on the block!
No flower vases? Use bricks instead!
If you want another environment-friendly gardening tip, you will certainly like this one. Plant vases made of plastic are not good for the environment (we all know how plastic can be damaging). Instead of using those vases, why not innovate?
Do you have any cinder blocks at home? If not, don’t worry. They are easy to find. You can plant up to two different plants in each brick. That is, if you want to plant 10 different plants, all you’ll need are five two-hole bricks. Fill each hole with fertilizer and plant your flowers, and you’re done!
Make your greenhouse pretty with colorful glass.
When we think of a greenhouse, we usually think of those medium-sized structures made of metal and clear glass panels. But did you know that you could build an innovative greenhouse that would not look as bland as traditional ones?
You found many colorful glass pieces, and now you don’t know what to do with them. Instead of getting rid of the glass, you could use it to build your very own colorful greenhouse! Yes, we know that transparent glass panels are better for the plants — but doesn’t it look much better like this?
Killing two birds with one stone!
Is there anything better than making two separate things work together for the benefit of all? After all, there is a reason why the idiom “to kill two birds with one stone” exists! In case you want to decorate the outdoor area of your home, here is a lovely idea:
When you add this bench to your backyard, you will get to plant beautiful plants (preferably succulent plants, given that they can grow even in the smallest of spaces), and you will also get to take a seat at the bench and appreciate the nature around you!
Choose your plants based on where you live.
Having your own garden means that you have to dedicate time and hard work in order to keep it pretty. However, some people give up on their garden once they realize that their plants are not growing as they originally expected.
Instead of getting discouraged and giving up on gardening, you need to take a moment to study your terrain. There has got to be a logical explanation for why your plants aren’t growing like you thought they would. If you live in hotter regions, maybe try planting wildflowers.
The environment needs help — and your garden can help it!
When we think about the issues related to the environment, we do not immediately think of anything other than global warming and pollution. There is another issue that also needs our full attention, and that issue is the bee crisis.
Look, we understand that it is not easy to comprehend the impact of bees’ extinction on the world. While we could spend all day listing all the negative consequences of this, we urge you to take action and help save the bees. You don’t even have to do much — maybe just use your garden to plant bee-friendly plants!
Surround yourself with nature — literally!
Have you ever dreamed of living in a place where you would be surrounded by nature all of the time? While we can’t have that now (maybe when we retire), we have to settle for living in big cities or at least in the suburbs — but who said that you couldn’t have a little bit of nature at home?
This is obviously not the same as living in the middle of a forest (if that’s your dream address); this sunflower “ring” is an amazing substitute. Just keep in mind that you have to plant those sunflower seeds ASAP, for it takes a while for them to get that tall!
Another way to reuse water.
When we think of things we can do to help the planet, we usually think of things related to water. Saving water is one of the best ways to help the environment, and what’s better than reusing rainwater instead of letting it go to waste?
If you live in a place where it rains a lot and it hurts you to see all that rainwater going down the drainage system, here’s what you can do. Build a cute pathway in your front lawn, starting from the rain gutter pipe all the way to the road. Plant some water plants, like irises or swamp sunflowers, and you’ll have a practical and beautiful garden at home!
Living in confined spaces shouldn’t stop you from having a garden.
We all know that food producers use increasing amounts of hormones and other additives to make them bigger and stay fresh longer. This means that some of the foods that we eat are not necessarily healthy, even if it’s fruits and vegetables.
That is why more and more people are starting their own gardens — so they can grow their own organic and healthy food! This guy, for instance, wanted to plant fruits and vegetables, and he didn’t let the small space of his apartment stop him!
From nothing to something
Having a hobby is a lot of fun, but things become even more exciting when we have someone to share our passions with. If you love gardening and want to share this hobby of yours with someone, maybe try getting your significant other involved in it!
Looking at the pictures above, you can totally see how this couple is having the time of their lives growing their pineapples. Can you imagine having that much fun? All it takes is to get your husband or wife interested in gardening, and that’s it!
Turn extra spaces into gardens.
While apartment owners are faced with problems of lack of space in their homes, some house owners deal with the opposite issue. Sometimes, there is extra space in your backyard, and you don’t always know what to do with it.
If that is an issue you are currently trying to solve, have you considered turning that extra space into a garden? Just like the person in the picture above, you can build a cute area using only a fence and some garden beds so you can grow your own vegetables.
Growing flowers horizontally?
The idea of growing flowers horizontally seems kind of absurd, but, in reality, the results of this crazy idea will surprise every single gardening lover. Not only that — it will also make you want to try this out at home!
Buy an elevated garden bed (or try to make your own DIY garden bed) and horizontally plant the flowers (in relation to the floor, though the flowers will be positioned vertically in relation to one another). Once they bloom, you’ll have this colorful explosion in your backyard!
Small backyards can be turned into something precious.
Regardless of the size of your backyard (if you even have one, that is), it is already crystal clear that you can have a garden. In this article, we’ve shown you many different ways to explore your passion for gardening and it doesn’t matter if you have a lot of space at home or none at all.
See how this person turned their small and simple backyard into something straight out of a fairytale? Well, you can have the same beautiful backyard if you want. You have two options to go about this: you can either try your hand at giving your backyard a makeover or you can hire a professional landscaper!
As a last resort…
Sometimes, we have to rely on random things to get something done. That is why people create Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and so on when they are about to do something. When it comes to gardening, things shouldn’t be different.
If your plants are growing fruits whose weight they can’t handle, it is your job to try and find a way to make sure that this plant won’t give in to the weight of its fruits. When this woman was faced with that situation, she used a bra to support two watermelons!
Make fruit support using sticks.
Now, in case you don’t have a bra at home to use in your garden, here is another way of supporting the weight of fruits. You will only need a few sticks for this “fruit support,” and you can find those anywhere.
Some plants start growing fruits before they are strong enough, and then they start falling under the weight of the fruits they produce. That is the case with this orange tree. So, the person who planted it came up with this clever and simple fruit support using a bunch of sticks.
You can do this yourself.
If you have moved into a new house and want to revamp the backyard, you will like this next tip. Or maybe you weren’t into gardening, but now you want to do something about that piece of land you have.
If there is little space in your backyard, you can give it a makeover yourself. Maybe look into changing the fence to something livelier and newer. Plant some smaller trees and flowers, buy fake grass (or plant real grass and wait until it looks pretty and green like that), and outdoor furniture — then you’ll have a cozy place to have a drink with friends at home!
But hiring a professional is always a good choice.
When your backyard is small, you can even try to get it looking pretty. However, when you have a larger piece of land at your disposal, it isn’t always easy decorating or redesigning it. If that’s your case, maybe you should look into hiring a professional.
Let’s be honest: the chances of an amateur gardener/landscaper pulling off something like this are slim. If you want to have a garden just like that one in the picture, you will probably have to hire a professional — we can guarantee that you will be glad you did once it is done!
Make the most of the walls on your balcony.
We have already established that living in an apartment (or in a house with a small or no backyard) is no excuse not to have your own garden. Vertical gardens are a real thing and they’re really popular for a reason.
Here is another idea for gardening lovers who live in apartments. In case a planter ladder isn’t ideal for your tiny balcony, you can try using this planter that you can hang up on the wall. Depending on your height, you can plant up to 5 flower vases there!
Encourage other people in your building to plant!
From an early age, we start learning that plants are essential to the planet. Without plants, we probably would not exist today, and that’s why we got to continue planting trees and smaller plants as well. If you live in a building, you can encourage your neighbors to help you!
If you manage to encourage every person living in your apartment building to plant at least one plant on their balcony, you will already be making a positive impact on the environment. Even the tiniest plants help make a big difference in the future of our planet!
Garden beds don’t have to look the same.
If you are the kind of person who likes to innovate things in every aspect of your life, some of the garden design ideas you have seen probably bored you. Luckily, you can always find new ways to make your garden stand out.
For instance, instead of using regular garden beds (you know, rectangular ones), you can try to make your own garden bed in any shape you want. This person made a plant bed that looks like a honeycomb — and if you have the time, you can also make one for yourself!
Keep in mind that you need to protect your plants.
We know very well that plants need water and light to survive. But like everything else in life, if you give your plants too much water and/or light, they won’t live long. That’s why we’re here to tell you that you can’t forget to protect your plants.
However, you have to protect them from other things as well. If your plants have fruits, keep in mind that birds and other small animals will likely try to eat them. In case you want to avoid that, you can keep your plants in cages until their fruits are ready to be harvested.
You got to have patience!
Patience is key, or so they say. When it comes to gardening, no statement holds more true than that one. Having patience is a virtue that every gardener must possess, because plants don’t grow overnight! But the rewards are so sweet.
Here’s the thing: we get it that you’re excited to have a beautiful garden and eat the food you planted. But you can’t forget that some plants will take much longer to grow, so you have to be patient if you want your flowers to thrive!
Use every corner of your garden.
No matter the size of your garden, you certainly want to make the most of it. In that case, we can assure you that the best way to do that is to mix the tips we’ve given you in this article.
Use vertical planters and ladder planters; reuse water and building materials; regrow your vegetables and fruits; use the front lawn if you have to! If you follow some of our tips, you’ll have a beautiful garden in no time! And don’t forget to use every corner of your backyard or balcony to grow your plants. The more, the merrier, right?