Recipe: Spray pure white vinegar directly on weeds, taking care to avoid desirable plants.
Why It Works: Vinegar is highly acidic and can kill weeds by drying them out. It’s an effective and eco-friendly alternative to chemical herbicides.
11. Honey for Rooting Cuttings
Recipe: Dip the cut end of a plant cutting into honey before planting it in soil.
Why It Works: Honey has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties that protect the cutting from infections while promoting root growth.
12. Beer for Slug Traps
Recipe: Bury a container up to its rim near affected plants and fill it with beer.
Why It Works: Slugs are attracted to the yeast in beer and will crawl in, but they won’t be able to crawl out, effectively trapping them.
13. Sugar for Pest Control
Recipe: Dissolve 2 tablespoons of sugar in a quart of water and spray on plants infested with aphids.
Why It Works: Sugar water can attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, which feed on aphids and help control their population.
14. Chamomile Tea for Seedlings
Recipe: Brew a cup of chamomile tea, let it cool, and use it to water seedlings.
Why It Works: Chamomile tea has natural antifungal properties that can help prevent damping-off disease and other fungal issues in young plants.
15. Baking Soda for Sweeter Tomatoes
Recipe: Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on the soil around your tomato plants.
Why It Works: Baking soda reduces soil acidity, which can lead to sweeter tomatoes by reducing the plant’s absorption of acidic compounds.
Each of these hacks offers a simple yet effective way to improve your gardening practices. Try incorporating a few (or all) into your routine and watch as your garden flourishes. Happy gardening!
