Top Ten Favorite Non-Garden Items for Gardening

There's a lot of fancy gardening supplies out there, I like using some that aren't the most conventional (they're not made for gardening at all! in fact, you probably own most of them already).

Ten non-garden items you can use for your garden!

Let's just dive right in with the list and skip the jibber jabber. There's ten but since I try not to have favorites, they are not numbered.

Dish Soap

Dish soap is a miracle worker in the garden.

You can use it for a lusher, greener lawn (it kills moss but not grass! Please do your research for formula first)

I use it in particular in my bug killing spray! IT KILLS THE DREADED SPOTTED LANTERN FLY THAT'S INVADING AMERICA AND KILLING TREES!!!! Also when I bring plants in for the winter, I like to give them a good dunk in soapy water to kill any bugs and actually enhance the soil.

How does it enhance the soil do you ask? Did you know that the older soil gets, the more water just runs off it? This is called hydrophobic soil. Hydrophobic soil has waxy molecules that keep the water from getting absorbed and the plants from being hydrated. 1 tsp Dish soap (preferably Dawn in the case of pests but any organic/biodegradable will do for this one) per 3 liters of water will give it a nice soak and break down the waxy pieces and change hydrophobic soil into brand new stuff!

Hydrogen Peroxide

This one is pretty commonly known. It also is great for pest control (particularly fungus gnats). But it is also good for treating root rot and aerating the soil when the dirt is just too hard to break up! I like to add a little to any plants I start/grow in water and to any pot that I can't give new soil to just yet.

It's perfectly safe to add this guy straight to the soil. A lot of people like to dilute it a bit with water and that's fine. It makes it last a bit longer.

Containers

Literally any container too. I keep all the sour cream containers and any glass jar or bottle that comes my way. Poke a couple holes in the sour cream ones and BOOM you got a nursery pot. Not pretty but if you're a garden goblin like me, it doesn't matter so long as you actually have plants. The glass is great for propagating cuttings and sometimes looks good enough to actually put on display!

Recycle those old containers and save the earth! I used some old yogurt containers once as nursery pots and they work just fine too... you save the planet while saving money so its a win-win.

Matches

You read that right. The matches you use to light candles are actually great for plants! (Unlit of course)

Just stick some unused matches head down in indoor pots to add sulphur and phosphorus to the soil to help get rid of bugs without dangerous chemicals. Also just leaving them in there will add dead wood that will feed the soil and produce healthier plants. I do it with used ones too, probably not as effective with the bugs but at least they're not in the trash.

Irish Spring

The soap, the bar soap specifically. Just like certain people that don't like the scent, certain bugs (and animals) don't either and you can just cut little pieces and spread them throughout the garden bed to keep things like deer or rabbits at bay. And you don't have to reapply after a rain (use chunks not slivers, and actually you can wrap it in cloth and staple them to stakes to keep them out of the dirt)

Beer

Do you drink? I don't, but if a friend or something has beer I may ask for some for my garden. It makes a fantastic bait for slugs! Granted I don't really have a slug issue in my current location, but if you do I got the solution. Put a shallow dish full of beer in the dirt so the rim is at ground level. Slugs love the smell and will enter the dish and, of course, can't get out.

Used Water

That's right, pretty much any used water will work. From the leftover water from pasta, to boiled eggs, to boiled potatoes. Plants will love any and all of it. You may want to do some research to know which ones solve which problems (egg water helps calcium levels and so on) Also please let the water cool.

Bright Colored Cups

Like the red solo cups, most bright colors will work for this trick. Aside from poking holes and making them nursery pots, you can attach it to a stake and cover the outside with petroleum jelly to catch bugs like gnats!

Soy Sauce

This condiment is great for baiting pincher bugs (earwigs) that like to infest veggie gardens. Mix with a little vegetable oil and put in a small container so the top is level with the soil around it (like the beer) and check the next day for all those darn critters. (remove before it rains)

Oatmeal

This is actually a great fertilizer! Mix a little into the topsoil of sad houseplants for a boost of nutrients. Water it down evenly and you're done! I use this with my Oxalis, but it'll work with most plants.

Don't get me wrong, this is by no means a complete list of non-garden items and it probably won't be my only list I post.

If you have anything to add please comment! I love to hear new tips and tricks! Also check out some new additions to our inventory!

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