You Won’t Believe These 20 Household Items That Double As Fertilizers For Your Garden
You’ll be amazed at how many household items can work wonders for your garden! Some of the most unexpected things lying around your house can give your plants a serious boost.
These 20 items are easy to find, eco-friendly, and perfect for getting your garden growing strong. I couldn’t believe how well they worked when I tried them, and I’m sure you’ll be just as impressed.
Let’s get creative and transform your garden with these surprising fertilizers!
1. Coffee Grounds
Morning coffee lovers, rejoice! Those used coffee grounds can perk up more than just your morning. Packed with nitrogen, they’re a fantastic slow-release fertilizer.
Add them to your compost or sprinkle directly onto your soil. Just watch out for your plants asking for a latte! They’re a hit in any garden looking for a caffeine boost.
2. Banana Peels
Bananas might be a favorite snack, but their peels are a treat for your garden too. Loaded with potassium and phosphorus, these peels can be buried near your plants.
Roses especially love them, blooming with more vigor and color. The next time you munch on a banana, save those peels for a fruitful addition to your gardening routine.
3. Eggshells
Crack open breakfast potential with eggshells! Their calcium content is perfect for veggies like tomatoes that crave this mineral.
Crush and mix into soil or compost for healthier, stronger plants. It’s like giving your plants a boost of calcium – no milk required! Just another reason to enjoy an omelet.
4. Epsom Salt
No, it’s not just for a relaxing bath! Epsom salt, full of magnesium, is a gardener’s secret weapon. Dissolve it in water and treat your plants to this nourishing spa treatment.
Tomatoes and roses, in particular, will thank you by flourishing. Your garden will be the envy of the neighborhood!
5. Tea Leaves
Used tea leaves aren’t just for the trash—they’re packed with nutrients for your garden! Add them directly to the soil or compost, and watch your plants thrive.
Hydrangeas, in particular, love the acidic boost. Sip your tea, then share the leftovers with your blooming beauties!
6. Wood Ash
Who knew your fireplace could be a source of garden goodness? Wood ash is rich in potassium and calcium carbonate.
Sprinkle it lightly over your garden to boost soil pH and deter pests. Just be sure to test your soil’s pH first. Your veggies will be grateful for this ashy addition!
7. Fish Tank Water
Your fish have been fertilizing plants all along! Aquarium water, rich with nutrients, works wonders. Use it to water plants for a nutrient-rich drink.
Plus, it’s a fantastic way to recycle. Your herbs and flowers will flourish, making you and your fish happy!
8. Baking Soda
It’s not just for cookies anymore—baking soda can work wonders in the garden! It helps sweeten tomatoes and keeps fungal diseases at bay.
Mix it with water and spray your plants, especially roses, for a little baking soda bath. Your garden will stay fresh and fungus-free!
9. Citrus Peels
Citrus peels can do more than freshen your garbage disposal! Full of essential oils, they deter pests like ants.
Scatter peels around your plants or compost them. They’re nature’s pest control with a zesty twist. Your garden will be a citrus-scented fortress!
10. Vegetable Cooking Water
Next time you cook veggies, don’t toss that water! It’s full of nutrients your plants will love. Let it cool and use it as a liquid fertilizer.
It’s a simple and effective way to recycle in your kitchen and garden. Boost your plants with veggie goodness!
11. Oatmeal
Oatmeal isn’t just for breakfast anymore. It can enrich your compost with valuable nutrients. Sprinkle it into your compost bin or around plants. This fiber-rich food provides a natural fertilizer boost.
12. Molasses
Sticky and sweet, molasses is a treat for your garden! It feeds beneficial microbes and enriches soil. Mix with water and use as a soil drench.
Vegetables especially love this sugary boost. Your garden will grow sweeter than ever!
13. Hair Clippings
Hair today, soil tomorrow! Hair clippings are rich in nitrogen and minerals. Scatter them around plants or mix into compost.
They decompose slowly, providing nutrients over time. Who knew your haircut could feed your garden?
14. Wine Corks
Cheers to your garden! Wine corks can be repurposed as mulch. Shred them and spread over garden beds. They help retain moisture and suppress weeds. A toast to sustainable gardening!
15. Onion Skins
Often tossed aside, those onion skins are actually a hidden gem for gardeners. Soak them in water to brew a nutrient-packed tea, then spray it on your plants. Watch as your flowers bloom with a touch of oniony magic.
16. Potato Peels
Leftover potato peels are garden gold! Full of nutrients, they enrich soil when composted.
Bury them in your garden for a nutrient boost. Your veggies will be tastier and healthier. A peely good addition to any green thumb’s regimen!
17. Cardboard
Old cardboard boxes offer more than storage solutions. Shred and use them as mulch for moisture retention.
They also improve soil structure over time. A simple way to recycle and enrich your garden. Cardboard: more than just a box!
18. Alfalfa Pellets
Not just for rabbits, alfalfa pellets are a garden gem. Rich in nitrogen, they boost compost and soil health. Sprinkle around plants or mix into compost.
Your veggies will have a growth spurt with this nutrient boost. Alfalfa: it’s what’s for dinner – for your plants!
19. Beer
Cheers to your garden’s health with leftover beer! Use it to attract beneficial microbes and enrich soil. Pour around plants for improved growth. Your garden will thrive with this hoppy addition. A refreshing twist to gardening!
20. Peanut Shells
Usually seen as waste, peanut shells can boost your garden’s health. When composted, they aerate soil and retain moisture.
Spread them in your garden for a crunchy, nutrient-rich layer, giving your plants a nutty boost. Who knew snacking could be so eco-friendly?