If you're trying to maintain a flourishing garden and healthy houseplants, it can be tempting to try popular hacks you may have heard about online. Some gardening hacks may work as long as they are done correctly and if they provide the nutrition and help your plant needs. However, some of these popular hacks can make matters worse, attracting unwanted pests and creating a slew of issues for your beloved garden. So, we consulted gardening experts to find out which of these seemingly clever gardening ideas should actually be avoided. Here are the top gardening hacks experts warn about and what you should do instead to keep your plants healthy.
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Using Banana Peels as a Natural Fertilizer
In some instances, natural fertilizers like banana peels can be great, but there are some downsides to be aware of. Jane Dobbs, an expert gardener and gardening team lead at Allan's Gardeners, says that the nutrients in natural fertilizers aren't always as diverse as you'd like. For example, banana peels contain potassium but no nitrogen.
"Plants might not get enough nutrition because of this imbalance," Dobbs says. "In contrast to synthetic fertilizers, natural materials break down slowly, which means nutrients are released slowly over time. If plants require immediate nutrition, this may delay the impact on plant growth."
She explains that decomposing organic materials, like banana peels, can attract rodents, flies, and even larger animals. "Additionally, when natural fertilizers decompose, they emit unpleasant odors, which can be an issue if you use them indoors," Dobbs says.
“You can avoid these pitfalls by using organic fertilizers that release nutrients slowly," she adds. "Bone meal, compost, and well-rotted manure are excellent alternatives that nourish plants."
Adding Coffee Grounds to Enrich Soil
Gene Caballero, co-founder of GreenPal, says that coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen and can improve soil structure, but they are also very acidic. "If overused, coffee grounds can lower the pH of the soil, making it too acidic for some plants to thrive," he says. "This can hinder plant growth rather than help it, especially in soils that are already acidic."
Plus, when coffee grounds are applied in too thick of a layer, they can form a barrier that restricts water and air from reaching the soil, Caballero adds.
So, to fertilize and enrich your plant's soil without harming it, you may want to follow Dobbs' recommendations of using compost, bone meal, or manure instead.
Using Eggshells and Salt to Deter Slugs and Snails
Snails and slugs make a snack of many types of plants, so you may have heard of using eggshells or salt as a solution to your pest problem. Nathan Heinrich, a horticulturist and botanical designer, says that while adding eggshells to your garden can be beneficial and a very effective way to slowly release calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium to the soil, it's not recommended for getting rid of these slick invertebrates.
"Over recent years, I have seen gardening influencers suggesting that crushed eggshells surrounding your plants act as a deterrent for slugs and snails," Heinrich says. "Unfortunately, this is a garden hack that simply doesn't work."
As it turns out, these pests are quite unbothered by this method. "Slugs and snails have the ability to glide right over sharp objects, such as broken glass and even sharp knives and razor blades, so as you can imagine, eggshells pose absolutely no threat to these slimy pests," he adds.
Salt, on the other hand, can be effective at deterring slugs and snails, but that doesn't mean it's good for your plants. "While it's true that salt will burn and kill slugs and snails, you will want to avoid this 'hack' as it will end up killing your plants from salt burns," Heinrich explains. "Most plants can't tolerate high levels of sodium in the soil and will die very quickly if salt is added directly to the soil."
There are a couple of other natural and organic methods he recommends you try that are actually effective at keeping slugs and snails away. One that may surprise you is freshly shorn, unwashed sheep's wool.
"For some reason, slugs and snails do not like to come in contact with the fibers of sheep's wool— apparently, it's a texture thing," Heinrich says. "So to keep these slugs out of your garden organically, line the edges of your raised beds with wool or surround your individual plants with a little barrier of wool. You will find this to be a highly effective method."
"As a bonus, sheep's wool also keeps weeds from growing in your garden, and as it breaks down and decomposes into your soil, it will have a number of beneficial slow-release elements such as nitrogen to the soil," he continues.
Another option is to use Organic Pet-Safe Slug & Snail Bait to keep slugs and snails out of your garden without adding dangerous chemicals to the soil.
Overhead Watering Your Plants at the Wrong Time
Dobbs says that many gardening hacks related to watering can backfire. "A common practice of overhead watering during midday can cause evaporation and sunburn on leaves," she warns. "It's not uncommon for soaker hoses to be misused, causing uneven water distribution and root decay."
"It's best to water your garden when it's cooler, like early in the morning or late in the afternoon," she adds. "Use soaker hoses with a timer to get an even water distribution, and place them at a good distance from the plant to encourage deep root growth."
Planting Your Plants Deeply To Encourage Faster Growth
Heinrich says that the most common mistake he has seen new gardeners make is planting too deeply. "While there is one major exception, most plants do not do well when planted deeper than the soil level they had in their original container," he explains. "You may have heard gardening experts telling you to plant your tomato plants several inches deeper than the top of their root ball. These are the only plants that benefit from deep planting."
What happens when you plant trees, shrubs, and flowers deeper than the level of the top of their roots, Heinrich explains, is that you end up girdling them, essentially cutting off their ability to transport nutrients through the portion of their stems that are buried under the soil. "Even an inch or two of extra soil around the base of the plant can be enough to cause stem rot and kill your plants," he says.
"One thing you can do safely is mulch around your plants with organic material such as cedar bark or humus to retain moisture and add nutrients to the soil," he says. "Just be mindful not to have the mulch touching the stems and lower branches of your plants."
Using Essential Oils and Dish Soap as a DIY Pest Control
Dobbs says that it's common for well-meaning gardeners to do more harm than good with DIY pest control. “Chemical mixtures you make at home can be ineffective or even harmful to plants, beneficial insects, and the environment," she says. "A popular hack is using essential oils as pesticides, but they can be too potent, causing phytotoxicity and damage."
While some pest management strategies may include essential oils, Dobbs explains that they aren't a "one-size-fits-all solution" and you may need to combine other efforts for maximum effectiveness. "One of the most important things people need to know is that just a few drops of their favorite essential oil will not counter an infestation,” she says.
Caballero says that another misguided hack is using dish soap as an insecticide. While it can kill pests, it also strips plants of their natural oils and waxes, leading to burned foliage or reduced growth.
So, depending on the type of pest and your plant's needs, you may want to opt for an organic pest control option, such as neem oil, instead.
Dobbs suggests using lightweight fabric covers to protect plants from flying insects and other pests. These covers also create a barrier against pests, like caterpillars and beetles. As far as homemade sprays, she says that those made from garlic or onions can deter pests without harming the plants.
“These sprays can be applied directly to the leaves," she says. However, "it depends on what kind of pest it is. You won't succeed in deterring rodents from your garden with a few drops of essential oil. To achieve a pest-free garden, preventative and deterrent measures should always be combined."
Sticking Forks in Your Garden to Keep Cats & Rodents Out
"I've seen people online suggesting that sticking hundreds of forks with their handles buried and the spiky sides facing up is an effective way to keep cats and other rodents from digging in your garden," Heinrich says. "As inventive as this approach is, it's not very practical."
There are a few problems with this approach, both aesthetically and logistically. "Littering your garden with scores of plastic forks may keep cats and raccoons out, but the problem is that you will find it hard to weed around all the spikes," Heinrich says. "You will need to literally cover every square inch of your garden for this method to actually work, and your garden will end up looking like a utensil graveyard."
"What you can do that will keep cats and other rodents from using your garden as a litter box or buffet table is to cover your beds with a removable chicken wire cage," he continues. "This method allows you to remove the wire cage when tending to your plants and then replace it to protect your beds from unwelcome visitors."
Spraying or Dusting Your Vegetable Plants With Insecticides
There are plenty of organic and safe insecticide options to use on your vegetable plants, but Heinrich still prefers a more natural approach. "I try to avoid spraying or dusting my vegetable and berry plants with anything other than water," he says. "As an old French gardener I know once said, 'Don't be afraid of vegetables with a few insects on them. Instead, be afraid of the vegetables that insects won't touch.'"
So, rather than using insecticides, Heinrich recommends trying insect netting. "I've found remarkable success with insect netting in recent years," he says. "By covering your raised beds with insect netting, you will not only keep unwanted insects from munching on your veggies, but also keep birds and other unwanted visitors out of your garden beds."
"Insect netting is relatively inexpensive, and it will last for several growing seasons before needing to be replaced," he continues.
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