Gardening is not just about planting seeds; it’s a celebration of life, a testament to nurturing, and a tribute to the beauty of nature that flourishes with time, much like the wisdom we gain as we journey through life. For our spirited community of women over 60, gardening can be a source of joy, a path to wellness, and a canvas for creativity. With these 99 gardening hacks, tailored to make your gardening journey more enjoyable and less strenuous, we invite you to sprinkle a little more magic into your garden.
1. Ergonomic Tools for Gentle Hands
Invest in tools with longer handles to reduce bending and strain on your back and joints. Cushioned grips can also ease the pressure on your hands, making gardening a more comfortable endeavor.
2. Watering Wisdom
Convert old wine bottles into self-watering spikes for your plants. Fill them with water and invert them into the soil. They’ll gradually release water, keeping your plants hydrated without frequent trips to the garden with a watering can.
3. Plant Companionship
Embrace companion planting to naturally repel pests and enhance growth. For instance, planting garlic near roses can help deter aphids, promoting healthier blooms.
4. Seed Tape for Easy Sowing
Create your own seed tape with toilet paper and a flour-water paste. It’s a simple way to ensure even spacing and depth, perfect for those with less steady hands.
5. A Garden of Pots
For ease of access and care, consider container gardening. It allows you to bring the garden closer to your home and minimize the need for bending and kneeling.
6. Label with Love
Use old blinds or popsicle sticks to create easy-to-read plant labels. Write with a waterproof marker for labels that withstand the elements.
7. Tea Time for Plants
Recycle used tea bags as a nourishing addition to your plant’s soil. Tea bags can help retain moisture and add nutrients as they decompose.
8. Easy-Pull Weeds
Moisten the soil around weeds to make them easier to pull. This is particularly helpful after a rain shower when the soil is soft.
9. Shade Solutions
Use umbrellas or old sheer curtains to create temporary shade for new plants, protecting them from the harsh midday sun.
10. Gardening Chair
Repurpose an old chair as a portable gardening seat. Remove the seat and use the frame to sit or kneel while gardening, with tools stored underneath.
11. Mailbox Tool Keeper
Place an old mailbox in your garden to store frequently used tools. It keeps them handy, dry, and protected from the elements.
12. Vertical Gardening
Maximize space and minimize bending by growing plants vertically. Trellises, wall planters, and hanging baskets can bring the beauty of gardening to eye level.
13. Glove Safety
Sew a small magnet into your gardening gloves to keep nails and small tools close at hand, reducing the need to bend down to pick them up.
14. Gentle Soil Aeration
Use a pitchfork for gentle soil aeration, which requires less effort than traditional turning and is beneficial for maintaining soil structure.
15. Rolling Garden Seat
Invest in a rolling garden seat to move easily around your garden without the need to stand up, making gardening more enjoyable and less tiring.
16. Smart Watering
Attach a length of hose to a watering can to extend its reach, allowing you to water more comfortably without having to carry the can around.
17. Soil Bag Planters
Use soil bags as instant planters. Cut open the top, poke some drainage holes at the bottom, and plant directly into the bag for an instant, no-fuss garden bed.
18. Natural Mulch Magic
Mulch your garden with leaves, straw, or grass clippings to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and add nutrients to the soil as they decompose.
19. Herb Garden Delights
Grow a windowsill herb garden for easy access to fresh flavors. It’s a delightful way to add freshness to your cooking without the need for a full garden.
20. Soothing Aloe
Keep an aloe vera plant handy for immediate relief from minor cuts and sunburns. It’s a practical and medicinal addition to your gardening space.
21. Quick Clean-Up
Keep a bar of soap under your fingernails before gardening to prevent dirt build-up. It makes cleaning up afterwards a breeze.
22. Garden Planning
Spend time planning your garden layout with ease of access in mind. Raised beds, wide paths, and clear labeling can make gardening a more pleasurable experience.
23. Gentle Pruning
Opt for ratchet-style pruners that make cutting easier on the hands. They require less strength to use, making pruning a more effortless task.
24. Eco-Friendly Pesticides
Make your own natural pesticides with everyday ingredients like dish soap, vinegar, and water to keep your garden chemical-free.
25. Joyful Journaling
Keep a gardening journal to record what works and what doesn’t, making it easier to plan and improve your garden year after year.
26. Easy Seed Handling
For small seeds, use a pencil moistened at the tip to pick up and place each seed accurately without straining your fingers.
27. Boiling Water Weed Killer
Pour boiling water directly onto weeds growing in cracks of driveways or walkways. It’s an instant, chemical-free way to kill them.
28. DIY Seedling Pots
Roll newspaper into small pots for seedlings. They’re biodegradable, free, and can be planted directly into the soil, minimizing root disturbance.
29. Lightweight Pot Filler
Fill the bottom of large pots with recycled plastic bottles before adding soil. It reduces the weight of the pots and improves drainage.
30. Milk Jug Watering Can
Puncture holes in the lid of a milk jug to create a makeshift watering can. It’s lightweight and perfect for gentle watering.
31. Coffee Filter Liners
Place coffee filters at the bottom of pots to prevent soil from escaping through drainage holes while still allowing water to pass through.
32. Cinnamon Fungicide
Sprinkle cinnamon on soil to prevent fungal diseases in seedlings. It’s a natural and fragrant way to protect your plants.
33. Aluminum Foil Sun Reflector
Wrap aluminum foil around a cardboard and place it behind your plants to reflect more sunlight onto them, boosting their growth.
34. Lemon Rind Seed Starters
Start seeds in lemon rinds for an eco-friendly pot option. Once the seedlings are ready, plant the entire lemon rind in the garden.
35. Chopstick Dibber
Use a chopstick to create perfect holes for seeds or seedlings. It’s an easy tool for precise planting.
36. Yogurt Container Scoop
Cut a used yogurt container to create a handy scoop for soil or fertilizer. It’s a great way to recycle while making gardening tasks easier.
37. Wool Yarn for Watering
Lay wool yarn from a water source to your pots. Wool absorbs water and can slowly release it to your plants, providing a consistent moisture supply.
38. Vinegar for Rust Removal
Soak rusted tools in vinegar overnight to remove rust. It’s an effective way to clean and maintain your gardening tools.
39. Banana Peel Rose Feed
Bury banana peels near your rose bushes. As they decompose, they release potassium, promoting beautiful blooms.
40. Cooking Water Fertilizer
Reuse water from boiled vegetables to water your plants. Once cooled, it’s rich in nutrients and acts as a mild, natural fertilizer.
41. Sponge Moisture Keeper
Place a sponge at the bottom of pots to help retain moisture, reducing the need for frequent watering.
42. Plastic Fork Pest Deterrent
Stick plastic forks in the soil around plants to deter pets and pests from walking over and harming your seedlings.
43. Mesh Bag Protective Covers
Use mesh bags (like those for onions) to cover ripening fruit and protect them from birds and insects.
44. Ice Cream Cone Planters
Start seedlings in biodegradable ice cream cones. When ready, plant them directly into the soil—cone and all.
45. Herb Drying Mobile
Create a mobile from a hanger to dry herbs in your kitchen. It’s a decorative way to dry and store herbs for culinary use.
46. Butterfly Water Dish
Fill a shallow dish with sand and water to create a drinking spot for butterflies, encouraging them to visit your garden more often.
47. Epsom Salt Soil Booster
Mix Epsom salt into your soil to increase magnesium levels, promoting plant growth and greener leaves.
48. Wine Cork Markers
Write plant names on wine corks and mount them on skewers for eco-friendly, waterproof garden labels.
49. Soap as Deer Repellent
Hang bars of strongly scented soap around your garden to keep deer away. The smell deters them from nibbling on your plants.
50. Wheelbarrow Garden
Convert an old wheelbarrow into a mobile garden bed. It’s perfect for small spaces and can be moved to catch the sun.
51. Pantyhose Support for Growing Melons
Use old pantyhose to create slings for supporting growing melons and squash. This prevents them from weighing down the vines.
52. Soda Bottle Greenhouse
Cut the bottom off a clear plastic soda bottle to create a mini greenhouse for young plants, protecting them from harsh weather.
53. Garden Tool Cleaning Station
Fill a pot with sand and mineral oil to clean and condition garden tools after each use. Simply plunge the tools into the sand a few times.
54. Tub Trug for Harvesting
Lightweight tub trugs are perfect for collecting harvests or weeds. They’re easy to carry, clean, and can be used for a multitude of tasks.
55. Clay Pot Fragments as Plant Markers
Write plant names on broken clay pot pieces with a permanent marker for rustic, durable garden markers.
56. Rubbermaid Container Compost Bin
Convert a Rubbermaid container into a compost bin with drilled holes for aeration. It’s an affordable and space-saving way to compost kitchen scraps.
57. Cardboard Weed Barrier
Lay flattened cardboard boxes in your garden beds before mulching to suppress weeds. They’ll decompose naturally and enrich the soil.
58. Powdered Milk as a Mildew Preventative
Sprinkle powdered milk around your plants to help prevent mildew, providing a calcium boost as well.
59. Baking Soda as a Natural Fungicide
Mix baking soda with water and spray it on plants as a natural fungicide to combat powdery mildew.
60. Muffin Pan for Seed Spacing
Press a muffin pan into the soil to create uniform planting holes for seeds. It’s an easy way to get consistent spacing.
61. Shower Caddy for Tool Storage
Hang a shower caddy in your shed or garage to organize small gardening tools, gloves, and accessories.
62. Landscape Fabric Pins for Support
Use landscape fabric pins to secure sprawling plants like cucumbers and peas to the ground or trellis, guiding their growth.
63. Tennis Ball Gripper
Slice a tennis ball and fit it onto the handle of your garden tools for a more comfortable grip.
64. Gallon Jug Scoop
Cut a gallon milk jug diagonally to create a large scoop for soil or compost, perfect for filling pots or spreading mulch.
65. Citrus Peel Starter Pots
Use halved citrus peels as biodegradable pots for starting seeds. The peels add nutrients to the soil as they decompose.
66. Alka-Seltzer for Clean Vases
Clean cloudy glass vases and containers with Alka-Seltzer tablets to keep them sparkling, reducing the need for scrubbing.
67. Laundry Basket for Soil Sifting
Use an old laundry basket to sift compost or soil, separating larger pieces from the fine, usable material.
68. Plastic Forks as Deterrents
Place plastic forks around plants to deter pets and small animals from digging in your garden beds.
69. Baby Diapers to Retain Moisture
Place a baby diaper at the bottom of potted plants (absorbent side up) to help retain moisture and reduce watering frequency.
70. Ice Cubes for Watering Delicate Plants
Use ice cubes to water small or delicate plants. They’ll melt slowly, providing moisture without disturbing the soil or roots.
71. Tape for Seed Handling
Use sticky tape to pick up and place small seeds accurately when planting. This is especially useful for those with limited dexterity.
72. Hairpins for Plant Training
Use hairpins to gently train vining plants or to secure plants to supports without damaging them.
73. Wool Socks for Frost Protection
Cover vulnerable plants with wool socks on chilly nights to protect them from frost damage.
74. Pool Noodle Plant Protectors
Slice pool noodles and place them around the edges of your garden beds to cushion your knees while planting or weeding.
75. Binder Clips for Climbing Plants
Attach binder clips to trellises or stakes and use them to support climbing plants as they grow.
76. Yogurt Pot Water Reservoirs
Bury empty yogurt pots with holes poked in them near plants, and fill with water for a slow-release irrigation system.
77. Spice Jars for Seed Storage
Use empty spice jars to store and organize seeds. The clear containers make it easy to see what’s inside, and the labels can be reused or replaced.
78. CDs to Scare Birds
Hang old CDs around your garden to reflect light and scare birds away from your fruit trees and vegetable beds.
79. Plastic Bin Root Cellar
Store root vegetables in a cool, dark place by burying a plastic bin in a shady spot in your garden, creating a makeshift root cellar.
80. Gutter Gardens for Limited Spaces
Install rain gutters along fence lines or walls to create compact, elevated planting beds for herbs and leafy greens.
81. Aquarium Water for Fertilizing
Use water from a freshwater aquarium to water plants. It’s rich in nitrogen and beneficial bacteria from fish waste.
82. Cereal Box Weed Barrier
Lay flattened cereal boxes around plants as a biodegradable weed barrier that will eventually compost into the soil.
83. Toothbrush for Cleaning Tools
Keep an old toothbrush handy to clean dirt and debris from gardening tools, keeping them in good condition.
84. PVC Pipe for Deep Watering
Insert a length of PVC pipe into the soil near deep-rooted plants to water directly at the roots, reducing waste and evaporation.
85. Dish Soap as an Insecticide
Mix dish soap with water and spray on plants to safely remove aphids and other soft-bodied insects.
86. Egg Cartons for Seed Starting
Start seeds in egg cartons for an easy, biodegradable option. Once seedlings are ready, you can plant them directly in the ground, carton and all.
87. Shoe Organizer for Vertical Gardening
Hang a fabric shoe organizer on a sunny wall or fence and fill each pocket with soil for a space-saving vertical garden.
88. Wine Bottle for Gradual Watering
Fill a wine bottle with water and invert it into the soil near plants for a slow-release watering system, perfect for keeping plants hydrated, especially during hot days.
89. Old T-Shirts for Plant Ties
Cut old t-shirts into strips to use as gentle ties for supporting plants. The soft fabric won’t damage stems.
90. Milk Carton Watering Can
Poke holes in the lid of a milk carton to create a makeshift watering can that’s lightweight and easy to handle.
91. Cork Labels for Herb Gardens
Write herb names on corks and mount them on skewers for charming, waterproof garden labels that add a rustic touch.
92. Luffa Sponges for Seed Saving
Grow your own luffa gourds, and once dried, use them as natural sponges. You can also save and dry the seeds for next season.
93. Soda Can Plant Tags
Cut up soda cans into strips and use a permanent marker to write plant names on them for durable, weatherproof labels.
94. Rubber Band Grips
Wrap rubber bands around the handles of your gardening tools for a no-slip, comfortable grip.
95. Silica Gel Packs for Moisture Control
Keep silica gel packs with your stored seeds to absorb moisture and prevent mold or premature sprouting.
96. Vegetable Oil for Tool Maintenance
Rub vegetable oil on garden tool blades to prevent rust and keep them in good working condition.
97. Mason Jar Lanterns
Fill mason jars with tea lights or solar lights to create charming lanterns that illuminate garden paths or sitting areas.
98. Plastic Bottle Mini Cloches
Cut the bottom off clear plastic bottles and use them as mini cloches to protect young plants from cold snaps.
99. Gratitude for Growth
Remember, every plant you nurture is a reflection of your care and attention. Take moments to appreciate the beauty and bounty of your garden, fostering a space of gratitude and growth.
Through these 99 gardening hacks, we hope to inspire you to create a garden that is not only a source of beauty and sustenance but also a haven for relaxation and joy. Happy gardening!