5 Ways to Become a Garden MacGyver

Intorducing 5 tips to become a Garden MacGyver - efficient, creative solutions to yardwork problems

Being a homeowner can be really tough. First of all, no house comes with a “user manual,” so if you’re a first time homeowner, you’re going to be learning a lot about your house on the fly. This includes all your yardwork – if you’re coming from a renter’s background, you’ll find there’s a lot more to yardwork than just mowing and turning your sprinklers on. And not only is it all a little… esoteric, but all this gardening stuff can also be pretty time-consuming, especially if you/re new to it.

On the other hand, gardening is a rewarding activity that allows you to unwind and enjoy the wonders of Mother-Nature. If you’re like most of us, you may reach a point of stagnation and yearn for a little inspiration to trigger your imagination. And since yardwork can be tedious, you may also be looking for ways to improve the efficiency of your outdoor space. Efficiency, creativity, ingenuity: that sounds like a real MacGyver situation! Wouldn’t it be great to be a landscaping jack-of-all trades, with inventive strategies to refresh and revitalize your outdoor living space? Well, fret no more, dear reader! Here are 5 Ways to Become a Garden MacGyver that will have you blooming with new ideas in no time!

1. Upside-Down Tomato System

Hanging tomato systems have become popular in recent years. Maybe you’ve looked at these contraptions and wondered why on Earth are they suspended in mid-air? It turns out, hanging systems keep pests away, resist disease, prevent weeds, and also offer improved air circulation. You can create your own using two-by-fours, several buckets, fresh soil, and a string! Best of all, this method increases production and size of tomatoes!

Upside down tomato
Upside-Down Tomato (via: Carissa Marie)

2. Pour Coffee on your Garden

Before you pour out that cold cup of coffee, you should see what it can do for your garden! Certain plants thrive in acidic environments and coffee just so happens to be perfect for plants like blueberries, azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, and gardenias. Simply pour left over coffee around plants and watch how they grow! Remember, never pour hot coffee on your plants as this is a good way to burn and kill them!

3. Protect Plants from Bugs

Don’t worry about going to the Nursery to pick up a bottle of insecticide. All you need is a little dish soap mixed with water and a handy dandy spray bottle. Not only will bugs be deterred by the soap and water combination, Phosphates found in soap are good for plants! If you live in rural areas, you can also try using a mixture of hot sauce to keep deer’s and other furry animals away from your gardens!

English: Group of Aphids
Group of Aphids (via: Wikipedia)

4. Self-Watering PVC Garden Using AC Runoff

Have you ever noticed that little hose on the back of your Air Conditioner that drains water? Condensation creates water as a byproduct that is normally funneled to the drain. You can save this water from going to waste by connecting a condensate pump to the drain that comes from the AC Unit. Connect a hose to the other end of the pump and run it outside. This hose will then be connected to your PVC Watering System outside.

When the water fills to a certain level, the pump will move the water through the hose. The PVC Frame is essentially one long pipe that has small holes drilled into it that allows water to be sprinkled on your garden below. On either end, this sprinkler pipe is supported by PVC Legs. Visit Instructables to download a Detailed PDF Guide.

5. Remove Salt from Clay Pots

Clay pots can become weathered by the elements. You can remove salt from clay pots by creating a mixture of white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and water. Use equal proportions and then this fill this concentration into a spray bottle. Remove salt by applying your home-made solution and scrubbing with a firm brush. The salt should come right off within minutes!

Got your cool garden fixes done? Great! Time to complete the look with some high quality garden furniture made just for your patio no matter the weather. Take a well deserved rest outdoors!

About this Post
Cheryl Khan is a freelancer who enjoys being outdoors and exploring new trails. She has a passion for flowers, birds, and edible gardens!

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