We live in a tech-obsessed world, but sometimes it's worth remembering that simple, tried-and-tested tips and tricks are often the most effective, particularly when it comes to gardening. These retro gardening hacks offer simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly ways to give your garden a boost.
Nostalgic gardening is a big trend at the moment, with people leaning into the lived-in, slightly chaotic gardens they grew up in—and these simple tricks complement an old-school gardening style.
From mixing up soil-boosting concoctions from this morning's coffee grounds to the famous eggshell hack for seedlings, these retro gardening tips offer simple solutions that actually work.
Use Eggshells as Planters for Seedlings
Rinsed eggshells can act as miniature pots and a nutrient-rich way to start seeds such as herbs, peppers, and tomatoes and are biodegradable, so when the seedling is ready to go into the ground, you can plant the whole thing. After planting, they'll add calcium to the soil, acting as a slow-release fertilizer and helping to moderate soil acidity.
To get the best results, poke a hole in the bottom of the eggshell for drainage and crush the shells lightly when planting so that roots can break through.
Eggshells also act as a deterrent for pests. Zora Tyrone, head gardener at Ashridge House, told the Express: "There are a number of natural ways to deal with garden pests, and used coffee grounds and eggshells are the ones that get the most airtime. Slugs and ants hate them, so it’s great for small gardens."
Mix Up Seed Packets for a Naturalistic Approach
Another retro gardening hack comes from horticultural guru Alan Titchmarsh, who shared how he's used the same technique with seeds for the past 50 years.
He said of buying an assortment of seeds: "As a newly married couple back in the day, they represented a vital saving in household expenditure. For the price of one hardy perennial, I could have half a dozen packets of seeds and quite literally hundreds of plants."
To get the best results, Alan told Country Living he would sow the seeds when the temperatures are typically mild, and pick a spot where they would get plenty of sunlight.
Use Ground Coffee to Enrich the Soil
Coffee is a powerhouse of valuable nutrients for plant growth and can have a positive impact when mixed with the soil in small amounts.
Melvin Cubian, a gardening expert at PlantIn, explains: "Coffee beans are rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium.
"Phosphorus and potassium improve yields, and nitrogen is involved in photosynthesis, which helps plants grow faster. Ground coffee is excellent for both house and garden plants.”
If adding coffee to your compost, it’s important to ensure that it doesn't exceed 20% of the pile, as this could affect the overall acidity of the soil.
Use Mashed Bananas for Healthier Roses
Banana peel acts as a natural fertilizer for plants, and its high potassium content is very beneficial for strengthening rose stems and increasing bud production.
The RHS recommends tearing the banana peel into small pieces before adding it to compost, as this helps it to break down more efficiently.
The Newspaper Trick to Block Weeds
This old-school gardening hack is an eco-friendly way to prevent new weeds from forming by blocking sunlight and also keep plants hydrated by helping to prevent evaporation.
And it’s so easy! Simply layer around three to six sheets of newspaper, overlapping the edges to prevent light from reaching weeds. Next, soak the newspaper with a hose to anchor the paper to the ground, then cover with two to three inches of mulch.
