6 Genius Garden Hacks You’ll Want to Steal Immediately

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Should you use eggshells in the garden? Readers offer their best garden hacks and tips for getting the most out of backyard activities.

Use Eggshells in the Garden as Fertilizer

Eggs shells in the garden — Place crushed eggshells in the garden for a DIY natural fertilizer

Birds & Blooms readers shared their favorite garden hacks. “I make my own fertilizer by boiling and baking old eggshells until dry,” says Jennifer Broadstreet Hess of Marion, Kansas. “Then I grind them into a fine powder with my food processor.” Julius Frank says, “I save eggshells all year then crush them in the spring and mix them into the soil around my tomatoes.” Should you use coffee grounds in the garden?

Stop Weeds With Ground Cover Plants

Red barrenwort is a low-maintenance ground cover.

“Planting ground covers helps me avoid extra work, such as mulching or weeding, in the long run,” says Juli Seyfried of Cincinnati, Ohio. Looking for more garden hacks? Check out the best natural way to kill weeds.

Here are 6 uses for baking soda in your garden. Plus, discover 10 ways to use epsom salt for your garden, and eggshells, too.

Bring Out Power Tools to Plant Bulbs

auger bulbs, garden hacks — A drill and auger can make planting easier.

Stock up on essential garden tools and power tools just in time for planting and growing season. “I use an auger with my drill to dig holes for bulbs,” says Karen Hance of North Tonawanda, New York. We found the 9 best websites for buying flower bulbs online.

Give Melons a Boost

Melon plant — Lift melons off the soil to help them ripen.

“Melons tend to ripen faster and taste sweeter when you elevate them on small upside-down tin cans,” says Sue Gronholz of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. “This garden hack keeps them off the cool ground and lets them soak up more heat from the sun.”

Psst—don’t miss 25 secret garden tips we learned from Grandma.

Join a Veggie Swap

Heirloom tomatoes stack on white background. — Swap heirloom tomatoes with your neighbors.

“I can grow an abundance of tomatoes, but not zucchini, so I put in extra varieties of tomatoes for trading with my zucchini-growing friends,” says Rebecca Williamson of Bushnell, Illinois. Grow your best crop yet with top tomato growing tips.

Let the Apps Do the Work

garden hacks — Use garden apps on your smartphone to identify plants

“This year I mapped out my garden and identified the location of all my plants,” says Boni Trombetta of West Chester, Pennsylvania. “If I’m not sure whether something’s a weed or plant, I’ll use a plant identification app to verify before I pull it out.” Check out 5 birding apps to give your ID skills a boost.