Social media often promises hacks to make gardening easier — but do they work? Find out which garden TikTok tips grew on us, and which were a flop.
Social media gives gardeners access to an endless feed of info about “plant hacks” from hobbyists to horticulturists and every armchair expert in between. But not everything on the internet is true, and even if there is a grain of truth to a 30-second garden TikTok clip, it might not be showing the full picture.
“Some garden hacks leave out details or don’t mention the research basis because it is not as appealing to followers,” says Melinda Myers, Birds & Blooms horticulture expert. “Check the source. Are they posting a credible source, or just sharing something they saw on social media or tried once and it happened to succeed?”
Melinda suggests seeking out university-researched information and tips from botanical gardens and other professionals. “They use results from multiple trials, consider all factors influencing the outcome and have years of experience,” she adds.
And when it comes to hacks that didn’t work, some may just need a few adjustments. “Many factors, such as weather, variety grown, soil or environment, influence successes and failures in our gardens,” Melinda says. As long as it doesn’t involve something dangerous or harmful, just try it again next season!
As a busy millennial mom, I regularly dig into the latest TikTok garden hacks, and I got the perspective of some real home gardeners on their trials too. Read on to see how they turned out for us.
On This Page
Success: Chaos Gardening
Essentially just a low-maintenance method of scattering seeds, chaos gardening plant hacks gained viral popularity over the past few years thanks to TikTok, but it isn’t a new concept. “This is just a fun name for diversifying your plantings. It has a long history in research-based gardening,” Melinda says. And it has benefits. Planting a diverse mix of seeds offers a wider range of support for wildlife, while also creating natural pest control. “Mixing up plantings makes pests waste more of their energy trying to find their preferred plant,” says Melinda.
It’s also low cost, low stress and an easy intro to gardening for kids. I jumped on the chaos bandwagon as soon as I heard of it, assisted by my then-toddler daughter. We started scattering seeds a few years ago and now have a successful native perennial pollinator patch and a cut-flower bed, which are both abuzz with color and wildlife every summer.
Fail: Propagating Dogwood From Cuttings
Native red twig dogwoods thrive in my yard, and volunteer saplings pop up regularly. I’ve learned to appreciate them, so when a video popped up on my feed about how red twig dogwoods can be used for a simple “infinite plant hack,” I figured I would give it a try for fun.
The video showed new dogwood plants being grown by sticking a cut branch of one in the ground near a creek, where it could root. The poster did acknowledge that it isn’t always successful. My attempt failed, but maybe I just needed to do something differently.
“Trees and shrubs can be challenging when you’re trying to propagate or start new plants from a cutting. Some—such as red twig dogwood, willows and forsythias—can root readily, but it’s not guaranteed. Timing, root hormones and care during the rooting process are all keys to success,” Melinda says.
Fail: Vinegar and Salt for Weed Control
Some TikTok garden hacks suggest everyday items for a quick fix, but it can be too good to be true. Field Editor Joy Chanin found this out when she tried salt and vinegar on weeds, and it did not work.
“The problem with vinegar is that the strength needs to be much greater than that of the vinegar used for cooking or cleaning. And it kills only the tops of weeds, not the roots,” Melinda says. “Repeat applications are needed since it burns only the tops of the plants. This point is often left off the hack.” And, she notes that just because vinegar is natural, doesn’t mean it’s safe. You should still be cautious when using it.
Salt has also been used for centuries but isn’t good in the long term. “Just like the salt used to melt snow and ice, it can accumulate in the soil and damage good plants, reduce garden yields and harm our water,” Melinda says.
Success: Not Cutting Perennials Back in Winter
Leaving plants standing with seed heads through the winter is gaining ground as a way to help wildlife in the colder months, but it can benefit the plants too! “I hadn’t had luck growing hardy mums, so I looked for advice on social media. I read about leaving the plants whole, including dried flower heads, to protect the plants during winter weather, and it worked well!” says Field Editor Juli Seyfried.
“The key to this success is not cutting plants back for winter. Leaving healthy perennials, including mums, stand for winter increases their chances of winter survival. The standing plant stems help insulate the roots and capture snow for added insulation, and there are no open stems where cuts were made that could collect water and result in rot,” Melinda says.
Fail: Using Dish Soap for Managing Pests
Melinda points out that gardeners can get rid of pests with soap, but that doesn’t necessarily make it a success. The type of soap matters, and sometimes a broader perspective is needed. “Consider the potential dangers and negative impacts on people, plants and the environment when trying hacks. Dish soap can kill soft-bodied insects, but when formulations of dish soap change, they are based on testing done for dishes, not on the impact they have on plants. Commercial insecticidal soaps are tested and evaluated for pest management and plant safety,” Melinda says.
Some soaps may damage plants, so for plant hacks like this, it’s best to do a spot test on a leaf or two before spraying an entire plant. Melinda adds that important advice like this is often left out of quick clips on garden TikTok and other social media.
Success: Companion Planting
Field Editor Ken Orich found that companion planting, such as putting nasturtiums next to cabbage, worked well for him. “The cabbage was worm-free because the pests laid their eggs on the nasturtiums,” he says.
Companion planting is another research-backed method that is popping up more on social media. The theory is that certain planting arrangements can be mutually beneficial to plants strategically paired with their neighbors. A common example, called the three sisters method, combines corn, squash and beans. Indigenous communities have used it for years.
This concept continues to evolve with new info. “More research is being done on this and finding combinations that work. The key to growing success is always monitoring and adjusting,” Melinda says.
There are numerous combos to try, and each offers its own benefits, such as vertical support, pest control and soil health. Melinda says tomatoes and basil are another popular pair. “Research has found the fragrance of basil repels hornworms and whiteflies that often attack tomatoes,” she says. Some gardeners also report that it enhances the flavor of their tomatoes.
Success: Winter Sowing in Plastic Jugs
“I kept seeing winter sowing in jugs on my feed, so I gave it a try with a variety of herbs and flowers. Many were a bust —we had some weird spring weather that didn’t help —but the ones that grew, thrived!” says Field Editor Megan Long.
Another low-cost and low-effort method, winter sowing involves planting seeds in the winter, often in milk jugs or other similar containers outside. This schedule allows them to go through a cold-weather stratification that many native plants require. Winter sowing is also not new, but it is an approach that is gaining internet ground because it’s easier than starting seeds indoors.
“Winter sowing has been done for years and is recommended by many. I have had great success with it, and no lights or daily watering is needed,” Melinda says.
More Viral Plant Hacks to Try
Readers and Birds & Blooms Field Editors share the trending tools and quick tricks that work for them.
- “Drill small holes in the lid of a water bottle to carefully water seedlings without drenching them,” says Birds & Blooms reader Kasey Meyer.
- “Use a vegetable peeler to make small drainage holes in the bottoms of plastic cups for seedlings that outgrew the seed tray!” says Kasey Meyer.
- “Through my neighborhood social media page, I discovered the best garden tool: a hori hori knife. It serves as a trowel, a small saw, a hand weeder, a ruler, a twine cutter and even a bottle opener,” says field editor Pat Northington.
- “Use a cupcake tin to create even holes in the soil for seed planting,” says field editor Jennifer Broadstreet Hess.
