9 Household Items That Work Wonders in Your Garden - As Featured in HELLO!

Household heroes for a healthier garden At Wilkinsons Landscapes, we believe a great garden doesn’t have to mean expensive products. Your kitchen cupboards and cleaning shelves are packed with items that can help your plants thrive, deter pests, and boost blooms—often more gently (and cheaply) than store-bought alternatives.

Here are nine of our favourite tried-and-tested tricks:

1. Eggshells – calcium boost and slug barrier

Rinse and crush used eggshells, then sprinkle them around the base of plants like hostas, lettuces, and strawberries. The sharp edges deter slugs and snails, while the slow-release calcium benefits your soil.

2. Beer – the ultimate slug trap

Pour a little beer into a shallow dish and sink it so the rim is level with the soil. Slugs can’t resist the yeasty smell, slip in, and can’t get out. You don’t need the expensive stuff—slugs aren’t fussy!

3. Baking soda – mildew control

Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda into 1 litre of water and spray lightly onto leaves to help prevent fungal problems like powdery mildew. Use sparingly to avoid upsetting the soil balance.

4. Banana skins – rose food

Chop up banana skins and bury them near the roots of your roses. Packed with potassium, they’ll help your blooms grow bigger and brighter.

5. Vinegar – cleaning hero

White vinegar works wonders for removing limescale from watering cans and keeping tools rust-free. It’s also great for cleaning old pots before replanting.

6. Cooking water – liquid gold

When you boil vegetables, save the cooled (unsalted) water for your plants. It’s rich in minerals and nutrients and works as a free, natural feed.

7. Soapy water – aphid control

A mild mix of dish soap and water makes an excellent eco-friendly spray for aphids and other sap-sucking pests. Spray early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid damaging leaves.

8. Cinnamon – seedling protector

A light dusting of cinnamon over seed trays can help prevent damping-off disease (a common fungal problem) and may even deter ants.

9. Coffee grounds – soil improver

Sprinkle used coffee grounds around acid-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries. They add organic matter to the soil and can help deter slugs.

Why these work - Re-using household items is a win-win: it saves money, reduces waste, and cuts down on unnecessary chemicals in your garden. It’s also a great way to get children interested in gardening—there’s something magical about seeing last night’s dinner scraps feed tomorrow’s flowers.

Final tip: Always test any homemade remedy on a small patch before applying it widely. Even natural solutions can be too strong for delicate plants if overused.