It’s deep into summertime and you’re either harvesting, getting ready to, or maybe even thinking of starting a late summer garden. Even if you’ve planned the perfect garden, there always might be some unexpected bumps in the road— nasty pests, frustrating weeds, or threatening warm days while you’re away. But one or two unfortunate events are not terms for losing hope. We want to make sure that you have the harvest to match all the hard work you’ve put into your garden! Here are some easy hacks that will help you tackle those common gardening obstacles. All of these projects can be done with household items, making it both sustainable and economical. Happy gardening and best wishes to your harvest!

Deter Pests Like Slugs and Snails with Coffee Grounds

If you’ve suddenly woken up to holes in your arugula or slime trails across your spinach leaves, you might have a family of slugs or snails living in your garden. Have no fear, especially if you’re an avid coffee drinker. After you make your morning cup of joe, collect those used grounds and sprinkle them over your soil or around the perimeter of your garden. This will ward off all your slimy creatures that come out at night. In addition, coffee grounds are a great nutrient booster for your soil!

Reduce Fungicide with Cinnamon

If you’re having a particularly wet season or accidentally over watering, you might see some mushrooms popping up in your flower or garden beds. Give that cinnamon shaker a good sprinkle all over your soil. It’ll help get rid of those mushrooms and it won’t hurt your plants. Cinnamon is also great for deterring pests like ants, flies, and furry animals sniffing around.

Label Plants as to not Mix them up with Weeds with Similar Features

Have you ever confused your tomatillos with those nearly identical clammy ground cherries? There are many weeds and plants with similar leaves and features. Weeds also might get intertwined in your vines and disguised beneath your precious vegetable leaves. To make sure you don’t accidentally wack away some produce you planned to eat, label your plants! There’s a variety of ways to do this, and it also makes for an easy craft project. You can use popsicle sticks, old wine corks, clothespins, wooden paint sticks, stones, bricks, spoons, or even pieces of a broken clay pot! Anything you can stick in the ground with enough room to paint on a name, will suffice.

Create a Self-Watering System for While You’re Away with an Old Water Bottle

Taking a quick camping trip or escaping the heat for a weekend away? This time, don’t worry about your plants or bothering a neighbor to come give them a check. All you need is an empty plastic bottle. Puncture one or two holes in the plastic lid using a small drill bit, a nail and hammer, or scissors. Fill the bottle with plenty of water. Put the bottle upside down (cap side) into the soil. Make sure the bottle is deep enough (about three inches) so it doesn’t fall over while you’re gone. The bottle will slowly release water while you’re away.

Protect your seedlings with a recycled bottle for a DIY greenhouse

Another water bottle trick can be done to make a tiny diy greenhouse. This is a great technique to use if you have a hard time starting seeds or getting some roots on cuttings. Cut off the top section of a plastic bottle, so it is about 4-6 inches in length from the bottom. Put it upside down over your seedlings to create a mini greenhouse and it will help keep your plant babies nice and warm and growing strong.

Tackle those weeds with a few household ingredients

Looking for a more natural way to knock those weeds, and even better, with something you likely already have in your house and don’t need to run to the store for? Try this easy recipe. With a few cups of vinegar, add a squirt of dish soap and a small handful of either epsom salts, table salt, or some lemon juice. Pour your mixture into a handy spray bottle, and show those weeds who’s boss. But be very careful with your aim, this weed killer will damage your plants.

Protect your plants from backyard critters with dollar store finds

We might forget what’s lurking in our backyard while we sleep peacefully at night. If you have backyard animals-- bunnies, deer, raccoons, birds, or opossums that like to take a taste of your sweet fruits and vegetables, you’ll want to try this trick. There are some beautiful protective coverings or gardening cloches out there to protect your plants, but if you’re on a budget or have a large garden, this can get a bit pricey. Stop by your local dollar store and pick up some wire trash bins. Flip them upside down over your plant for some protection.

Improve Growth by Adding GROW to your Soil

Now you’ve done everything right-- planned the perfect garden, your seedlings made it through infancy, you’ve got your watering schedule down, is there anything else that can go wrong? To optimize your harvest and ensure your vegetables, herbs, and fruits get the best care, add a good slow-release plant food to your soil. Try Clean Water GROW, the sustainable and economical choice. Add 1 tablespoon to every square foot of soil when planting, and your plants will get all the nutrients they need for the rest of the season.

8 Easy Garden Hacks to Make Sure you Optimize your Harvest