10 Gardening Hacks That Do More Harm Than Good
Gardening advice is everywhere. A quick search online or chat with a neighbor can bring you dozens of "tricks" that promise to save time, money, or effort, but not all of them hold up. Some of the most popular hacks can actually hurt your plants, soil, or even your long-term success in the garden. Here are ten commonly shared ideas that are best left behind and what to do instead.
Dish Soap as Insecticide
While many homemade pest sprays call for dish soap, the truth is most commercial dish soaps aren't gentle enough to be used on plants. They can strip the protective coating from leaves, burn soft plant tissue, and harm beneficial insects. If you want a soap spray, look for pure castile soap or insecticidal soap made for plants. Spot test first, and use sparingly.
Boiling Water to Kill Weeds
Pouring boiling water on weeds might kill the top growth, but it also damages the soil microbiome, especially if used repeatedly in one area. It kills the good with the bad. If you're dealing with weeds in cracks or pavement, it might be useful on occasion, but in garden beds, opt for manual removal or mulch to suppress them naturally.
Kitchen Scraps Directly in the Garden
It sounds like simple composting, but burying raw scraps like banana peels, eggshells, or coffee grounds directly in the soil can backfire. They may attract pests, take a long time to break down, or even compete with your plants for nitrogen. A better approach is to compost fully first, then mix the finished compost into your garden.
Painting Tree Wounds
After pruning or storm damage, some gardeners "paint" the wounds on trees with sealant or tar. This practice used to be rather common, but it's no longer recommended. Those types of "paints" can trap moisture and bacteria against the wound, which can slow healing or cause decay. Healthy trees are usually best left to seal their own wounds naturally.
Watering Leaves to Cool Plants Down
Spraying water over leaves during a hot day may seem helpful, but it can lead to sunscald as droplets magnify the already harsh sunlight. It can also increase the risk of fungal problems, especially in humid climates. If your plants need cooling down, provide shade and water the base of the plant early in the morning or late in the day.
Lining Raised Beds with Landscape Fabric
Lining the bottom of raised beds is often recommended to keep weeds out or soil in, but this type of barrier can end up restricting drainage and stopping plant roots from reaching deeper, healthier soil layers. Over time, water pools above the fabric, and roots circle or stunt. It's better to leave the bottom open, even if that means occasional weeding or extra compost to keep soil in place.
Rotating Crops Improperly
Switching crops around each season seems like a solid strategy, and it often is. But rotation doesn't work if you’re planting different vegetables from the same family in the same spot. Tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplants all belong to one group and carry the same pests and diseases. For rotation to help, you need to alternate entire plant families, not just individual crops.
Reusing Last Year's Potting Mix
It's tempting to reuse old potting mix from last season’s containers, but if it’s been sitting out or used heavily, it likely has compacted, lost nutrients, and may harbor pests or diseases. Even if it looks fine, roots will struggle in nutrient-depleted soil. If you want to reuse it, mix it with fresh compost and a small portion of new mix, and loosen it well before planting.
Reflective Materials to Boost Sunlight
Foil and other shiny surfaces are sometimes used in shady gardens to reflect light onto plants. While this might increase brightness slightly, it also concentrates heat and creates harsh glare. It can scorch your plants if you're not careful, or at the very least disturb their natural rhythms. In most cases, pruning back overgrowth, painting nearby surfaces white, or relocating plants gets better results without added risk.
Mulching Right Up Against Plant Stems
Mulch is one of the best things you can add to a garden, but pushing it too close to stems or trunks will only trap moisture, which then invites rot, mold, and pests. It's especially hard on perennials and young trees. Always leave a small gap around the base to allow air flow and protect the crown of the plant from decay.
It's easy to fall for gardening tips that seem simple or clever, especially when they spread quickly online. But healthy, productive gardens come from understanding how nature works and supporting it rather than short-cutting it. Take time to learn what your plants and soil actually need. When in doubt, go back to basics, observe closely, and question any quick fixes served to you on a silver platter. Your garden will thank you for it.