Your garden doesn’t need designer fertilisers or chemical sprays, it thrives on the simple stuff: compost, banana peels and a splash of worm wee. Think of it as garden nourishment straight from the pantry, not some fancy plastic bottle.
Whether you’re growing tomatoes in tubs or transforming a backyard jungle, these organic garden hacks are effective, eco-friendly and budget-loving.
AUSTRALIAN NATIVES WARNING… Australian natives are tough and low-maintenance but many are sensitive to phosphorus and over-fertilisation, especially species from the Proteaceae family (think Grevilleas, Banksias, Waratahs and Hakeas). If in doubt, stick to low-phosphorus options, go gentle with any liquid feeds and focus on mulching with native-safe materials (like leaf litter, aged bark or native mulch blends).
1. Banana Peel Brew – The Potassium Punch
Banana peels are like the unsung heroes of the garden world. They’re packed with potassium (great for flowering and fruiting), phosphorus (for root growth) and calcium (for overall plant health).
How to use
- Chop 2–3 banana peels into small pieces.
- Place them in a jar or jug with 1L of water.
- Let it sit for 3–5 days (don’t freak out if it smells a bit funky—that’s the good bacteria partying).
- Strain and pour it around fruiting plants like tomatoes, eggplants, capsicums and passionfruit vines.
Hot Tip:
You can bury fresh peel bits directly under mulch, but only if they’re small. Big pieces rot slowly and may attract pests like ants or rodents. Bonus points for composting them instead. Worms go bananas for bananas (sorry).
Australian Natives: Be very cautious here. Banana Peel Brew is high in potassium and phosphorus. Avoid near plants from the Proteaceae family. It’s okay in very small doses for tougher natives.
2. Eggshell Barrier – Sharp and Calcium-Rich
Snails and slugs? Not in this veggie patch! Crushed eggshells are like tiny natural razor wire fences. They cut the soft bellies of crawling pests and double as a slow-release calcium supplement for your soil.
How to Use:
- Rinse and air-dry your eggshells (or pop them in a low oven).
- Crush them into coarse bits using a mortar and pestle, blender or just your hands.
- Sprinkle generously around the base of lettuces, basil, strawberrie, and anything tender and loved by slugs.
Added Bonus:
Eggshells take time to break down, which makes them perfect for long-term soil health. Over time, they also help deter blossom-end rot in tomatoes and zucchinis (which is often linked to calcium deficiency).
Australian Natives: Safe for all natives. Slow calcium release won’t overload soil.
3. Coffee Grounds – Boost Soil, Battle Pests and Bribe Worms
Coffee isn’t just for tired humans. Used coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, magnesium and antioxidants that benefit soil structure and microbial life. Plenty of cafes are happy to give away their coffee grounds. Just ask!
How to Use:
- Allow your used coffee grounds to dry out (to avoid fungal growth).
- Sprinkle lightly over the soil or mix with mulch.
- Mix into compost or worm farms to give your compost pile a nitro-hit.
Caution:
Go easy. Coffee grounds are acidic and can compact easily, which can smother roots if layered too thick. Best used on acid-loving plants like Azaleas, Blueberries and Camellias.
Australian Natives: Be cautious here. Use sparingly as coffee grounds add acidity.
4. Garlic-Chilli Spray – Nature’s Bug Deterrent
This one’s a homemade pest repellent that’s cheap, natural, and effective. Great for dealing with aphids, whiteflies, caterpillars and other sap-suckers who treat your garden like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 head of garlic (not just a few cloves—go big)
- 1 small hot chilli or 1 tsp dried chilli flakes
- 1L of water
- A few drops of eco-friendly liquid soap
How to Make It:
- Blend the garlic and chilli in 500ml of water.
- Let it sit overnight to steep.
- Strain into a spray bottle and top up with the rest of the water.
- Add the soap just before spraying (helps it stick to leaves).
Use:
Spray directly on affected plants early in the morning or late afternoon. Avoid spraying in full sun, as the oil and soap can cause leaf burn.
Australian Natives: Safe to use. No nutrient impact, purely good for pest control.
5. Beer Trap – Slugs and Snails Beware
It sounds like a party, but it’s really a sticky end for slimy invaders. Slugs and snails are drawn to the yeast in beer like moths to a flame, then drown in the pool of their dreams.
How to Do It:
- Use a shallow container like a yoghurt tub or old saucer.
- Fill with flat beer (or water + sugar + yeast, if you’re stingy with your brew).
- Bury the container in garden soil, leaving the rim just above the surface.
- Check and clean out daily.
Top Crops to Protect:
Lettuces, silverbeet, young seedlings, most annuals and beans. Basically anything soft and juicy.
Australian natives: Safe. It only targets pests. Doesn’t affect soil.
6. Molasses Magic – Feed the Soil, Fool the Pests
Molasses contains carbon, iron, calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals. It feeds beneficial soil microbes and helps suppress plant pathogens.
It’s also useful in confusing pests like whiteflies and aphids, which struggle to feed properly after a molasses spray. Bonus—it’s cheap and can be stored for extended periods.
How to Use:
- Mix 1 tablespoon molasses in 1L of warm water (warm helps dissolve it).
- Add a dash of soap to help it stick.
- Spray onto affected leaves, or pour around plant roots.
Pro Tip:
Molasses + compost tea = microbial feast. Your soil will be singing.
Australian natives: Use with care. Helps soil microbes but don’t overuse it. Some natives prefer lean soils.
7. Worm Wee / Compost Tea – Garden Elixir
This stuff is the bees knees of natural fertilisers. Worm leachate (or worm wee) and compost tea are full of microbes, enzymes and nutrients that boost plant health and build resilience.
Worm Wee:
- Collect liquid from the bottom of your worm farm.
- Dilute 1:10 with water (or it’s too strong and can burn).
- Water around plant roots—not leaves—for best effect.
Compost Tea:
- Soak mature compost in water for 2–3 days.
- Stir daily to oxygenate.
- Strain and apply as a foliar spray or soil drench.
Use every fortnight in active growing seasons for a healthy, happy garden.
Australian natives: Dilute very heavily. Can be rich in nutrients. Safe for hardy native shrubs but definitely avoid near phosphorus-sensitive species.
Ditch the Chemicals, Embrace the Scraps!
Most of what your garden needs is already in your kitchen or under your nose in the compost bin. With a few clever hacks, you can feed your soil, protect your plants and still have money left over.
So go ahead, channel your inner backyard alchemist. And if you’ve got a weird garden hack that works, spill the beans in the comments. We’re all in the kitchen scraps together.
