Tempted by gardening hacks? Think again.
With summer now here, Brits across the nation will be taking up the rare opportunity to garden in the sunshine. But outdoor experts warn of five rookie-errors that should be avoided at all costs - even though they're viral online.
The garden gurus at St. Modwen Homes, claim many of these questionable 'hacks', usually seen on TikTok, will not only cause costly structural damage, but may even attract pests too. So, it's important to examine everything you see with a critical eye.
1. Gluing stones
Colourful glass stones are a nice extra touch to the garden, but experts say they've witnessed countless people gluing them to the floor. While this may seem like an effective way to keep them in place, turns out, it's nothing of the sort and can cause some serious issues.
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"Glued stones can prevent proper water drainage, leading to water pooling or runoff issues, which can negatively affect plant growth and in some cases, more serious damage," the experts warned. "Plus, glued stones are permanent, making it difficult to rearrange or remove them if you ever want to change your garden’s design in the future."
On top of this, many small creatures - like frogs and insects - often use loose stones as shelter. So, gluing these down may 'disrupt the natural balance of your garden's ecosystem'.
2. DIY lawn aerating shoes
Next up, the gurus draw to a bizarre pair of shoes. Simply put, these are just your average walking boots with spikes on the bottom.
While you can buy these bad boys online, various gardeners are making their own versions by drilling nails into wood and stomping all over the grass. Users generally believe the holes created will 'aerate' the soil, allowing more air and water to reach plant roots.
However, the gurus sadly disagree, claiming the spikes on aerator shoes 'don't penetrate deeply enough to provide effective aeration'. They explained: "Achieving uniform coverage is [also] difficult, as the effectiveness depends on how evenly you walk across the lawn.
"Additionally, the spikes can damage the grass, particularly if used frequently or improperly, leading to patches of unhealthy or dead grass. This can ultimately do more harm than good to your lawn’s overall health."
3. Cardboard garden borders
Creating cardboard borders is another classic mistake, according to the experts. Although it seem like the perfect way to line a flower bed or gravel patch without getting the shovel out, it seems this hack can trigger several issues.
The gurus explained: "Are you renting a place and don’t want to disrupt the soil, or simply want to create a beautiful garden border without getting the shovel out? #GardenTok users have turned to using cardboard to line a flowerbed or gravel patch instead of digging a new one.
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"Layers of cardboard and organic material can attract pests such as rodents and insects, which may damage your current landscape, and future plants."
Turns out, rats and mice especially love cardboard and are often drawn to it when nesting or sleeping. "Plus, young plants with delicate roots might struggle to penetrate the cardboard layer initially, slowing down their establishment and affecting their overall growth," the experts added.
4. Pallet decking
New decking can be seriously expensive, so it's no wonder gardeners are trying to make their own at home using old pallets. But surprise, surprise - experts once again say this one's a no-no, due to their 'low quality'.
"Pallets are often made from low-grade wood that is not treated for outdoor use, making them prone to rotting, warping, and splintering when exposed to the elements," they explained. "Furthermore, the wood used in pallets generally has a shorter lifespan compared to traditional decking materials."
If you thought it couldn't get any worse, the gurus also warn that pallet use can lead to dangerous structural weaknesses and potential decking collapse. This is largely because pallets are 'not designed to bear significant weight', unless they've been especially designed to do so.
They concluded: "This not only compromises safety, but also results in a less durable and less visually appealing outdoor space."
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