Top Tips from TikTok’s Ingenious Gardeners

Thought to be the generation most convinced by social influencers, the rise in TikTok gardening experts has inspired a new generation to bury their hands in the soil.

#GardeningHacks has seen 55.9k posts on TikTok, #GardenTok has 384k posts and #PlantsOfTikTok has a staggering 1.3m – the sheer amount of gardening content generated by and for Gen-Z speaks for itself.

And, as the oldest Gen-Zers are now becoming homeowners, more young people than ever are getting the opportunity to develop their own unique flare for gardening.

The enthusiasm shown by Gen-Z for gardening content is clear, so what can we learn from the best of the best gardening influencers?

Here, UK garden equipment specialists Hayter overview some of the most ingenious TikTok gardeners and what we can learn from them.

Toilet paper tube starter pots (238.5k views)

This simple and effective hack by DMR Bush Craft is perfect for budding gardeners who hate waste. It’s also very beginner-friendly, requiring only soil, a seed of your choice and a loo roll tube.

Simply grab your tube, fill it with soil and press in your ends, then pop your seed in the top. Once covered your tube can be buried so it’s sticking out the soil, becoming a makeshift planter that will decompose on its own.

https://www.tiktok.com/@dmrbushcraft/video/7221938071518874923?q=Gardening%20hacks&t=1706785877879

Hayter senior product marketing manager, Chris Cooper, had this to say about the loo roll planter:

“What I love about this loo roll hack is how simple but effective it is. Buying planters can get expensive, as well as many being plastic and therefore need to be cleaned and recycled after use. This hack cuts out the middle man, saves cardboard from being chucked in the recycling and makes the most out of household rubbish.”

Rosemary for life (2.8m views)

Growing your own food is becoming an increasingly popular pastime again. Last year 73% of Brits planned to grow fruit and veg in their gardens, which is drastically higher than the 35% who grew their own produce two years prior.

One TikTok user, Marf’s Kitchen Garden, has shared her clever hack for making a pack of supermarket rosemary last a lifetime!

It couldn’t be simpler – just buy some cut rosemary during your next big shop, strip the bottoms of the stems and place them in a glass of water. Change the water every week and after a couple of times you’ll notice roots shooting from the bottom – this is your sign to get potting! Plant them in a free-draining soil mix and you are good to go.

“Everyone should be making the most of useful perennials,” says Cooper. “They come back year after year, saving you the cost of buying replacement plants and rewarding you for your time and effort in keeping them happy! I love this hack as it’s so accessible for those without large gardens or access to a nearby garden centre. More people enjoying fresh rosemary is always a win in my book!”

https://www.tiktok.com/@marfskitchengarden/video/7246019919370931483?q=Gardening%20hacks&t=1706785877879

Check plant health with money (161k views)

A different kind of money tree altogether, this hack from TV gardener-turned-TikTokker David Domoney has to be seen to be believed!

Gen-Z has been showing David the love on TikTok thanks to his short and accessible tips and tricks. This particular trick involves using a coin. Unfortunately for Gen-Z, we don’t think this hack will work with contactless.

Joking aside, grab your nearest coin and use it to scratch away at the bark of a plant which you suspect has seen its last days. If the bark is dry, continue the test from top to bottom. If you find a layer of green towards the bottom then you know your plant is still alive and kicking!

https://www.tiktok.com/@daviddomoney/video/7234965067836476698?q=Gardening%20hacks&t=1706785877879

“I knew there was a reason I held onto all that loose change!” Chris laughs. “I can’t tell you how many times I see friends and family giving up on a plant which could’ve unfortunately still been saved. Just remember to then cut your plant back to the part which is still alive,” she adds. “This hack is very clever and one which I can’t wait to try myself.”

Beat any drought (96.1k views)

We know the weather in the UK can be temperamental, to say the least. This hack by Beth’s Abode is old school, but sometimes the old-fashioned ways need to be brought back into the spotlight.

Beth has shown how keeping an extra large water keg in the garden can be used to beat summer droughts, as well as make sure your plants are being fed with natural water sources rather than treated tap water.

As the keg fills with rainwater, routinely empty the keg and transfer the water into bottles. This will guarantee a reserve supply of natural water in cases of dry weather. Just be aware that while great for plants, this water shouldn’t be drunk by humans – especially when left for many months!

https://www.tiktok.com/@bethsabode/video/7249039738848431386?q=Gardening%20hacks&t=1706785877879

“Droughts are a nightmare for gardeners, even more so than consistent frost,” says Cooper. “This is another simple but effective solution – it pays to be prepared, especially as the climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable.”

Hassle-free leaf mould (449k views)

This autumnal hack from The Mediterranean Gardener is so easy we are amazed no one else is talking about it!

You may have noticed bagged-up leaves lying on the roadside in your hometown – these are left by the council for rubbish lorries to collect. This means they are considered rubbish and free to take.

Essentially, by collecting these pre-packaged leaf bags you can start amassing leaf mould without any of the hard work.

https://www.tiktok.com/@themediterraneangardener/video/7293927928776232225

“Leaf mould is fantastic for your garden and it’s so easy to make at home,” says Cooper. “Leaf mould protects plants from cold weather, improves growth and water retention. This is definitely a hack to remember!”

Will you be trying any of these hacks for yourself? Be sure to keep an eye out for more ingenious TikTok gardening tips over 2024 – we know we will be.