16 Landscaping Hacks We Wish We Learned Sooner From TikTok

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If you've ever planned out a landscape overhaul, then you know things can get complicated — and expensive — pretty quickly. From bulk mulch to heavy landscape rocks, it all adds up faster than you may think. But luckily, there are still ways to have a beautiful outdoor escape without breaking your plant budget; all it takes are a few clever ideas that repurpose everyday objects into time- and money-saving miracle workers.

That's why we've scoured TikTok to find 16 different ways you can cut out some of your gardening frustration by using items you likely already have to work smarter, rather than harder. We'll show you what makes each hack so clever, as well as offer a few tips for how you can incorporate it into your landscaping tasks and chores right away. In the end, you'll have a healthy and beautiful outdoor world that looks like it cost way more to put together than it actually did.

Cardboard is amazing as a gardening base, so it's no surprise people on TikTok are embracing it to start no-dig gardens. When laid directly onto a patch of soil or grass, the cardboard will help kill weeds or grass by blocking their access to sunlight, which is great for converting a patch of unruly lawn into a garden. Plus, as the cardboard breaks down over time, it becomes a nutritious compost rich in carbon that will fertilize your plants, turning them into happy, healthy growers.

But before you put that Amazon box on the ground, there are a few things to consider. First, remove any plastic tape or labels, as they won't break down. Next, use boxes that don't have lots of dyes or printing on them, as those inks might be toxic for your plants. Flatten each box and lay them on top of each other — this is part of the "lasagna gardening method," and helps prevent weeds from poking through the edges. 

It's usually pretty hard to judge just how big of a hole you'll need to dig for new plants, and you may end up breaking out the shovel multiple times to get it right. That's why we love this TikTok hack, because it saves so much time: Just use a piece of scrap plywood to create a template for how big the hole should be, so you get it right the first time. And, you can use it multiple times if you tend to get plants that come in the same size grower pots.

For this you'll probably need a jigsaw, though they do make hole saws that are pretty big — we've used this NISUSK 6 Inch Bi-Metal Hole Saw to create holes in water barrels, so it should be able to handle a thin piece of plywood or particle board easily. Just make sure to practice proper safety rules, like wearing googles and gloves, before cutting. Once you've drawn your hole and cut it out, we recommend lying it on the ground and using spray paint to draw the hole, using the template as your guide. This will prevent you from having to navigate digging around the plywood and can help you envision the spacing between different plants before you dig.

If you've ever bought mulch, then you know one thing to be true: You likely didn't buy enough. That's why so many people resort to getting bulk mulch, where giant piles of mulch are dumped right into the bed of a pickup truck. This TikTok hack is brilliant, though, because it saves so much aggravation that comes along with clearing mulch from your truck bed by having it poured directly into milk crates instead.

Now, you'll still get some overflow into your truck bed, but it's way easier to haul milk crates full of mulch than shoveling it out into a dump cart and then cleaning out the leftover debris with a push broom. However, keep in mind that those crates will still be heavy, so you may need some helping hands to help you haul them out. Also, consider using a flatbed dolly, like this YVZNC Heavy Duty Flatbed Cart, and stacking a few crates on it, so you can wheel more mulch to the garden or landscape site rather than having to lug each one over at a time. 

Artificial plants have come a long way over the years, looking more realistic than ever, but still saving you the hassle of needing to care for them. You might balk, but take a look at this TikTok tip that shows just how perfect artificial plants can be in landscape design. Plus, they're especially great for land that doesn't get a lot of moisture or has little nutrients — or if you're just not an experienced gardener.

The catch is, though, that the more realistic ones can get pricey, so check out prices before you make your purchase. You also may need some way to anchor them into the ground, like Orange Screw Ultimate Ground Anchors, which will prevent them from getting carried away by the wind. Also, keep in mind that plastic plants in sunny locations made fade over time, so you might want to save them for shady spots. 

Pea gravel is great, especially for sites where traditional gardens don't work, like deserts. That's why we love this TikTok hack so much, because it shows how versatile cheap pea gravel can be at transforming barren land or yardscapes into outdoor eye candy. Plus, plants that hate moisture, like succulents and cacti, love it.

Pea gravel comes in a few different colors, so you may want to go to your local landscape supply store to check which one suits your aesthetic best. Keep in mind that you'll typically need to order in bulk, so make sure to check if your supplier can deliver or if you need to bring your own truck, and then factor that into your budget. If you decide to have your gravel delivered, try to do it during a week that has a low chance of rain, so that your gravel pile doesn't lose any rocks with water run-off before you can shovel it into place.

Those brown landscape bags are great for getting biodegradable yard debris out of your way, but they can be hard to deal with when you've got a lot of leaves to shovel or have back problems. This tip from TikTok is brilliant, because it saves you from having to lift heavy shovel loads or losing flyaway leaves. All you have to do is turn the bag on its side, anchoring it with your feet, and just hand shovel in the scraps.

If you use a biodegradable bag instead of a plastic trash bag, as seen in the TikTok, you may want to lay a piece of cardboard or tarp down first to prevent the bag from picking up moisture from the soil and starting to degrade. You may also want to wear a support belt if you have back problems, or use a gardening bench to prevent you from needing to hinge down from your hips. Remember to wear gloves, too, so that you don't pick up any bacteria that's living under the soil as you scoop.

Water run-off and high winds can slowly erode your beautiful landscape designs, so do like this TikTok suggests and use mulch glue to lock it down. Glue mulch — or mulch glue, depending who you ask — is sprayed over a finished landscape design and binds the mulch or gravel. This weighs it down and prevents it from getting blown or washed away.

Most mulch glue, like this KHKD RESIN Mulch Glue for Landscaping, is sold by the gallon and there are two ways you can use it. One way is to pour it over loose mulch and use a rake to mix it all together before laying the mulch down in your landscape. Another option is to lay the mulchm then use a pump sprayer, like this Chapin International Pump Sprayer, to spray the glue over the mulch. Keep in mind, though, that pump sprayers can be hard to clean, so you might not be able to use it for anything else, especially if the glue dries in the nozzle. Therefore, you might want to just get the cheapest option if you plan to only use it once. 

During drought conditions, soil can become what's known as "hydrophobic," where it gets so dense that water just rolls off instead of penetrating through. At first, we were dubious about the idea of using dish soap to help, but watching this TikTok hack showed us how much frustration it really does save. And since it's most likely already hanging out in your kitchen, it's basically free.

The dish soap works by acting as a surfactant, breaking the surface tension and soil compaction, and letting the water through. All you need is about 1 teaspoon of soap per gallon of water. Mix it together, then water your soil. Try to use a dish soap that has as few color agents or scents as possible, just to limit the amount of chemicals going into your soil bed. 

If you've got some paving stones for a new walkway, it can be hard to get the dig spots just right. That's why this TikTok hack is so genius, because it uses the straight blade of a sawzall to cut the turf directly around the paver perfectly. No more wonky dig sites or pavers getting broken by an accidental shovel hit, just a beautifully prepared pathway. 

Start by running a string down the length of your upcoming pathway and tie it down tightly; this gives you a guide for perfectly aligned pavers. Then, lie your first stone down and use a tape measure to note the distance between it and the second paver you lay down, so that you can keep everything equal. Once your stones are laid, use a clean sawzall blade and cut around the stones, then lift the stones and remove the cut sod from underneath. 

When you've got a lot of leaves to rake, it can feel like your rake or shovel is up against a serious task. But, you can save so much time by following this TikTok's lead and turning a shipping box into a leaf shovel. The wide box lets you scoop up way more leaves than a traditional rake, and its lightweight enough that anyone can do it.

You may want to do this when leaves are dry since the moisture can break the cardboard down. Also, don't cut the box completely open, as this will be too flimsy to work; you want it folded in half, like how you'd get it at a shipping supply store. Start slowly so you can get the angle right, then use the box to scoop the leaves into a trash can or bag. 

Sun, water, and purchasing items on sale can lead to mismatched or faded landscape rocks. But, as this TikTok shows, you don't need to let those faded colors drive you crazy or deter you. Just use spray paint to make everything match!

Rust-Oleum makes different colored paints that are stone-esque, but test one first before going all in to make sure you're happy with the final color. Clean the soon-to-be-painted rocks first with soap and water, then wipe dry. Use a flour scraper or wide putty knife behind the stone to prevent the paint from going anywhere you don't want it to, then spray and let dry. 

Let's say you've got a bulk order of mulch, cinderblocks, or whatever coming from your local hardware supply store. Chances are, your order is going to be delivered on a pallet. So, do like this TikTok does and turn that pallet into a soil leveler. It's width means you'll be able to cover a wider area than you would a traditional leveling tool, and when it's done, you can either toss it or reuse the pallet in your garden.

Since you'll be dragging this behind you to level your yard, you're going to need durable twine or rope so that it doesn't break. Also, this is probably best saved for new gardens or light leveling as heavy-duty leveling jobs might be too much for a simple pallet to handle. Check it for loose staples or nails before you start dragging, too, as you don't want those to get stuck in your garden bed. 

Too often, we'll get inspired by Pinterest or social media and design a landscape that becomes a garden idea you later regret. But, you can save yourself the headache by following this TikTok and doing a test mow around your mapped-out design to see if the lawnmower can navigate the turns easily. Not only will it save you maintenance frustration down the line, but might also help protect the longevity of your lawnmower housing, too, since you can easily move rocks with sharp edges out of the way before it's too late.

Some people may use spray paint to mark out a landscape design, but we like this idea of using the rocks more, because it adds the texture and height that you might otherwise miss with a 2D design. Pay attention in particular to curves and corners, making sure your lawnmower can navigate them comfortably. If you run into an issue, you can try using a weed whacker or edging tool instead, or just make the curve or corner less angled so your lawnmower's wheels can more easily navigate it. Plus, curved beds make your yard look more expensive and dynamic, so it's a win-win.

Landscaping is back-breaking work, no doubt, but that doesn't mean you can't find ways around it by adding a few helpers. We love the idea this TikTok has of turning scraps of wood into landscape fabric staple drivers. A method like this saves you from having to kneel, get up and go to the next spot, kneel again, and repeat. Instead, you can make the wood driver as long as you want, saving you from back and knee pain without sacrificing the need for your landscape fabric to get stapled into its place.

The TikToker in this video creates a divot in the wood that's the same width as a fabric staple, which definitely makes things easier. However, you don't need to be a woodworker to make use of this idea, just skip the saw and use a light piece of wood, like pine, over the staple, so that you don't accidentally bend it. Then, you can either push down to drive the staple into the ground, or use a rubber mallet over the wood shim to push it down, which may be necessary on compact or rock-heavy soil.

If you've already got your garden beds going, there are still ways you can turn old shipping boxes into gardening tools. We love the ingenuity of this TikTok, which turns a cardboard box into biodegradable seed starters. Not only does creating your own seed starter pots reduce waste, but it also saves you from needing to buy pre-made seed starters.

To convert a box into seed starting tubes, you'll need to remove any labels and tape from the box. Next, soak the box in water to help make it more pliable, then cut it into strips that are as wide as you want your starter tubes to be tall, plus an inch or two. Roll the strips into a tube shape then fold one side over to create a bottom, then fill with soil and seeds. Once you're ready to plant them, you can pop the whole tube into the ground and let the cardboard naturally decompose.

Is there anything worse for a garden than a surprise cold snap? Luckily, you can prevent your more temperature-sensitive plants from cold damage by following this TikTok and turning plastic bottles into makeshift cloches. It's a great budget-friendly alternative to cloches, especially since "real" cloches can get expensive quickly when you need more than one.

Remove the labels from each bottle, then use a sharp boxcutter blade to cut each bottle in half. You may want to cut different bottles at different points, so that you have cloches in multiple lengths. Keep the bottle caps on the tops, then put each half over a plant of the appropriate height. Make sure to use a cloche that doesn't bend or snap stems, and remove them once the weather bounces back.