A woman has been hailed for sharing her ‘versatile’ gardening hack that’ll save you time and money – and people can’t believe they didn’t think of it sooner. Instead of splashing out on containers or wood to create flowerbeds, she simply purchases a children’s paddling pool and fills it with soil.

She then adds nutrients to the soil before planting her saplings – and watches as they grow into mature plants. Sharing her tip on Reddit’s gardening forum in response to the question: “What’s your cheap gardening hack? “, she said: “Kiddie pools. Once fall sets in you can get them for free on just about every curb. They’re very versatile.”

Elaborating on how she utilises them, she added: “The sky is the limit. They work well as large-scale container gardens for either flowers or herbs. They also make great bird baths with some rocks and a solar fountain.

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“They make good ponds for water plants. Good as a squirrel and fat dove decoy for bird watching too. You just toss some seeds and corn in and put it on the other side of the feeders for the tiny birds.”

“You can also use them flipped over on stakes for shade. They also work well as a muddy boot and tool holder. You can even cut them up to make garden edging and fence decorations. It’s really endless.”, reports the Mirror.

But she isn’t the only gardener with a ‘pro tip’ for those wanting to spruce up their gardens this summer, as another suggested: “Baby’s nappies in the bottom of your hanging baskets to retain moisture.” Another user shared their experience on how to acquire free or cheap plants, stating: “When I first moved into my first house with a big yard, I spent a ton of money on plants and equipment from the big gardening centers and nurseries. I was so anxious to get started that I justified spending the extra money to get a head start.”

“Then I discovered that there is a thriving amateur gardening community in my area: tons of normal people who sell cuttings, seedlings, used equipment, etc, for a fraction of the price that I had paid just a few months prior. There are also tons of local plant events, meetups, swaps, and giveaways.

“Lesson learned: gardening rewards patience in many different ways. Plant people tend to be very generous, and if you take the time to learn more about the gardening groups in your area you will likely find that people are willing to give away stuff for free or very low cost.”

Source: birminghammail.co.uk