Green

Upcycling Ideas for the Garden

February 10, 2012

7 Upcycling Ideas for the GardenReuse, recycle – do you?

‘Recycled’ doesn’t have to mean packing everything into a bin or bag and sending it off to the local centre. Recycling, or up cycling, is about thinking differently. It’s about coming up with ideas for reusing items that they weren’t originally intended for.

7 Upcycling Ideas for the GardenPallets are a big favourite of ours – from shelves to compost bins, gates to welly boot racks.

7 Upcycling Ideas for the GardenWe also use carrier bags, boots, old milk churns and anything else we can think of for garden containers.

7 Upcycling Ideas for the Garden

Box of crocks – saves buying drainage stones

Old cd’s and computer disks are kept and strung around the veggie patch in spring to act as bird scarers.

7 Upcycling Ideas for the GardenToilet roll inserts and food containers are saved ready for seed planting. My favourite was a dark bottomed sausage container, clear chicken container that fitted together perfectly, making a sweet little propagator but is was accidentally recycled ‘for real’… oops.

Surprisingly, once plants are growing in it, or latches are fixed to it, our junk no longer resembles rubbish at all.

Do you have any favourite ways of re-using your ‘rubbish’?

12 Comments

  • Reply Margaret February 10, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    I use old food containers for seed trays, and toilet roll tubes for sweet peas and beans. Wood is recycled in many ways in our garden. I have 2 old tables which my husband has converted into potting benches. One of them has an old shoe rack underneath it which is used for storing plant pots. He has made me several wooden seed trays and large plant markers out of bits of wood. We like to re-use 'rubbish' if we can!

  • Reply Mr. H. February 11, 2012 at 2:00 pm

    I really like the pallet to gate idea, especially since I happen to have a few pallets on hand and had planned to build another garden gate this summer…thanks for the great tip.

  • Reply Bridget February 12, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    We also save the loo roll tubes. Pallets too are well used. We have a pallet gate, a section of garden fence made from pallets and also benches for standing pots on.

  • Reply Dee Sewell February 12, 2012 at 6:14 pm

    The food containers are so handy for seed trays aren't they.. sounds like you have a very handy hubby too Margaret 🙂

  • Reply Dee Sewell February 12, 2012 at 6:14 pm

    We have a few of them dotted around, work a treat!

  • Reply Dee Sewell February 12, 2012 at 6:17 pm

    Don't know where we'd be without the pallets Bridget. Saw a fantastic wall covering with them recently – sanded and arranged they looked superb.

  • Reply Foxglove Lane February 15, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    Good morning hon I have nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award:~)

  • Reply Dee Sewell February 15, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    Why thank you! Hmmm, 15 blogs eh 🙂

  • Reply Debbie February 25, 2012 at 3:14 am

    Hi there, I recycle alot when it comes to gardening. I use cardboard egg cartons as seedling planters and compost paper towel and toilet paper rolls, coffee filters and newspaper. I love recycling! Deb@http://theeverydaygardener.blogspot.com/

  • Reply Dee Sewell February 25, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    It makes so much sense doesn't it Debbie & halves the cost at least of gardening too!

  • Reply Caroline Flynn April 19, 2017 at 12:38 pm

    I’ve been looking at an old wooden kitchen table that has been left in my back yard for over a year. I’m tempted to turn it upside down and use it for growing vegtebles such as cherry tomatoes, letuce and cucumber. These plants don’t need deep compost do they? I have old plastic kitchen bins that would be ideal for a carrot or potato crop. Its really interesting as I love growing things and I grew lots of veg when I was a kid.

    • Reply Dee Sewell April 26, 2017 at 2:59 pm

      Hi Caroline,I generally try and give tomatoes and cucumber as much compost as I can, even to the extent of cutting the bottom out of a pot and buying it into a grow bag if I’m using one. Ideally you’d be looking to plant in around 22cm soil. The bins sound a great idea, just make sure there’s drainage in everything, hope you have a great growing season 🙂

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