Recycling and Repurposing in Your Garden

With the ever present threat of global warming and pollution, living a greener life is more important than ever.  Recycling has become part of the fabric of our lives.  Rather than look at recycling as a chore we are forced to do, there are many fun ways to incorporate recycling into our daily activities.  As the first official day of summer approaches, many of us are enjoying time spent in our gardens.  Here are some practical and artistic ideas for a recycled garden to enjoy all summer long.

See Things in a Different Way

Before you throw anything out, try to look at it in a different way and see if you can utilize it in your garden.   Clothing is a good example.  While you wouldn’t think clothing would be useful in a garden, you can make wonderful, artistic scarecrows to keep the birds away from your plants.  Have some fun while dressing up your scarecrows.  Just because he’s standing in the garden doesn’t mean he has to wear a flannel shirt!

Plastic milk containers make great scoops for the garden.  Rather than throw them out with the recycling, rinse them out and cut the bottom off at a 45 degree angle.   Use this as a scoop for seeds, mulch or potting soil.  These are also great to use to protect seedlings and small plants from frost.  You can also use the tops of plastic soda bottles for this purpose as well.

Repurposing

Old window frames and doors frames with glass panels make perfect garden trellises.  You’ll need to remove the panes of glass from the windows and doors to allow the plants to climb.  Then, bury the base of the window or door into the ground.  Since the shabby/vintage look is so popular right now, finding an old window or door at a flea market or online auction site will be perfect for this purpose.

Rather than purchasing new plastic planters, repurpose items you already have around your home.  Vintage bowls or jugs make great planters and old chipped teacups are perfect for small plants or seedlings.  Use different color glass bottles to create dividers in your garden by burying them, upside down. 

Old automobile tires make wonderful garden planters as well.  Since there are costs associated with disposing of them, it actually makes financial sense to repurpose them.  There are a number of tutorials on the internet with instructions on how to cut, paint and decorate old tires and turn them into adorable planters.

If you have an old dresser or chest of drawers you’re ready to get rid of, consider using it for a potting bench instead.  If you don’t have the room for the entire piece, use the drawers alone as large planters.  Again, the more shabby and vintage looking, the better.

These are just a few suggestions to get you started.  Once you get started recycling and repurposing in your garden, you’ll find that you are only limited by your imagination.  

Author Bio:

Yvone Kon is a freelance writer, blogger and mom.  She frequently writes about many different topics including weddings, fashion, childbirth, freecycling, recycling, and VaporIntrusion.  She is the author of the blog EventSpiration, providing inspiration and ideas for weddings, parties and holidays.