Will a commode planted with flowers overflowing the bowl sound downright fanciful?

There are no rules to follow . . . that is the best part of using your wild imagination in turning your trash into garden treasures.  But of course, there are some guidelines that we must consider like its sturdiness, its ability to withstand all kinds of weather, and safety among others.

With your creativity, artistic inclination and being bold will not stop you from creating items unexpected to stand in your garden majestically and with pride.

Have you ever thought of these following daring ideas to be in your garden and catching surprise glimpse and awes?

Old Bed Frame 

You can paint it with bright or pastel colors.  You  may cut its leg to have it sit closer to the ground or you may opt not to cut the legs. Then fill where the mattress would be with gardening soil and plant with abundance of flowers.  The flower blooms will make the bed appear dressed in its best spread. An antique iron headboard can be used to plant petunias.  A “bed” of flowers can be a focal point in the garden.

Old Carriage

Old Toilet

You can also paint it with attractive colors such as lavender, pink, red or what ever color that may contrast or complement the flowers that will be planted in it.  You can paint it with some artistic designs.  Flowers will be happy to sit on this repurposed seat.

http://www.toiletmuseum.com/lgpic.php?photo=public/Crap2.jpg

Old Boat

http://www.dreamstime.com/flowers-in-old-boat-image9668326

http://www.stockphotos.ro/green-boat-with-flowers-image14909808.html

Just looking around your house, community, or even at the dumpsters will give you countless ideas that some people may not imagine to re-purpose

Can you express your artistic ability through recycling unwanted objects?

Would you like to be an inspiration to others by using found objects that will add personality to your garden?

It would it be exciting and challenging to take your garden to a whole new level and personalize with your own repurposed/recycled decorations.

Will you enjoy the benefits of saving money by using the repurposed item?

If yes, here are some suggested ways to repurpose the once loved objects in your home to wonderful pieces of art.

Old Bicycle

Old Shoes

    

Old wooden box

Old Luggage

Old fire hydrant

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Wood and Leaves Ashes as Natural Fertilizer and Other Practical Uses

Ashes are beneficial as natural fertilizer to plants because they contain potassium which is a major plant nutrient and other minor nutrients.  Yet, it can be harmful to some plants because it is highly alkaline. Therefore, there is a need to be careful on how and where to use the wood ashes in the garden. 

Azaleas, rhododendrons, junipers, conifers, and camellias are some of the plants that are not suited for wood ashes because of its acid-loving nature.  On the other hand, a small quantity can pump up the growth of calcium-loving tomatoes and roses.

Nutrients:   Wood ashes contain potassium, calcium, minerals, iron, phosphate, copper, zinc and magnesium carbonate.  However, it loses much of its nutrient value if they are left to stand in the rain because potassium and other water soluble nutrients leach out with water.

Uses:  You can spread around the perimeter of the flower beds to repel or deter slugs and snails due to its salt content.

The ashes enrich the organic compounds of compost.  If you have water ponds, it can help the water plants compete with algae by slowing its growth. It can also be used to shine silverware, brass, glass, de-melt ice, scourer, lye in making soap, mulch, spot remover on wood furniture, traction on winter, and odor-neutralizer.

How Much Should Be Applied:  To avoid excessive saline and alkaline, try to limit ash application to 5 lbs./100 feet of soil/ year. 

When to Apply:  The ashes must be completely cooled down before using it to amend the soil.  To give better results, it is advised to apply ashes 3-4 weeks before planting.  Fall is generally the best time to apply wood ashes because soil pH is lower and soil is usually drier at this time.  It will also give plenty of time for the soil to react before spring growth.

What to Avoid: To avoid burning, germinating seeds and new plant roots must be few inches away from the freshly applied ashes.  Water the plants that got in touch with the ashes to avoid the foliage from burning. Chemical applications should be avoided for 3 to 5 days prior to or after wood ash application to give time for the ashes to neutralize in the soil.

Do you know that grass clippings can provide your lawn some valuable nutrients when left on the ground right after they were mowed?

The grass clippings left on the lawn will eventually decompose and recycle its nutrients back to the soil.  But, it must be kept at minimum.  By cutting the grass when it reaches around 3 to 31/2 inches tall, the volume of the grass clippings will be kept low.

As Mulch:  Grass clippings on the lawn make the soil softer and help in the grass drought tolerance.  During the decomposition stage, the clippings help shade the soil and keep the roots cooler and help reduce moisture loss just like any mulch that you put around your other plants.

As fertilizer:  Don’t throw away the grass trimmings/clippings because they are valuable organic matters that are full of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and will help minimize your expenses on grass fertilizer by around 30 percent or even equivalent to one year fertilizer application.

Other Uses of Grass Clippings:  Used as mulch around trees , shrubs and flowers.  It can also be mixed with leaves and fruit/ vegetable kitchen trimmings for composting. 

Grass clippings should not comprise more than half of the volume in the pile to avoid offensive odor.

When to Collect Grass Clippings: 

 

The grass clippings can clump or damage the lawn if the grass is too long, wet and if the grass has disease.

Image source:  123rf.com