In your garden, using repurposed old items as garden art will add whims and interest. And, a great way to recycle!

Actually anything under the sun will do, just use your limitless imagination. You can make your garden serve as an extension of the inside of your house.

    Old Ladders and Scrap Lumber

Make a potting station by laying the lumber between the rungs of the open ladder, creating shelves on which to lay pots, tools and bags of soil. To make the potting station stable, stack the lumber on the lower rungs.

Old wooden Cord Spools

Mount on the wall for a hose wrap, three placed in a circle gives the hose a resting groove. Apply polyurethane on it, and you can utilize it as a small table.

Lumber

Great for larger scale protection of garden rows during a frost.

PVC/Metal  Pipes

Trellises can be constructed by using used PVC pipes giving vines a place to climb thus,  allowing garden soil to be utilized more productively.

Provide pots for growing in small spaces or sources of drip irrigation for traditional gardens. In early spring, garden plants need protection from frost. Materials used to protect the flower and vegetable plants are referred to as garden cloches. Pop bottles, milk jugs, ice cream buckets and other plastic containers make ideal to make a cloche.

The plastic needs to be clear to allow sunlight to shine though, while keeping frost off. Simply cut the tops off large 2-liter pop bottles or milk jugs. Turn the plastic containers over and gently tap the open end into the ground to protect individual garden plants.

The bigger plastic  containers and bottles can be used for container gardening. Simply cut the tops off the milk jugs and plastic 2-liter soda bottles then fill the them with dirt and use them to grow a garden.

Wood, Piping, or Metal Rods for the Garden

Wood, pipes and metal rods are ideal repurposed items for constructing larger protection from frost. Use the items to construct large frames. Cover these frames with clear sheets of repurposed plastic to protect entire rows of garden plants at one time.

Another way to repurpose wood, pipes or metal rods is to use them to create a trellis. Vines, such as squash, cucumbers, and melons, need something to climb to conserve valuable garden space.

Cardboard and Paper

Repurposing cardboard for the garden is helpful when weeds get out of hand. Cardboard makes an excellent weed block.

Break down cardboard boxes and use garden staples to tack the cardboard down in rows to create walking paths through the garden rows.

Lighter cardboard or paper bags can be used for blocking weeds and can be used around plants as long as the roots are able to receive a sufficient amount of water.

Shredded paper can be used this as mulch. Paper works well as mulch and because it is biodegradable, it eventually breaks down and becomes part of the soil.

Brown paper bags tend to be more visually appealing as mulch than white paper. When mulching with paper wet it down immediately to prevent it from blowing away.

from old and ugly to new and pretty . . .

Ever wonder how you can make use of old and unwanted objects around your house?  Well, there are so many imaginable things that you can repurpose them into pretty and lovely garden "eye catchers".  Just make your imagination run wild and visualize how these things can be transformed into something new that you will love to show off in your garden.

Old Ironing Board

You can rest the flower pots on it or use it as bird bath, too. It can also give height to potted plants in groupings.  It is nice to have flowers hanging on it like petunias or plants in vines.

Old Wheelbarrow

It is an interesting flower and herb planter.   One good idea is to bury the front wheel a bit and once the plants bloom it will look like the wheel borrow fell over and the flowers falling with it.

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. 

Sink Planter

Sinks will also do well as a flower bed or for your herbs.  You can  paint it with your favorite color or leave it as is.  Or, you can use it as a fountain with water running on the faucet.  Also, it will make good as a bird bath. 

Also, turn an old porcelain sink into a planter for creeping vines. Place the sink on bricks or cinder blocks to allow for drainage. Place plants in either basin, add box planters to surround it as well. Smaller plants work well, too.

Old boats, Top-down Cars, Trailers

They can be used as lovely plant beddings.  Plants and flowers flowing from the windows will be lovely.  You can transfer them easily wherever you want. Even if you transfer home, it can go with you easily.  Just tag it along!   

Old Dresser Drawers

Use old dresser drawers to house a succulent or small cactus garden, herbs and flowering plants, too.  Actually , any plant will look good in it.

Half-gallon plastic milk or juice jug

You can use it as a flowering pot.  It will make a lovely potting piece especially if it is painted with floral, birds, butterflies and other garden loving insect - or you can use contact paper with pretty designs on it. Cut away the bottom of the jug, then cut out the handle side of the jug almost to the handle in an oval shape. Now you have a scoop for birdseed, potting soil or anything else you need to scoop. Leave the cap on the end of the jug.

All it takes is a bit of imagination and a knack for looking at ordinary objects in a new different way. Will a commode planted with flowers overflowing the bowl sound downright fanciful? Imagine a weathered wooden chair missing its seat as a focal point in the garden to prop up droopy plants. Your colorful cracked ceramic teapot may have outlived its usefulness in your kitchen, but will have a rewarding second life in your patio planter for herbs.

 

Bowling Balls

Paint them to look like garden creatures. One gardener painted it  like an oversized ladybugs and were really cute.

Old Chairs

Turn your seat into something neat and bring garden whimsy to your yard with an easy-to-make, unique planter. Remake the old seat into a unique container – a flower chair.  Replace the missing cushion with a small garden.

Old baths or Basins

Use as flower and vegetable planters. You can plant some white flowers to make it look like soap bubbles and have a head of a manniquin or doll  on one end and have shoes at the other end to make it appear like a person is having a bubble bath.

Small basins can be used as a bird bath, too.

Old Decorative, Mesh Wire, Gate

Hang horizontally to let your vine plants  grow with its flowers either under or on top of it. You can also use it for drying for favorite herbs, vegetables or flowers by hanging it horizontally from the ceiling of your potting, storage or tool shed.

Broken Tiles and Ceramics

These items can also be decorative. Broken tiles and ceramics can make interesting and unusual garden mosaics.  These will also look good for mulching.

Old railway sleepers

It can be used for sturdy and effective garden bench or table.

Car/Truck Tires

Use for flower and vegetable beds. It will be nice to have colorful flowers  planted on it.  You can paint them with different attractive colors.

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.

Artistic Repurposing/Recycling Ideas for Old Mailboxes

Would you like to be an inspiration to others by using old mailboxes 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 letter boxes.

It will  be nice to have flowers flowing down from the mailbox.  It will look like a bouquet with the box  keeping the flowers together. Drooping flowers will look wonderful in it.

Consider the following in pursuit of repurposing your found objects:

Will it give you a challenge to make things that were once considered junk, worthless or ugly into a wonderful piece of art?

Can you express your artistic ability through recycling the object?

Will your guests be very impressed with your creativity and whimsical style?



Can it be a way for you to personalize your garden?

The best part about it all is that there aren’t any rules to turn your old mailboxes into garden treasures – but just consider some guidelines. You have to make sure that the items are sturdy enough to stand up to all kinds of weather. The key is to search for durable items, things that you would not mind if they face the weather elements.Will you enjoy the benefits of saving money by using the repurposed item?

If you’re going to use the old mailbox as a planter, be sure to drill holes in the bottom to allow for drainage. Is it large enough to keep plants from drying out?

Will it add interest during all four seasons or only when it’s planted?

You may use these simple ideas with a splash of creativity to make your own garden decorations and treasures that you will be proud of.

You can make your mailbox pretty by painting your old mailbox with birds or floral theme.

You may also mount an old mailbox on a post in your garden area to hold your small  gardening tools. This keeps them close at hand but out of the weather. Put the flag up to remind yourself that a tool needs to be put back. Put the flag down to show that everything has been kept.

Where can you search for your garden treasures? 

There are great places to look from for your garden treasures because oldmailboxes are usually free, inexpensive, and are fun to find.

The first place to begin  is in your own garage, attic, basement or barn.

Other places to search for these future garden art is at thrift stores, consignment stores, garage or estate sales.

Your friends and relatives who throw these unwanted things to the dump is another good source.

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