People who love to garden can spend thousands of dollars on accoutrements. This is completely unnecessary. Not only are there a plethora of things in and around the typical person's home that would be useful in the garden, but many things of these things get thrown away. Does this Spark an idea?
Plastics
Plastic food containers, such as yogurt tubs and cottage cheese tubs, are quite sturdy and will not fall apart with repeated use. These tubs lend themselves to re-use as seed starting pots and plant pots, depending on the size of the tub and of the plant.
A potted plant needs drainage, so it's important to punch holes in the bottoms plastic food tubs. Turn the tub over and carefully stab holes in the bottom a few times with a sharp knife. Fill the tub with potting soil and either place seeds or a plant that needs transplanting (depending upon the size of the plastic tub). The lid, if there is one, may be used underneath the tub.
Restaurant Containers
Some restaurants have plastic (instead of styrofoam) to go containers. The containers have a lid that clicks shut. These containers can be re-used as small tabletop greenhouses.
In early spring, fill the bottom of the to-go container with good quality potting soil, and sow tomato or lettuce seeds. Close the top and place on a kitchen counter. Condensation will form on the inside of the top of the container.
Check the soil every day to make sure it is moist, and use a spray bottle full of water to water the seeds. Within a couple of weeks, you will have a mini garden. Tomato seedings will need to be transplanted; but lettuce can reach maturity in entree-size containers.
Art
Some very successful artists specialize in "found art." Found art is made from things that would otherwise have ended up in the trash.
Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on garden decor, make your own found art garden decor. For example, old mop and broomstick handles can be sanded and refinished to make garden stakes and garden markers. Stephanie Donaldson, in The Potting Shed (see Resources) gives instructions for different ways of utilizing mop handles in the garden.
Borders and Trellises
Old fencing should be saved and reworked as either garden borders or trellises for peas, beans and other climbing plants.
A package of very loose netting for climbing plants can run over $20. This netting is also placed flat on the ground to keep cucumbers and squash from touching the ground. Old volleyball netting could serve the same purpose, as would a net made from the plastic rings from six packs of soda.
Windows
Greenhouse kits run into the thousands of dollars; meanwhile, old windows get thrown into landfills. With the combination of some creativity and a little know-how, those old windows can become a hot house.
Depending upon what you want and where you live, the foundation may be as simple as weed block fabric covered by pea gravel. Windows should be inspected carefully so that you nail them together in the appropriate places, and it is a good idea to purchase spray foam insulation between the windows to seal the cracks.
Warning
Old windows may have toxic paint on them, so it is best to keep them away from children. Children should also not be allowed to play around windows being stored for future greenhouse use.
Tags: climbing plants, garden decor, made from, potting soil, that would, thousands dollars