The Smartest Ways to Repurpose Household Items in Your Garden
Gardening is a hobby that seems more accessible than it really is. Of course, there are ways around this – like borrowing items from the tool library and using some of the (legitimate) ways to get free plants – but you need to know where to find these money-saving programs and supplies.
Luckily, you don’t have to look far to find even more free stuff for your plants. This is because there are a number of household items that you can repurpose and use in your garden. Here are some examples.
Household items that can be used as garden supplies
Instead of throwing away these household items when you’re done with them, save some money by giving them a second life in your garden:
Newspapers
Lay a few pages on damp soil and then mulch with, for example, wood shavings. This will provide another layer of weed protection .
cardboard
Speaking of mulch, you can also use pieces of cardboard to create a stronger sheet mulch that is still permeable to water and air. This Lifehacker article explains how to do it.
garden hose
Even if it can no longer carry water, you can use an old garden hose to support the seedling instead of rope or twine.
Plastic bottles or jugs
Think of them as tiny greenhouses. Cut in half plastic bottles or jugs can be used to protect small outdoor plants from frost. Alternatively, you can cut off the bottom of one of these and place it over a houseplant that loves moisture.
shower curtains
Use old shower curtains instead of tarps in your garden to transport materials or to cover plants or piles of mulch or soil if needed.
wine bottles
If you’re going away for a few days and are worried about getting enough water for the plants in the containers, an empty wine bottle with a screw cap will come in handy. First, use something sharp to poke a small hole in the metal top.
Then fill the bottle with water and screw on the cap. Place the bottle cap down in the soil of the container – deep enough for it to stand on its own. This will slowly water the plants in your container garden while you are away.
Empty wine bottles can also be used as garden stakes or decorative borders.