Reuse Old Containers in your Garden
Old containers can be used for all sorts of gardening purposes. By recycling old containers rather than throwing them out, you are not only recycling, but you are getting free gardening supplies! The list can go on and on, but here are a few ideas for containers you can reuse for eco gardening.
1. Yogurt containers work great for growing seeds
The small size of yogurt containers makes them perfect for starting your seeds out before transplanting them into their larger permanent containers. Yogurt containers fit nicely on windowsills so you can keep your seedlings indoors during cold weather. Once it warms up a bit more you can move them outdoors and transplant into the ground or larger planters.
2. Turn non-working toilets and sinks into planters
No need to add your old toilets to landfills when you can turn them into planters for your garden instead. Old sinks and bathtubs come with drains so you don’t even have to drill your own drainage holes (unless you live in an area that gets a lot of rain!) Vintage claw foot bathtubs are especially tasteful garden planters.
3. Rain gutters can be recycled as space saving planters
Extra pieces of rain gutters or old gutters that are being thrown out make great planters for herbs, micro greens and strawberries. They can be attached to walls, railings or even suspended as hanging planters. Gutter planters work well if you have limited space in your yard or in a porch garden.
4. Reuse old suitcases for eco gardening planters
Vintage suitcases make cute planters and it’s better than throwing them out once they are done being used. Suitcases can be stacked on top of each other to create more depth in your garden.
5. Pallets from the grocery store transform nicely into an eco garden
Some creative people have planted gardens inside of old pallets. Pallet gardens can rest upright against a wall to save space. It’s not too difficult or costly for you to create your own eco garden made from a recycled wood pallet. Some grocery stores will even give away old pallets for free!
6. Plastic juice bottles and milk jugs re-used as watering cans
Putting your plastic bottles into the recycling bin is one way to be eco friendly. You can also re-use your bottles for gardening. You can collect recycled water in the kitchen and the bathroom in containers and use them for watering your garden.
As long as you can drill drainage holes in the bottom of the container it can be used to contain plants. There are countless other containers that can be reused and recycled for use in your eco garden. What are some interesting eco gardening containers that you have used? Please share your ideas in the comments section!
