Recycled Gear for Greener Gardening

Gardening is already pretty darn eco-friendly. You’re growing your own food and flowers (organically hopefully) which cuts down on the pesticides that make it into our air, water, and soil; you get rid of some food transport emissions plus food packaging issues; and it gets you and your family out into the great outdoors – or at least the great backyard.

You can make your gardening adventures even more earth-friendly though by using recycled gear to your advantage. Bonus, using recycled items in the garden can save you money.

Recycled planters and ponds: Instead of buying new plastic or wood planters, use anything and everything as a planter. I’ve seen bathtubs, sinks, shopping carts, boots, wine barrels, soup pots, tea pots, coffee cans, and sooooooo much more used as planters and garden ponds. One great place for inspiration for recycled garden ponds is the ponds and fountains slide show from Cindees’ Garden.

Compost: This is the ultimate recycled garden item. Recycle old food, coffee, paper, egg shells, and more into usable free soil. Easy, recycled, and cheap!

Old tires: Old car tires (or really any old rubber) can be filled with soil and used as planters, shredded and sprinkled on the ground to be used as a garden bed or path border or used as a ground cover for a soft kid-friendly play area near your garden.

Plastic: Some companies are currently creating 100% recycled plastic rain barrels. Not only will a rain barrel serve to water your garden with recycled water, but you’re saving some plastic that might be destined for a landfill.

Toilet paper tubes: Make your own peat pots with toilet paper tubes or other recycled cardboard tubes. Of course you can also recycle old egg cartons for this as well.

Shiny recyclables: Old CDs, spoons, pie plates, and anything else shiny can be used to scare of birds who like to nibble your garden. Hang these items in a sunny spot or fix them to a post and when the sun shines on them they reflect and chase birds off.

Old windows: Old windows are often offered up for free at the junk yard or on craigslist and can be easily turned into a handy cold frame.

Bonus links: Make a cool recycled birdhouse for your garden with scrap wood and a coffee can or learn about some killer exterior home and garden projects that use reclaimed & recycled materials.

What other recycled garden gear ideas do you have?

[image via ponds and fountains slide show]