When I came home from living and teaching in Africa I wanted to plant flowers in containers and place them on the front porch of the little cabin I had moved into. The problem was lack of funds. I couldn’t afford fancy pots, so I found used coffee cans and discarded pots and pans for containers. Having Marigolds, Zinnias, Cosmos, and other old fashion plants growing in cans and soup pans looked very country and rustic. It was a great provincial look, and was surprised by the number of positive compliments I received for my use of old rusted cans and pans!
Years later I traveled with my mother to visit her friend in Columbus. The lady had used clay sewer tiles to plant sedum and other sun loving plants. The terracotta tiles gave her garden a southwestern flair and added height and dimension to her landscape. I liked the look so well I went out and found 4-foot clay tiles to add to my garden.
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A co-worker gave me several clay pots ranging from small to large. I saw an article in a garden magazine showing the gardener had turned the pots upside down on the pickets of their fence. It looks very whimsical and the pots are very handy when I need one!
In a small village in our county, a man used colored toilets and planted flowers in the bowls and lined them up and down his driveway. Using multi-colored commodes as planters isn’t my cup of tea, but I give him credit for creativity!
A fan of Dimple Times, Tracy Sweeny, who lives in Hampshire in the United Kingdom wrote to me and shared how she uses discarded items to re-purpose them in her garden.
She shared how she uses a variety of items , “From old chimney pots, cowls, roof tiles, terracotta piping, cast iron pots and cauldrons, wheelbarrows and old beer barrels to mangles( Wringer washer), old bed heads/frames, broken pots or ornaments to a commode! All that’s needed is a little time, inspiration and imagination. I used black spray paint to transform a bright pink commode, my hosta is sitting in the (well cleaned) potty in the shade and loving it. A chimney cowl (a chimney flue) is ideal for a small fuchsia, alpine or herbs. An old plastic dog bed, great for a sunken big garden. Old tin bath tubs, excellent for a feature of alpines, or merely to keep mint and herbs in order. An old cart wheel is handy for laying on the ground and planting between the spokes. Even old wellington boots are useful for growing a trailing plant, carrots or leeks. Old beer barrels have a multitude of uses, perfect for growing a fig tree in (they thrive with confined roots), I have a tayberry climbing an obelisk in one and made another into a little pond, lilies, tadpoles and my fish love it! Anything water tight is useful for carnivorous plants or a big garden as well… chimney pots can provide height… My frog ornament used to hold a solar glass ball, but when it smashed, I popped a fuchsia in instead. Broken pots can be stacked to make miniature gardens… Old gates and bedheads are perfect for climbers. You can even use a pretty old bed frame to plant within if you have the space. An old wheelbarrow can be cleaned (and painted if you like) and used to create a vegetable garden, or a plot for children to use. Old car tyres (tires) can be stacked (and painted) and used for growing potatoes and other vegetables.”
I agree with Tracy when she says, “Sometimes you will be surprised what you can create at low cost. Not only reclaiming something destined for the dump, but enhance your garden and have fun re-purposing too. Happy gardening!”
(*Note: I am curious how some of you have re-purposed junk to be used in your garden. At the end of this article you can respond with a message and I will share your name and ideas in a future article!)
Images copyright Tracy Sweeny.
Ask the Gardener
If you have any gardening questions you would like to ask Rick or topics you would love to see him cover please feel free to drop him a note and ASK THE GARDENER here.
Hi Tracy Sweeny ! I have 6 plastic , 5 gallon buckets. My husband drilled 4 holes near the bottom for drainage & I planted a tomato plant in each one this spring. I water everyday & they have grown a bounty of yummy tomatoes , & still producing with more yellow flowers comming on. I have them sitting in my back yard.
I found an old rusted wagon in the shed and said the pot of a black-eyed Susan vine in the wagon at the base of an old pool in the backyard that my step-son used to use for ball practice it just became a nuisance. So now the vine is going up the pool and it looks wonderful and I love the wagon. I get so many compliments on it.