Gardening experts say the end of February to the first week of March is the best time to start preparations for the new gardening season. This year be creative with your garden and use recycled materials to spruce up your space. Many of our everyday household items can also serve other purposes in our gardens instead of taking up space in the landfill. Here are five easy ways to spruce up your garden with recycled materials:
Egg cartons are egg-cellent for seedlings.
Start saving your egg cartons to start your seedlings. They are the perfect size to start seedlings indoors while they germinate. When they sprout, cut out the individual cups and plant them directly in your garden. Empty toilet paper rolls can do the same job!
Turn your milk jugs into bird feeder.
Turn your empty milk jugs into a bird feeder. Start with an empty milk carton, some paint and your imagination, and soon you’ll have birds flocking to your yard. This DIY bird feeder is an easy craft that all ages can participate in making.
Got a run in your pantyhose? Use it in your garden!
Don’t toss torn pantyhose—they’re great garden helpers. When planting in containers, place pantyhose on the bottom of the pots so water can pass through, but not soil. Also, at the end of the gardening season, pantyhose can be used to store out-of-season flower bulbs in a pantyhose leg and hang in a cool, dry place.
Dryer lint holds the moisture.
Add your dryer lint to the compost bin or place a layer at the bottom of a planter or container. It will prevent soil from leaking out the bottom and will hold some moisture also.
Corks for plant markers
Save your corks from your empty wine bottles to use as markers in your raised beds, container gardens, and wherever you have plants growing. Just make a hole, insert small wooden dowel and write the name of the plan with a sharpie marker.