Your favorite, trusty garden shovel and trowel have been very well used through the years. Although now, they are beginning to get a little rusty, bent, scratched up, giving you slivers and maybe even broken in two. What do you do with them when they need to be replaced? Do not throw them out, do not put them in the landfill…repurpose them into pieces
of garden art. With a little sanding, paint, and imagination, they can become garden markers, fun signs, and whimsical decorations for your yard. Clean the items with warm soapy water, dry well and then apply several coats of paint and designs and lettering of your choice. You do not have to remove the rust, just paint directly over it. The rust will eventually creep through the paint. Make sure to finish them with UV varnish to help keep them looking good while being exposed to the elements. Homemade signs are a nice way to add some charm to your garden. Where one person sees a useless, broken tool, another looks past its flaws and creates a new use for what some gardeners might refer to as junk.
If you have an antique pail that is dented or rusty, drill a hole in the bottom for drainage and turn it into a rustic garden planter. An old unused faucet makes a great hook for hanging your plants. An antique ladder makes a perfect plant stand with multiple levels. Other items such as metal colanders, old wire baskets, and bushel baskets all make wonderful containers for a vintage garden scene. A vintage children's bicycle is a great focal point in the garden, add your potted plants around it for an old-fashioned look.
Empty coffee cans are great for upcycling. Wipe clean with rubbing alcohol and a coffee filter (they are lint free), then apply spray primer and paint on your lettering of choice and you have a handy tool holder. You can even line the interior of the can with burlap or fabric of your choice using hot glue. Makes a great storage container for seeds, gardening gloves, scissors, twine, sunscreen, and other garden helpers. Save the lid and you can store your items dust free. You can make several for all the things you like to keep organized.
For your indoor houseplants, use items such as grandma's old coffee pots, coffee cans, canisters, sifters, and other kitchen containers. They do not need changing, add a saucer inside the container to catch the water and insert your favorite plants for a quaint kitchen display.
If you do not have items for displaying with your plants or for adding a bit of whimsey to your garden, check thrift stores, garage sales or check with friends or grandma for special, sentimental objects. One mans garbage is another mans treasures.
Supplies needed for upcycling your garden art and giving them new life: Sandpaper, paint, paint brushes, UV varnish, rust remover if needed, rubbing alcohol and coffee filters, wire or twine, nails or screws, old rags, glue (I prefer E-6000), and of course imagination and inspiration.
Have fun and get creative, make it whimsical. Anyone can plant a plant in the ground but adding a repurposed, upcycled or antique piece will make a unique display for your garden or home. Get the grandkids or children involved. Happy Gardening!
