21 October 2022

There are so many amazing upcycling ideas for the garden that are super easy and cheap to do. Not only does upcycling reduce waste, but it also aids in cutting costs. Breathe new life into old household items by giving them a thrifty makeover for the garden. Grab your fellow eco-conscious individuals and embark on a new journey as you tackle some of these creative upcycled garden ideas and implement them on your own property.

We’ve gathered a few ideas that will hopefully inspire you to get creative and come up with your own upcycling projects for the garden too...

1. Where to find recyclable garden objects

There are several places to find items to upcycle into your garden decor at an affordable price or even for free:

  • Your own home: take into account items that could be used in the garden whenever you have the impulse to purge or spring clean. Consider weather resistant materials such as treated wood or hard-wearing plastic. Packaging waste can often easily be repurposed into great pots or garden decorations.
  • Neighbourhood curbside finds: one person’s trash could be another person’s treasure. Saving a piece that nobody else wants and turning it into something gorgeous and practical for the garden feels wonderful. If you live in a complex, look in the communal bin room to see what gems your neighbours might be throwing away.
  • Facebook Marketplace: look no further than an online marketplace where people are getting rid of unwanted items to get cheap or even free items. Sometimes, you can even find things to upcycle for free if you’re simply able to collect them from the person looking to get rid of them.
  • Thrift Stores: you can find a ton of wonderful, reasonably priced items that are perfect for gardens at your neighbourhood thrift shop.

2. Use a vintage ladder in place of a pergola or trellis

For the ideal support for climbing or trailing plants, use a vintage ladder. A vintage wooden ladder provides character while also offering support, whether it is used as a trellis planted up against a wall or as an overhanging pergola-type structure that would need to be suspended from or fastened to supported wooden poles.

3. Turn a wooden pallet into an outdoor coffee table

A coffee table can be an important piece of furniture for your garden, especially if you have a dedicated outdoor entertainment area. It can occasionally seem out of reach to purchase new garden furniture if you're on a tight budget. Try upcycling used wooden pallets if you're seeking a clever option while you save for the dream furniture set.

4. Repurpose kitchen pots and pans

Have a beloved vintage saucepan whose scorched bottom was unsalvageable due to a culinary nightmare? Don’t throw it out. That old frying pan and lid are perfect for making your little bird friends a nice feeder. The lid acts as a roof and keeps birds dry when it’s raining. This is a really easy DIY bird feeder that will only cost you an old pan and lid. You can also use any outdated cooking vessel in the kitchen to use as planters for a herb garden.

5. Utilise an old kitchen sink in an inventive way

When it comes to upcycling crafts, anything goes, even the kitchen sink. Ceramic sinks create lovely, alternative planters, and the drainage is already taken care of because of the design! The garden will be drenched in colour if you plant a variety of bedding plants and add a few large stones to the bottom to help with even drainage.

6. Colourful Tin Can Planters

Give the food tins a second chance in your garden by turning them into lovely planters instead of throwing them in the general recycling. Simply wash them out and drill a few little drainage holes on the bottom (do so safely of course). Before planting herbs or bedding plants in compost, add pebbles for further drainage - putting together a "tasty" garden show. Use materials like tin cans, ice cream tubs, colanders, and even old boots to upcycle into plant pots instead of buying plastic ones. If you have too many Woolworths material shopping bags, these are also great to repurpose into pot plants.

7. Try out a tyre swing

Consider whether you could repurpose that old spare tyre as a garden swing before you take it to the local landfill. A strong branch and some rope are all that is needed. As an alternative, used tyres can be excellent flower, plant, or vegetable containers.

Expert Property Services

If after all this upgrading you decide it’s time to put your house on the market, contact the professional team of real estate agents at your local RE/MAX office to help you out.

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