There is a special forum for this topic on GW, so don't forget to look there too for some great ideas.

I re-use a lot of stuff.

All my pots are recycled - either to work or to church because I garden in both places..and also at home because I grow things here.

Don't forget seeds! I cull my own seeds and of course plant them again!

All of my containers have broken up styro for drainage (not ones of cellulose though!).

I make my own compost.

Many temporary structures in my garden are from recycled stuff. My friend is a renovator and will save good things. I'm hoping he saves me windows from a friends house he is going to work on.

Some of my rose and other trellises are from hog wire I found and recycled.

That's about all I can think of now. Lots of people here will post. They have great ideas!

girlgroupgirl

I am the Queen of Sticks. Most sturdy sticks can be recycled for something. I even took the thin stems left from last year where Salvia leucantha bloomed and used them for training sticks to help my cypress vine to find the stick trellis.
Huge sticks, you might recognize them as tree trunks, make good vine poles, or bottle trees if you're into yard art.

You know those little square 6 pack, or 2 pack or whatever that bedding plants come in that are too flimsy and break up when you remove the plants? Even broken, they make good holders for recycled disposable cups that hold seedlings. My cups always fell over when I arranged them on trays. Look at the top rows of this photo:

Nell

I am the queen of the old wash tub. I put the little pots, singles or multipacks, plants come in on the bottom for drainage. I have a couple that are too nice to put holes in, so they are turned upside down with other pots on them.

I'm in an herb group that uses cut up mini blinds to mark the prices on plants for our annual plant sale. I've been tempted to use them as plant markers in the yard. Hey, do others like me stick the little labels from the plants in the dirt next to them?

We have lots of things we've picked up at garage sales, thrift stores, and occasionally antique stores that we put here and there in the yard. If I ever learn how to post photos, I'll put one of one of my prized possessions, an old wire cage that was used in the past to burn leaves, It currently is the home of a black eyed Susan vine, which seems to like it.

Sue D.

I am going to try to follow Nell's directions and post some photos of some of what we have "reused" in our yard. Thanks Nell!
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Hi, I'm bringing this back to the top because I didn't know if anyone noticed my photos I was proud to have figured out how to post.

I'm glad you did bring it back to the top! I missed this one. What is the black-eyed susan vine growing in...is that a birdcage?

I'm glad Nell taught you how to post pictures, too! Now we can all enjoy your great ideas!

-Sharon

Someone told me it's something they used to put leaves in to burn. I think I got it at an auction with some other garden items.

My DH and I are in the process of building my compost bins from recycled pallets and wood saved from our deck repair project. Right now I compost in a series of big heaps that are semi-hidden from view by our row of white pine trees.

I cut the tops off plastic drink bottles to make temporary "vases" for transporting floral bouquets. They fit perfectly in the car's cupholder and then I can remove the flowers and put them in a vase once I arrive at my destination.

I use cut-up old mini blinds as plant markers in my veggie garden....I know what I have planted there but my DH and DS have no clue PLUS then I can add the date when I planted.

Ground up office paper, newspapers, and cardboard all go into my compost heap; just be sure to remove any of those big staples from the cardboard.

Volunteer plants that don't fit into my garden beds are potted up in recycled plastic containers to give to friends or donate to the church's yard sales. I also use the cardboard flats that soda cans are shipped in as harvesting containers for my lavender. I use those flats or deeper boxes when digging out a LOT of plants to give away when the person is planning to take them straight home to plant or hill in.

Old clothes that are too far gone for Goodwill become garden ties. I plan to take a few clothes and make a scarecrow this year too.

You and i share the same garden decor ideas. i have alot of the same items such as the double wash tub and the metal wash basket. I also have an old metal wash basket on wheels that folds in. very cool stuff you have here.
tanya

Thanks, tanya. Your wash basket on wheels sounds cool.

On another thread similar to this I mentioned using mop and old garden tool handles for plant supports in my vegetable garden. I forgot to mention I also have some there I'm using for hose guides so my marigolds don't get crushed. DH and I went to some garage sales today, and I bought 5 old mops for $1.00. You can't buy stakes for that! They are sturdy, and some of them have funky things on top where the mop head went.

Sue

My armenian cucumbers kept getting eaten every time they sprouted. I replanted the seeds and made a little ring out of some short garden fencing. Heading out to the fabric store for some tulle when I decided to check the dress bag I keep my wedding gown in. HAH, I knew that veil would come in handy some day! Cut it up, covered the fencing and tucked it in well around the edges. So far so good!