The Great 'Re-use from the house into the garden' Hunt

nanamags

I replaced one of the paving slabs on my patio with wine bottles. The hole has to be the depth of the wine bottles, put sand in the bottom and place bottles neck down. Use gravel to fill in any gaps. Some of the bottles have quite deep dents in the bottom and can be planted with semperveriums.

:j :j

Eglantine

When we had a drought last summer, the heavily used waste washing-up water went straight on the compost heap at the end of the garden (bar a little spillage!). Lightly used water went onto the plants in the early evening - I only had to use fresh water for the tomatoes and raspberry canes once a week instead of daily. Please note that this works better if you use bio-degradeable washing up liquid like Ecover.

Water from light baths (normally we use the shower to save water, but sometimes DIY episodes mean a soak is essential for the muscles) also went via buckets onto the Eucalyptus tree.

Now I have had a water meter installed (estimated saving £200+ per annum), this will become a regular policy. Saving up to get a proper grey-water processing system in place (estimated cost £699 - payback 5-6 years with the meter as I won't be able to carry buckets forever!) such as http://www.greywaterirrigation.co.uk/banbuster.php.

MoJo

[Originally Posted by Sagar Fuzz
You can also use crushed eggshells to add calcium if you need it.]


Eggshells are a good slug deterrent too

nanamags

My daughter and son in law made raised beds out of a divan bed base. The base was in two parts. The wood was painted each base was lined with heavy plastic. Once planted up they are unrecognisable. They are about 5 years old now and are still going strong.

full-time-mum

The washing machine is dead long live the (new) washing machine.

OK, convince me that I (OH ) really do want to drag my old washing machine outside and strip it down and salvage some of it.

sal

I've done it!

Yesterday, my DH poo-poohed my recommendation that we re-cycle the old washing machine and make a brazier (I'd already taken off the door and used the window as a very nice dish). Off he went birdwatching and I dived into the shed for tools.

An hour later I was soaked to the skin, the neighbours must think I am barking mad, but I am now the proud owner of a brilliant brazier, I know because I've tried it out today, it burns like blazes!

It took various screwdrivers, spanners, wrenches and finally an axe but I did it. All the bits went in the bin, we now only have the outer casing to take to the tip - unless I can think of something else to use it for?

Beats birdwatching.

Sal

MaureenHB

Re-use the plastic rings that hold 4 cans of beer together as plant supports for tall plants like delphiniums or hollyhocks. Loose fit so they don't strangle the stems and other stems can be added in as they grow.

stilernin

MaureenHB wrote: »

Re-use the plastic rings that hold 4 cans of beer together as plant supports for tall plants like delphiniums or hollyhocks. Loose fit so they don't strangle the stems and other stems can be added in as they grow.

Brilliant!! Another reason to buy beer.......... cheers!!

Don't forget to collect them up at the end of the year though, as wildlife can get caught up in the loops with serious consequences (sp?)

In fact when you do get to the endof the year, they could be used for keeping bundles of canes together over the winter.

karren

sal wrote: »

I've done it!

Yesterday, my DH poo-poohed my recommendation that we re-cycle the old washing machine and make a brazier (I'd already taken off the door and used the window as a very nice dish). Off he went birdwatching and I dived into the shed for tools.

An hour later I was soaked to the skin, the neighbours must think I am barking mad, but I am now the proud owner of a brilliant brazier, I know because I've tried it out today, it burns like blazes!

It took various screwdrivers, spanners, wrenches and finally an axe but I did it. All the bits went in the bin, we now only have the outer casing to take to the tip - unless I can think of something else to use it for?

Beats birdwatching.

Sal

do you have a phot? as i still have no idea what one is?

gentlepurr

plant seeds or seedlings in eggshells, then when you are ready to plant them out, crack shells lightly with a spoon and plant the whole lot. no fuss, roots will grow through the eggshells, and they have ready made bonemeal to give them a good start

xx