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

Calephetos

margaretfeb wrote: »

Iv'e read most of these money-saving tips, but I just couldn't believe that anyone would cut off their "name and address labels" and save them as
Kate682 does. How tight is that?

Dunno about 'tight' but I hate scribbling my name and address on the back of parcels (mainly because I always remember to do so *after* I've sealed the damned thing and then have to write on a sloping, stuffed envelope...) so I cut the address off bills, envelopes, etc and tape them on. Far more readable than my handwriting too.

I usually have a sheet of printed labels to cut up and stick (run off on my printer, not special or anything) but I often forget to sort it out. I do, or did do, a lot of eBaying and online swapping/selling, and would send out packages two or three times a week.

But this has nothing to do with gardening! Oops. Hehe.

Cacran

Not my idea in the first place but I've done it and it works well.

those huge square containers that have undiluted orange or blackcurrant in them........ cut a square hole into each side, leaving the corners as posts to hold the whole thing solid. Best to leave a bit at the top and bottom of the square hole so you can fold it, stick stick down with tape so no sharp edges for the birds feet ( not that I actually know how sensitive they are...lol!) Leave the lid on the bottle, some have little handles already but if yours hasn't, tie a bit af string round the top, this is to hang it up. Put bird seed in the bottom, hang it in a tree and sit back and watch the birds collect it. the seed keeps nice and dry too. I am so thrifty (tight) that i use the seed that my Cockatiel has left over. I put a fresh lot in his cage each day and there's always lots of uneaten stuff (spoiled rotton, that bird!) The empty seed husk just blow out of the new feeder leaving the good stuff behind. Not sure how much this saves but, owt for nowt, eh?

Tetsuko

gentlepurr wrote: »

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

I thank you very much for this. It's a great idea. Unfortunately my family might not be sharing the same opinion when I have fed them boiled eggs for a few weeks to stock up on egg shells :eek: :rotfl:

Charis

When putting compost into pots, use old teabags to fill the bottom of the pot. Stops the compost falling throught the holes and the whole lot can be composted when finished with. Better than fishing out all those bits of polystyrene I used to use for the same job.

MaureenHB

Margarine and ice cream tubs cut into shape make marvellous plant labels. Just use an indelible pen.. never have to buy them again!

KittyBoo_2

After opening a tin of beans or anything else in large cans I then wash them out and open the other end. I then push them into the ground around my new seedlings to stop the slugs getting at them. I grew my beetroot like this last year and didn't have any problems. Scare the birds off too.

jo101_2

My Dad has used loads of things in the garden, old washing machine drums for planters, old water tank for a water butt and a chip frying basket made a very nice hanging basket!!

Dustykitten

I saved the black plastic tray which our organic turkey crown came in at Christmas (I hate packing esp on organic stuff but that is a whole different thread) and it's clear plastic dome/turkey shaped lid. Made holes filled with compost and have sown it with leek seeds. I told DS1 and his mate that I was growing a vegetarian turkey for next christmas:rotfl: They asked 3 times how do you get seeds for a turkey BTW they are 13!

emmilou

I have used an old porcelain(?) sink as a herb garden just this week (it has been sat in the garden since we moved moved in and gutted our house 4 years ago!) It looks really pretty now I am well chuffed:D

Cacran

You can plant seeds in legths of gutter and slide it out directly into the soil when the plants are big enough.