Getting out in the garden is a proven way to live a healthier and more fulfilled life, it keeps you active and in touch with nature, and also allows you to grow your own food. The garden can be a sanctuary, a place to get away to and relax in. It’s also a great way to get the kids interested in nature. If you’re looking to upgrade your garden and want to make it a little more special, here are ten great tips for turning your garden into your own personal vacation spot.
Utilize household objects for planting
1. The refuse from daily living produces tons of biodegradable goods that will work in the garden. For example, folding over the bottom of half of a toilet paper roll will make a perfect planter pot for small plants and seedlings.
2. A traditional hanging shoe rack will provide the perfect opportunity to plant your own herb garden. Each shoe holder can be filled with soil and contain a herb of your choice.
3. Old pots and colanders provide the perfect opportunity to convert them to a planter—for pots this takes a little work, as you’ll need to drill some drainage holes, but a colander needs nothing but soil and a plant to be repurposed.
4. Sometimes it can be difficult to find a water jug that affords the extra gentle care required by more delicate plants. Creating your own water jug out of an old milk jug is easy, and you can control the strength of the water stream by the size of the holes you cut in the cap.
5. Organic materials provide the perfect material to be used as a planter for seedlings. Half a lime or lemon rind, or eggshell with a little soil will provide the perfect environment for early growth.
Creating a great atmosphere
6. Placing garden furniture around a central point in your garden, such as a tree, focuses the eye on the heart of your garden and provides a perfect place to view from. New garden furniture doesn’t have to cost the earth either, retailers like Tesco have a wide range that won’t break the bank.
7. A fun way to repurpose old mirrors or scraps of ribbon is to hang them on your shed or garden walls, this provides a great atmosphere in your garden.
8. Using glow-in-the-dark paint in various parts of your garden will provide you with natural night-time lighting—from planters to trellises, the extra light will make your garden glow.
9. Old tires, painted or buried, can make great planters and can also help you divide up parts of your garden into equal sized sections.
10. If you have any old gardening tools or clothes like boots or wellies can make for wonderful decorations around your garden, giving it a quirky feel.
However you decide to decorate your garden, remember that it’s a shared family space, so make sure it is friendly and usable for all, but with these tips you’re bound to impress the whole family.
Jenny Wilson is London born and discovered her love of gardening when she managed to escape the city and moved to Surrey. When she is not pottering around in her garden she can be found caring for her two lovable ponies.
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