Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a beginner hobbyist, you must have a few basic tools to help make cultivating and propagating your plants easier. However, you don’t need to own an extensive collection, but the essentials ones that must be in your garden starter kit. While most people prefer to stick to the multitude of tools available for use, you should consider trying out something new, including re-purposing some kitchen tools for gardening care.
Here are 8 kitchen tools that can be repurposed as garden tools;
1. Wine/Water bottle for watering
Watering your plants may be a hard task, primarily due to the nature of our busy lifestyles. Thus most people may be reluctant to try gardening, fearing that it may not be successful. This doesn’t have to be the case. If you plan to be away from home for a couple of days or you are not available to water your garden daily, you can turn your bottle wines or any other type of bottle in your kitchen as a make-shift watering system. Fill the bottles with water, then flip them into the ground, and that way, your plants will be provided with a regulated amount of water for an extended period.
2. Make ‘greenhouses’ with plastic soda bottles
One of the best ways to make sure that the seeds germinate quickly is by providing a warm and conducive growing environment before you plant them in your garden. For this purpose, you can start by filling a glass with soil and bury the seeds inside. You’ll then need to cut a plastic bottle, preferably a 2-litre soda bottle, and wash it before placing it on top of the glass. That way, you will have a warm mini greenhouse for the seedlings, and you can make as many structures as you space can allow.
3. Planting in a kitchen colander
A colander is an essential kitchen utensil used to strain and steam food such as pasta and vegetables. However, these utensils are unique and are often used for growing plants such as peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, and flowers. And since the colander is perforated, one doesn’t need to make drainage for the plants.
The traditional stainless steel colander makes an excellent choice for any garden, but it is not the only option available. The good thing is that the colander can accommodate several plants, and you can move it around until you are satisfied with the arrangement. The colander can also make an excellent housewarming gift.
4. Using cheese graters for garden lighting
While using grating isn’t that fun, it turns out that graters are can be re-purposed into all kinds of cool things. You can re-purpose your graters to add some oomph to your ordinary kitchen lights as well as garden lights. And since graters are already perforated, they will cast out delightful light.
Also, by attaching these kitchen tools to your garden light, they will give your home a fancy look even if your graters are worn out. The other option is to use the grater to hold live flowers. The grater should be attached outdoor in an area that receives sufficient sunlight. The perforations are small enough to keep the soil in and to drain excess water.
5. Paper bag mesh
Most gardeners use paper bags used in the kitchen as a garden net to protect the plants from dust accumulation and pest birds temporarily. The paper bags can be draped over frames, hoops, and cages to protect your young plants. You can also use them to provide firm support for plants growing vertically. However, ensure to check the plants now and then to prevent them from growing into the mesh. The paper bag mess can be used in all growing seasons, and it is excellent for both indoor and outdoor gardening.
6. Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are mainly rich in nitrogen, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and other trace elements needed for plant growth. If you use coffee daily, then you have a great source of organic fertilizer for your garden at hand. Coffee grounds can make your garden flourish and breathe new life to your dying plants. You can use the coffee grounds in several ways including;
- Adding them in the compost bin to make compost manure.
- You can also add the coffee grounds directly in the garden to fertilize the soil.
- The coffee grounds can be used to feed earthworms when added in your earthworm bin every once per week. Besides, it will attract earthworms to the soil when added directly as a fertilizer.
- Coffee grounds are also used to keep pests such as slugs and snails away.
- Also, plants that thrive in acidic pHs such as rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and blueberries can benefit from coffee grounds. However, plants such as tomatoes may not thrive when sprinkled with the coffee ground, so they should be kept away from that part of the yard.
7. Make a teacup garden
Your old vintage cups can create a kind of miniature garden when used as planters, especially for your balcony. For this, you will require a variety of teacups plus saucers, young plants, potting soil, marker, multipurpose glue, and a drill.
Use the glue to adhere teacups to the saucers and set them aside to dry as you prepare your plants. You’ll then need to fill each cup with soil to the three-quarter mark. You can add a layer of gravel or drill a hole at the bottom to help with drainage.
Remove your plants from the seedbeds or containers gently and insert them in the teacups along with any additional soil required. You can mix the soil with slow-release fertilizer separately, to ensure that your plant will have enough nutrients. Water your plants as needed and choose where to place them, and within no time, you will have your own teacup garden.
8. DIY spoon plant markers
Other than using them as cutlery, old and worn-out spoons can be recycled as plant markers. They are easy to make and mount in soil, and they are captivating, especially when used with plants in a teacup. An individual marker will bear the name of the plant inside the teacup, but you can use them in any other spot in the garden. You’ll need to use a rubber mallet or hammer to flatten the spoons and decide where you want to place the word. Label each spoon using a permanent marker before you insert them into your teacups.
Wrap up
Gardening doesn’t have to be an expensive adventure. Whichever gardening tools you are using, remember to invest in high-quality items that are comfortable to use, and with the above gardening hacks, you should be able to take your gardening to the next level.
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William Phillips was born and raised in Keller, Texas. He is a licensed general contractor, and he has been a home improvement specialist for two decades. His passion for the trade led him to freelance writing to share his life experiences with his readers. Phillips enjoys thoroughly researching DIY tools and writing guides at ToolsHaunt as a way of giving back to the community.