Upcycle wine bottles into a wall

by Debra Anchors

A patio wall created from glass bottles

I have seen many examples of partitions and walls created from glass bottles on the Internet. This one is my favorite.

Wall of bottles - Closeup 

To create your own colorful glass structure, drill holes through the bottom of each bottle, using a diamond drill bit, and then guide 1/2" rebar through the holes to create the wall.

















Note:  For convenience, I have embedded links into the text that will take you to the products used in this project.

Recycle, upcycle and do it yourself? Absolutely! Have you upcycled something unique for your garden from recycled materials? Please share it with me so I can feature your creation here.


If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life. AND, don’t miss my more traditional gardening website, Gardens Inspired.

I hope you found inspiration today. Remember to subscribe, so you won't miss a thing!

Until next time -
Debra

Upcycle your broken garden pots

by Debra Anchors

This image was photographed by Debra at
Crystal Gardens in Frankfort, Michigan

Here is an idea for displaying even your broken garden planters! The "Rest in Pieces" sign is easy enough to make out of recycled materials too.

Will you make room for something like this in your garden?

Recycle, upcycle and do it yourself? Absolutely! Have you upcycled something unique for your garden from recycled materials? Please share it with me so I can feature your creation here.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life. AND, don’t miss my more traditional gardening website, Gardens Inspired.

I hope you found inspiration today. Remember to subscribe, so you won't miss a thing!

Until next time -
Debra

An extra hand in the garden

by Debra Anchors

Image by Jacki Cammidge and Blue Fox Farm

I was inspired by an idea I found over on Blue Fox Farm. Jacki Cammidge created her hypertufa hands using Portland cement powder, peat moss and perlite.  I absolutely love this idea, but desired something sturdier in my Midwest garden, so I modified the instructions.







To create these, gather the following materials:

1. The largest size (powder-free) surgical gloves you can find
2. A fast-setting cement (Quikrete© Vinyl Concrete Patch works well)
3. Play sand or an empty pot for use in forming the hands
4. A razor blade
5. Small pieces of cardboard
6. Rubber band(s)

• Mix the cement as the package directs, obtaining a putty-like consistency. 
• Fill and then empty your gloves with water; be certain all water is drained. The goal is to dampen the inside of the gloves.
• Fill your gloves with the prepared concrete product.
• Make a pin-prick at the end of each finger of the glove and consistently and carefully push any air out of the gloves as you fill with the concrete.
• Close the wrist end of the gloves with a rubber band
• Form the filled, gloved fingers in a bed of wet play sand, or use a planter or dish to hold your ‘hand’ in the desired position. 
• Before the cement begins to set, slip a piece of cardboard between the fingers (the gloves will be easier to remove with space separating the fingers).
• Place your cement hands in the shade to dry (at least 48 hours).
• Once the hands are dry enough to handle and can be easily removed from the gloves, cut the gloves with a razor blade and then carefully pull them loose from the cement.
• Brush the outside of your cement hands with a wire brush to give them a rustic and aged look.  Once you have achieved the desired appearance, immerse your sculptures into a bucket of clean water for 3 or more days to fully cure the cement.

Note:  For convenience, I have embedded links into the text that will take you to the products used in this project.

Recycle, upcycle and do it yourself? Absolutely! Have you upcycled something unique for your garden from recycled materials? Please share it with me so I can feature your creation here.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life. AND, don’t miss my more traditional gardening website, Gardens Inspired.

I hope you found inspiration today. Remember to subscribe, so you won't miss a thing!

Until next time -

Debra

Construct allium inspired garden stakes

by Debra Anchors

Allium inspired garden spheres
Image by Katjuza; Nokia, Finland

The showy flowers of allium bloom in early summer and carry a sweet, pungent scent.  If you garden outside of USDA Zones 4-7, or in a state that prohibits the growth of allium, you can obtain the illusion of the plant by creating spheres carrying their form.

• Form chicken wire around a hard ball, such as a bocce ball or croquet ball. 
• Paint each sphere, using an outdoor spray paint that will protect against rust.
• Using a permanent bonding adhesive, attach the globes to garden stakes.

Note:  For convenience, I have embedded links into the text that will take you to the products used in this project.

Recycle, upcycle and do it yourself? Absolutely! Have you upcycled something unique for your garden from recycled materials? Please share it with me so I can feature your creation here.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life. AND, don’t miss my more traditional gardening website, Gardens Inspired.

I hope you found inspiration today. Remember to subscribe, so you won't miss a thing!

Until next time -
Debra

Create planters from metal file cabinets

by Debra Anchors

Image by Boopy Projects

I love this idea for creating a raised bed.  Old 2-drawer, 5-drawer and even single-drawer file cabinets easily found by the curb, at yard sales or in resale stores can now have a new and functional life when recycled as planters.  What is your favorite garden color?  As long as you choose paint specially formulated for use on metal, you can choose any color you like.

Image by Boopy Projects

Raise the file cabinet onto whatever it will rest on so that proper drainage can result. Using a drill bit meant for metal, drill holes into the bottom of the cabinet (it’s back), so the roots of your plants won’t drown.  Seasoned lumber, bricks, or metal wheels can be easily found at your local home improvement store. Use one of those methods to raise your planter up and off of the ground.

Image by Abby and Adam

The very best file cabinet to convert to a planter is one with a metal bottom; some metal cabinets have a hollow base.  If you find a reasonably priced (or even free) file cabinet that is hollow at the end, just plan to build a bottom for it.









As you plan to fill the spaces with soil, realize that unless you use a “filler” of some kind, you will need multiple bags of dirt. Also, your refurbished file cabinet planter, once filled, will be very heavy.  Consider assembling and planting your new container after it is placed in its permanent location.

Now. What can we create with those drawers?

Note:  For convenience, I have embedded links into the text that will take you to the products used in this project.

Recycle, upcycle and do it yourself? Absolutely! Have you upcycled something unique for your garden from recycled materials? Please share it with me so I can feature your creation here.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life. AND, don’t miss my more traditional gardening website, Gardens Inspired.

I hope you found inspiration today. Remember to subscribe, so you won't miss a thing!

Until next time -
Debra

• Thank you to Abby and Adam and Boopy Projects for use of the photos. Please relax with their entertaining and informative websites, too.