Gardening is about more than cultivating vegetables and flowers. It’s an outlet for creativity and design. There are no rules that say you must do what everyone else is doing. The beauty of gardening is that you can create whatever you want to. You can remove trees, plant trees, add water elements, electrical elements, and even get the whole family involved. And, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on a DIY garden.
Here are eight garden DIYs that are as epic as they are easy, as well as some helpful tips to change your garden.
DIY Hanging Gutter Garden
Vertical gardens are all the rage right now. When you have limited space for horizontal flower beds, taking advantage of vertical space is vital.
There are many ways you can create a vertical garden, but one of the most stunning uses gutters and rope. Gutters have the perfect shape to hold soil and plants. Pick up three (or more) gutters from the hardware store or secondhand from a neighbour as well as some thin-medium width rope. Drill two holes on either side of each gutter for the rope to thread through, as well as a few drainage holes in the bottom. Then, hang the structure from your gazebo, pergola, or deck roof. Fill with soil and your favourite plants and voila, you have your own DIY hanging gutter garden!
DIY Succulent Wreaths
The wooden fence that lines your yard can be an eyesore compared to your elaborate gardens. Improve your home and dress up your fences by making succulent wreaths to hang along the fence. DIY succulent wreaths are super trendy and low-maintenance. To start, you’ll want to find a sphagnum moss wreath form to create the base. Soak the moss completely in water before adding succulent cuttings, which you can get at specialty plant and flower boutiques or online. Use a dowel, or a similarly shaped object, to poke holes in the damp wreath. Place the cuttings stems in the holes and allow the wreath to lay flat for 6-8 weeks. Then, attach some wire for hanging and place them along your fences.
DIY Rain Barrel
Did you know that rainwater is much better for your garden than city water? The city’s treated water contains fluoride and other chemicals that don’t benefit your plants. Instead of buying an expensive rain barrel kit, you can make one yourself.
Get a large garbage bin with a lid and make a 10-inch hole in the lid. Place a small screen filter across it and point your drain pipe from the roof towards it. Prop the bin on top of a secondhand coffee table or make your own platform. In the bottom of the bin, you’ll want to create two holes for two PVC pipes, as well as holes in the coffee table (if you use that type of platform). One pipe should be tall and provide overflow drainage. The other should be short and connect to a PVC pipe with a hose adapter or an off nozzle inside the platform. Wait for a few good rainfalls and start watering your garden with the nutrient-rich water they deserve.
DIY Garden Pathway
First-time gardeners often build their gardens around the perimeter of their yards. If you’re ready to level-up your hobby, create gardens dispersed across your yard with DIY pathways around them. This turns your garden into an experience for the admirer as they weave around your beds. For an easy DIY pathway, dig up the grass where you want the path to be. Pour gravel into the pathways and level with a shovel. Place individual stepping stones along the gravel to lead the way. Plant flowers or succulents along the border of the path to separate the gravel from the garden.
DIY Pallet Herb Garden
Who doesn’t love the idea of growing their herbs? Instead of using your precious bed space for herbs, take advantage of vertical space with a wooden palette. Depending on the pallet you find, you may have to make some changes. The idea is to create three shelves/boxes for the plants to grow in. That might mean removing some panels to give yourself more space. You should also consider sanding it down and hammering down any nails. Stain the pallet so it matches the wood on your patio or porch. Then, fill the shelves/boxes with potting soil and your herb seeds. As they grow, nurture them to hang over the side of the pallet. This is not only money-saving for your grocery bill, but it looks gorgeous against a sunny wall in your yard.
DIY Garden Markers
There are hundreds of interesting ways to label the plants in your garden. Some people opt for spoons, flags, or even rocks. You can use anything for a label as long as sharpie ink will adhere to it. One of the most resourceful garden marker DIYS is to use extra bricks you have from past projects. You might have them lined up against the side of your house waiting for a purpose. Well, here it is! Clean off each brick and allow them to dry. Then, take white paint to write the plant names across the brick. Place them in the soil face up or on their sides. You could even stack them on other bricks. This is an epic way to reuse old materials in a creative and useful way.
DIY Potting Station
Any avid gardener will tell you, organization is essential when keeping track of all your tools. Without a designated space for everything, you end up with shovels and potting soil bags all around the yard. You can solve this problem by making a DIY potting station. Find a secondhand dresser, cabinet, or hutch. Remove any doors from the top half and screw in hooks along for your gardening gloves and hanging tools. Make space in the bottom half for potting soil, fertilizers, and extra planters. Leave a shelf or counter in the middle as a work surface for potting. You could put the entire station on wheels or leave it in its particular space in your yard. This keeps all your gardening essentials safe in one secure place.
DIY Seed Packet Letters
What do you do with all those seed packets when you’re done planting? Instead of throwing them away, save them. Buy some wooden or metal letters from the craft store. You could spell any word that captures the essence of your garden. For example, trace out the words “GROW,” “HARVEST,” or “LOVE.” Cover each letter with the seed packets and modge-podge glue. You’ll end up with block letters covered in pictures of plants and seed names. Finish by water-proofing the letters and place them your garden or nail them to the fence above your beds.
Do you have a tree that’s getting in the way of your garden design? Do you want to add trees to your yard to complete your design? Either way, Caledon Treeland is here for all your tree-moving needs. We have tons of epic tips to change your garden. To learn more about how we can take your garden to the next level, send us a message or contact us today: (905) 880-1828.