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    New Garden Tools...Made of Things You Already Have

    By | Work + Money – Wed, Aug 10, 2011 6:51 PM EDT

    Before heading out to the garden, take stock of these 10 common household items-some you might otherwise count as garbage! They may be your new favorite garden tools.

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    1. Use Yogurt Cups to Trap Slugs

    Dig a hole in your yard the size of a yogurt container near any plants being eaten by slugs. Place the cup flush with the ground, and fill with beer or salted water. Bait the rim with sliced potatoes; the pests will crawl into the container and drown.

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    2. Use Charcoal to Nourish Your Compost Heap

    Mix charcoal into your compost pile to increase its carbon content. (If the pile smells like ammonia, it needs carbon.)

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    3. Use Carpet Scraps to Cushion Your Knees When Gardening

    Roll up a scrap of carpet and kneel on it when spreading mulch, planting flowers, or weeding.

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    4. Use a Christmas Tree to Edge Your Borders

    Cut the trunk into 2-inch discs and set them into the soil to edge flower beds or walkways.

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    5. Use Packing Peanuts to Lighten up Big, Heavy Planters

    Pour peanuts into a large pot and add soil to boost drainage and make it easier to move.

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    6. Use a Sponge to Keep Water-Loving Plants Moist

    Place a sponge in the bottom of a planter before adding soil, to keep water in reserve.

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    7. Use a Pencil to Start a Plant

    Made from the wood of bug-repell­ing incense cedar trees, a pencil jabbed into the soil is a durable support for small plants. Use twist ties to hold the seedlings in place.

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    8. Use a Drywall Bucket to Tame a Garden Hose

    Coiled in a bucket, it's neatly stored and stays tangle-free.

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    9. Use Wine Corks to Fluff up Your Soil.

    Chop or grind corks into granules and add them to soil as moisture-retaining mulch.

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    10. Use an Old Plastic Bag to Protect Fruit

    In late fall, tie plastic bags over nearly ripe fruit on a tree to keep out bugs and guard against frost damage.










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