10 Common Household Items You Should Be Repurposing In Your Yard & Garden

When it comes to repurposing and upcycling, few things can beat taking unwanted household items and using them outdoors. Whether they're made into something decorative or purely functional, it's a way to keep junk out of our local landfills and give them new life. From wearables to kitchen items and some things that are, let's face it, really nothing more than trash, you can refashion them into clever items that serve as conversation starters and problem solvers. Many are great for family craft projects, too. After all, getting the kids involved offers some opportunities for teachable moments about reusing household objects in ways they probably haven't imagined.

Take transforming plastic bottles into garden items as one example. Most households regularly toss a variety of sizes that hold everything from soda and water to cleaning products. All of those can be washed out and refashioned into a variety of things, from planters to DIY wasp traps. Do you want a few more helpful, feel-good suggestions for items you can consider reusing in your yard and garden? We have ten waiting for you, and some require very little effort to accomplish. 

You've never thought of using old boots as planters? Well, you certainly can, and they look cute, holding a variety of plants, including herbs for your kitchen garden. You can use any type of boot for this purpose, from leather to rubber, so keep your eye out for thrift store bargains or, better yet, "shop" in your closet. The only real prep work that needs to be done is drilling some drainage holes in the boot bottoms before you add soil and plants to create some unique planters to brighten outdoor spaces. 

You need all those plastic storage bins — until you don't. Once you use up, repurpose, or donate what's inside, you're left wondering what you can do next with the leftover bins. Problem solved when you move them outdoors to make mini-greenhouses where you can start and protect seedlings until they're ready to plant. Sometimes, a lid will get broken, though, leaving a bin without a cover. Think about using one of those on your garden bench as an ample container for mixing up your potting soil blend. 

We love the idea of using metal cans outdoors since they can be decorated in a multitude of different ways. If you're good with a paintbrush, go beyond overall color and use your artistic skills to create a row of cleverly painted cans to use as planters for cuttings or vases for blooms from your garden. To keep it even simpler, you can also use them unpainted as vases as part of a country-chic outdoor table setting or repurpose them on your gardening bench to hold small supplies. 

There are lots of creative ways to repurpose yogurt containers, especially for gardeners who save money by sowing their own seeds instead of buying plants at a local garden center. Any type of plastic yogurt cup works for this purpose. After thoroughly rinsing the container, all you need to do is poke several drainage holes in the bottom, add some soil, plant your seeds, and water according to package instructions. Don't forget to write the name of the plant on the container with a marker, and you're all set. 

Resourceful wine drinkers love finding ways to reuse all the empties that quickly pile up. That includes a number of unique ways to repurpose wine bottles in the garden, like stacking them up to form an intriguing wall. You can also bury them upside down to form garden bed edges, cut them to make planters or wind chimes, or add a wire holder and a National Artcraft's Floral-Style Hummingbird Feeder Tube from Amazon to make a hummingbird feeder. You can also easily transform them into vases and taper candle holders without any fuss. 

When it comes to reused items, there's nothing like upcycling an old bird cage to add charm to a garden. You can thrift a decorative birdcage for this purpose or reuse one that previously housed a pet bird. Paint it or leave it as is, depending on the vibe you're seeking. You can hang your birdcage in a tree or among shrubbery, but they can sit on the ground, too. Vining plants with colorful blooms, in fact, look right at home peeking out of birdcage wiring when you pop one over them. 

Milk jugs offer an opportunity to reuse a trash-destined item for winter sowing after they're cleaned and prepped with drainage holes. Cut the jug so that the top is liftable, plant your seeds and water, and tape the jug shut. Once the plants are ready to put in the ground, you can use the milk jug hack that will help with transplanting. Then, cut the lid off the jug the rest of the way and use the marked top as a cloche to protect the seedlings from inclement weather and animals as they take root. 

You can use almost any type of bowl as a planter with one caveat: You need to be able to drill a hole in it for drainage. Sometimes, with vintage metal bowls, rust takes care of that job for you. If not, you can always place a smaller plastic bowl (with a hole drilled in it) inside your more decorative one. Another tip is to reuse a pretty bowl with a chip or some scratching that makes it unsightly for serving but perfect for a planter.

Reusing an old bathroom fixture in a garden or patio setting can create a unique conversation piece. For instance, discarded bathtubs can be painted and repurposed into planters. Adding claw feet gives them an amazing antique vibe, too. Don't overlook other items like pedestal sinks and even toilets if you want to get really creative. The best part is that items like these in less-than-perfect condition are great for garden use, and you might be able to get one for free if you know someone remodeling an older home. 

Plastic patio chairs often serve a useful purpose when you need budget-minded outdoor seating. When they get a little too icky looking to offer as a seat to a guest, you can easily paint them with Rust-Oleum spray paint for plastic. Now, you've got a cute accessory to place in a flower bed to hold a coordinating planter. You can also use old painted plastic chairs to create colorful and affordable raised garden beds when coupled with plastic storage bins. If those are repurposed, too, that's another win for your wallet.