A Gardener's Notebook » Projects

Couldn’t you use garden tool storage close to your work?

Douglas E. Welch — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:26:56 +0000

Below is one idea for tool storage that is close at hand whenever you want to go to work on your garden. I have seen many other permutations of this idea and all of them are great.

Source: lowes.com via Douglas on Pinterest

It only makes sense to put your tools in close proximity to where you will be working. Why carry everything, or put everything in a wheelbarrow, to transport it to your garden site when a mailbox, as in this example, an outdoor storage tub, or even a beautiful handmade garden tool shed could be placed right at the edge of the beds.

I know that for me, I tend to be reminded of garden jobs as I am walking through the garden to do something else. Imagine if you could just grab a pair of pruner and quickly take care of that wanton rose bush in this serendipitous moments. I know it will help me greatly. I find that I make a point of deadheading the geranium that hands on the end of our porch whenever we are saying goodbye to visitors that might have come by for the day or evening. It is right there. It is at eye level. It tends to get all the attention it needs. Other parts of the garden can suffer from a bit of neglect as they are off my typical paths.

If you find yourself carting your tools hither and yon in your garden every time you want to do a little work, maybe a little garden-close tool shed is just what you need.

Photo Right: Gardeners Tool Shed from greenfingers.com

Couldn’t you use garden tool storage close to your work? is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Re-use: Futon frame as garden gate

Douglas E. Welch — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:54:03 +0000

I LOVE creative reuse of materials in the garden (and anywhere, in fact) and I was blown away by this project I first saw on Pinterest.com. (BTW, you can follow me and my garden finds on PInterest, too)

This gardener used an old futon frame, hung on end, as an interesting garden gate. I have on older futon I am about to give away, but now I am thinking of doing something similar with it. The sleek modern lines of most futon frames work well for this type of arrangement. It might be a bit too modern for some gardens, but I am sure there are ways to paint and theme to fit in almost anywhere.

It is great to see such creative thinking and reuse of materials that might otherwise simply be thrown out.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Douglas on Pinterest

Re-use: Futon frame as garden gate is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Project: Steel pipe garden edging

Douglas E. Welch — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:09:24 +0000

You have probably seen my photos and videos of our wine bottle garden edging project. This photo shows a similar approach using an entirely different material. I am not sure where you would source enough of this pipe cheaply, but obviously this person did.

One issue with using unique items for your garden edging is that their small diameter means you need A LOT of them. The wine bottles are probably 4″-5″ in diameter but that is still much smaller than a brick, a stone or using some bender-board edging. This also means it takes more time to install, as you have to lay each piece separately.

I like that the gardener filled each pipe with soil and stones and then planted small succulents. I think this is a great use of otherwise wasted space in the edging.

Still, I really like the look of our wine bottles and these steel pipes. Click through on this Pinterest link for more garden photos and ideas from the original blog.

Source: floradoragardens.blogspot.com via Douglas on Pinterest

Project: Steel pipe garden edging is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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DIY: PVC Pipe Strawberry Planter

Douglas E. Welch — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:45:18 +0000

Vertical growing, whether upside down (tomatoes) or right side up (the strawberries below) has been a big trend of late. The fact is though, vertical growing has long been a way to make the most of small space. Espalier is a way of pruning fruit trees to have them grow in a flat plane i.e. against a wall and yet still produce abundant fruit. I have recently seen pallet gardens — shipping pallets filled with soil and place vertically — for growing on apartment balconies, too.

This creative idea builds on the concept of the traditional strawberry pot, but allows you to plant as tall as you might wish. This picture I found on Pinterest links to a Flickr set of photos, but it seems pretty clear that they have taken a length of PVC drainage pipe, cut out holes for the plants and then filled it with soil. I could see 3 or 4 of these in a row along a sunny fence. Water is probably added from the top and allowed to flow down each tube.

Source: flickr.com via Ananda on Pinterest

DIY: PVC Pipe Strawberry Planter is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Project: One Board Birdhouse

Douglas E. Welch — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:24:28 +0000

I made a few of these with my son and they are a great project to do with kids or with any group. You could even make a fundraiser out of this where the kids build and then paint/augment the design.

Due to its design you don’t really need any power tools at all, although a jigsaw and electric screwdriver make the job easier.

Birdhouse for Beginners

With its classic good looks, this one-board birdhouse will fit anywhere.

While this birdhouse is as simple as it gets, it has a lot going for it. It can be made very quickly…uses minimal materials and tools…and boasts a sleek look that will make any budding woodworker proud to say, “I built it all by myself!”.

Read the entire article at Birds & Blooms

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I Like This – Wine Crate Gardening

Douglas E. Welch — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:21:09 +0000

This ended up being a very, very popular “pin” on Pinterest.com. You can find my “pins” on my personal Pinterest Page.

The link will take you to the original source of the photos and ideas at the Fennel and Fern blog from the UK. This idea has made me start looking at every cool container I see as a possible garden bed. (LAUGH)

Source: fennelandfern.co.uk via Douglas on Pinterest

I Like This – Wine Crate Gardening is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Elsewhere: Teapot Garden Fountain/Waterfall

Douglas E. Welch — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:01:13 +0000

This looks like it would take a lot of work, but the impact of something like this in your garden is undeniable. I imagine the sound would be enjoyable, too.

From greenwellies,tumblr.com and Pinterest user Robin Johnston

Elsewhere: Teapot Garden Fountain/Waterfall is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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DIY Recycle: Coffee Can bird feeder

Douglas E. Welch — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:53:04 +0000

A very nice recycle use of a coffee can for a bird feeder. I especially like the use of the lids as the seed retainers. With paint or without, I think it would be a pleasant addition to your garden and a great, easy project to do with kids.

Source: None via Susie on Pinterest

DIY Recycle: Coffee Can bird feeder is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Recycle: Detergent Bottle Watering Can

Douglas E. Welch — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 07:33:29 +0000

Found on Pinterest.com…

Convert a plastic detergent bottle into a serviceable watering can. Great way to recycle!

Source: hawaiigardening.blogspot.com via Douglas on Pinterest

Recycle: Detergent Bottle Watering Can is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Video: How-To: Wine bottle edging for your garden beds project

Douglas E. Welch — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:26:37 +0000

Douglas takes you through a project using wine bottles to edge a garden bed. This is a great recycling project and easy enough that anyone, even kids, can help out.

Watch “Wine bottle edging for your garden beds” – iPod Ready Video

Disclosure: This post is in conjunction with my paid partnership as one of the Saturday6 from Troy-Bilt. All thoughts are my own.

Video: How-To: Wine bottle edging for your garden beds project is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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