Everyday Household Items Gardeners Shouldn't Throw Away

A lot of people throw away things they can use in other ways. If your a gardener then here are some things you shouldn't throw away. Instead of throwing them away you can use them in your garden.

If you have fish then save the water next time you clean out your fish tank. It can be used in your garden or for your houseplants. The fish tank water contains organic waste that's good for your plants.

Do you eat bananas? Then save the peels. They are great for fertilizing your roses, houseplants and your vegetables. Just let your banana peels air dry until they're crip. Then crumble them up. Put them in a sealed envelope and store them at room temperature. To use all you do is put the pieces of peel in the hole that your going to plant in or your potting soil. For your larger plants you can use three peels. For your smaller plants and miniature roses you would use one peel.

That old turkey baster, you have laying around the house that you hardly ever use, can be used to water your plants. Some plants shouldn't get water on their leaves so this is a great way to water those plants.

An old birdcage that you were going to throw away can be turned into a planter. Just add a liner halfway up the cage. Then add your soil and plants.

If you have plants that are infested with slugs just lay cabbage or lettuce leaves down near your plants. During the day the slugs will hide under the leaves. That way you know exactly where there at so you can get rid of them.

Stop throwing away your paper towel and toilet paper tubes. These can be used as seedling pots. All you do is cut the tubes to whatever size you need and wrap the outside with aluminum foil, so they don't fall apart when you water your seeds. Then put the tubes into something that's waterproof like an old pan or tray. Then add your soil and seeds. When your plants start to grow, and its time to transplant, just take off the foil and plant your tubes.

Egg cartons are also a great seed starting container.

Old aprons with pockets are great to wear in the garden. You can put your seeds and gardening tools in the pockets. That way everything is right there when you need it.

Save your lemon and orange rinds. They help to keep cats and sometimes squirrels from digging in your garden. Save your rinds in the winter by storing them in the freezer. Then in spring and summer all you have to do is bury the rinds in your garden. Bury them just below the surface and a few feet apart.

Coffee cans work great for getting your fruit up off the ground. Just lift your fruit and set them down on an overturned coffee can.

Instead of using pebbles in your houseplants you can use crushed eggshells. They allow drainage and they also add calcium to the soil.

You can also make a great calcium booster for your perennials with crushed eggshells. Just put your crushed eggshells in a bucket of water and let it set for several days. Then when its time to water your plants all you do is stir the solution and your ready to water your plants.

Do you have problems with deer in your garden? Then the next time you get your hair cut save it. Put the hair in an old stocking and hang in the trees or on a stake around your garden.

Do the crows keep getting your corn seedlings? Then take an old bicycle inner tube and lay it in your garden. The crows will think its a snake. One inner tube protects about 12 square feet. Plus you have to move the tubes to different spots ever so often.

Old pie pans make great wind chimes for your garden to deter animals. Just string them up around your garden.

Plastic lids from cans can be used under your houseplants to catch water.

Don't throw away those little pieces of scented soap. If you have small fruit trees you can hang the scented soap in the tree to keep the deer from eating your fruit.

A great way to sow your smaller seeds in your garden is to use a clean salt shaker or a spice shaker.

So gardeners stop throwing away useful things. The earth has enough trash. When you go to throw something away, stop and think, can this be used in some other way. You can find so many useful things to do with the stuff you throw away.

For more great gardening tips check out the book below called 1,001 Old-Time Garden Tips. This book will take you back to the future of gardening with its incredible collection of gardening advice from successful, 17th-, 18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century gardeners. Early gardeners knew what they where doing. They had to because they depended on their plants for food, medicine, home decorations and recreation. In this book you will learn how to read weather signs, improve your soil organically, hide landscape eyesores with ease, decorate your home with flowering vines and soothe joints with herbal remedies. From fruits to nuts and artichokes to watermelons, you'll find recommendations for healthier harvests. You'll also find recipes for unique and tasty side dishes, drinks and herbal seasoning.

Also check out my other tips below.