A man has shared his “favorite” way to reuse old cans in the garden, and it can be really useful for people who don’t have a lot of outdoor space to grow things in
08:02 ET, 24 May 2025Updated 10:07 ET, 24 May 2025
You can try this instead of throwing away tin cans (Stock Image)(Image: undefined via Getty Images)
If you’re about to toss a used can of tomatoes into the bin after making a curry, hold on just a minute. Instead of discarding it, give it a rinse and repurpose it for a clever gardening hack. Joe, who shares his tips on TikTok under the handle @joesgarden, advises first to “remove the labels that might be on your tin and carefully poke some holes in the bottom” instead, because you can reuse the can in your outdoor space.
He suggests using a “hammer and nail or drill works best” to create the drainage holes, as the sturdy cans can be tough to puncture.
Next, he says: “Give your tin a really good wash to make sure there’s no residue and to check the drainage holes are working.”
Joe mentions that the following step is “optional,” but he personally likes to paint the cans to enhance their visual appeal and make sure they match the look of his garden.
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He also notes that a coat of paint can provide “a little more protection from getting too hot in the sun.”
Joe instructs: “You can then start to screw your cans to a wall or fence trellis somewhere that is sunny, but also gets a little bit of shade throughout the day.”
Once they’re securely mounted, you can “pop in some quality soil and start to plant out some micro-herbs such as chives.”
He proudly displays his own tin can wall garden, which looks fantastic and promises to be a great feature for this summer and many more to come.
He adds: “To take it to the next level, paint on some little black squares where you can write the names of each variety,” demonstrating with a white pen.
“It’s very important to harvest your herbs regularly to keep them nice and small and also keep them well-watered during hot sunny days,” Joe advised.
In his post, he shared that this is one of his “favorite ways to help people who may only have a small space or garden to grow food. Without doubt the best way to grow food and plants in a small space is to use vertical gardening techniques.”
He added: “Now I would like to make a few important points. The bigger the tin, the better, as small containers will dry out fast throughout the day, and where possible, use lined tins.
“If you look closely, the tins I am using have a white liner on the inside, which is commonly used with tins that store something in water.
“These are really slow to rust and I’ve had some in my garden for nearly three years with no sign of rust at all.”
Joe emphasized: “These planters are best when planted with really small plants such as chives, pansy and alpine strawberries, and just make sure to keep harvesting to keep your plants small.”