The spring weather is finally upon us, so it’s time to get out in the garden and bring some life back to our outdoor spaces. Filling flowerpots with colourful blooms and making sure our flowerbeds look pristine is all part of the spring reset for many gardeners. But if you want a gorgeous garden and you’re conscious about the things you throw away, there are some easy hacks you can use to reduce waste and improve your garden.
One of these hacks involves tin cans, which millions of us use every day for things like baked beans, chopped or plum tomatoes, soup, and a whole host of other foods. Normally, we’d rinse out the empty cans and chuck them into the recycling bin, but it turns out they could have a clever use in our gardens.
According to Clare Hoops, who regularly posts upcycling and DIY content on her TikTok account, you can transform your empty cans into small flowerpots for your garden using just a few items. In a video, Clare began by taking a screwdriver and a hammer and bashing a hole in the side of her tin can toward the top, and several others in the base to act as drainage holes.
Next, she took a can of garden paint and used it to spray her tins a pretty shade of light green. This not only helps the cans look more appealing, but also prevents the reflection from the shiny metal from dazzling you when the sun hits it.
With the can painted and dried, Claire next threaded a cork onto some wire, and passed the wire through the holes she’d made on each side of the tin, leaving her with a cute handle to lift up the pot with. If you don’t plan on hanging your tin pots, then you can skip this step. All that was left to do was top up the tins with soil and pop the plants in!
Commenters on Clare’s video said they couldn’t believe how easy the planters were to make. Many said they’d be trying the hack out themselves, while others simply said they loved the idea.
One person said: “So adorable!” Another added: “Thanks for this idea! I can get tons of these cans for free at work.” A third wrote: “So cute! I always save cans and have some to get started with this project. Thanks for sharing.”
Paint the outside of the can, wrap it in twine, or decorate as you like.Let any paint dry completely before proceeding.
4. Add drainage layer (optional):
Water lightly, allowing excess water to drain out the bottom.
Herbs, succulents, and small flowers work great in tin can planters. If you plan on putting your cans outside, consider using rust-resistant cans or giving them a protective spray coating to help them last for longer.
Comments are closed.