Did you ever thought about what you can do with an milk jug? Well, did you ever realised that things don’t necessary have just one single use? Well, if you haven’t believed that, here are some tips regarding to how a simple milk jug can have many uses which will help you with your gardening, thanks to its usefulness that can even save you from spending some extra money. Here is how.
1. Milk Jug Birdfeeder Clean the milk jug. Cut holes in the two sides opposite the handle (see the big circles on the photo) for the birds to stick there little heads in. Then poke two holes to push a stick or dowel rod through for the birdies to sit on while they’re eating(see the two black dots). Poke a few holes in the bottom for drainage, but don’t make them too big or the birdseed will fall through. Leave the lid on and poke two holes at the top and string wire or rope through them to hang your feeder.
>2. Milk Jug SprinklerMilk Jug Sprinklers are so easy to fill, carry and pour, they don’t leak or drip back down the spout like watering cans! The other handy thing about them is that you can make one with a super fine/gentle spray by using a small needle and one with a more substantial flow by using a bigger needle.
>3. Milk Jug Plant MarkersIt’s a good idea to make labels for your garden to keep track of what you planted and where you planted it. Here is an easy and inexpensive way to make plant markers out of milk jugs.
You can even get the kids involved to do the decorating, or you can just save all the fun for yourself!
>4. Milk Jug Soil SaverWhen planting in large planter pots, place plastic milk jugs inside the bottom portion of your pot before filling with soil.
This reduces the amount of soil needed to fill the pot and your flowers will never know the difference! The roots of most flowering annuals only extend a few inches deep and will never even reach the recyclables in the bottom portion of your pot.
>5. Milj Jug Upside Down PlanterJust cut the bottom of the jug off, turn it upside down and fill with dirt and poke a little hole in the dirt through the spout hole and slip in a little tomato plant. Here is an easy and inexpensive way to make upside down planter out of milk jugs.
>6. Milk Jug Slow Drip Watering SystemThe best way to water your garden is to set up a drip irrigation system with an automatic timer. But what if you do not have that option?. If so, a great option is to bury a milk jug with holes drilled in it next to your plants. To water all you have to do is stick the hose in the top of the jug and fill up the milk jug and you are done! It also makes it easy to fertilize, add a scoup of fertilizer into the jug and add water and you’re done!
>7. Milk Jug Mini GreenhouseIn some areas, young transplants and seedlings are easy prey for spring and fall frosts. Protect them with their own personal greenhouse. Just cut the bottom off a gallon milk jug and, when a cold snap is in the forecast, place the jug over the plant. Depending by outside temperature you put the cap on or take it off. Don’t forget to remove the cover on warm, sunny days.
>8 .Milk Jug ScoopThis simple scoop is made from a half-gallon plastic milk jug. It’s great for distributing fertilizer granules or potting soil in tight spaces. To craft it, make two horizontal cuts on the sides adjacent to the handle, and two forward-slanting diagonal cuts in the other sides.
>9. Milk Jug Mini Greenhouse 2Use a pen-knife to cut around the middle, almost all the way through.
The uncut half-inch or so will serve as a hinge.
Punch out drainage holes in the bottom and a few holes along the top portion of the jug.
These extra holes increase air-ventilation. Ventilation is the key to preventing excess heat from building up in the greenhouse, and baking the seeds to death.
If there is a cap on your jug or bottle, remove it.
You can find more instruction on hagardenforthehouse.com
Good idea, but your instructions are wrong. If you're going by the pic you posted, you would just poke a hole in the bottom of the container to push the plant in and push a dowel through the handle and upper part of the container to hang string from. The spout would be left intact to use for the watering bottle.
If you look closely at the bottom of the jug, it looks like they did cut the bottom and then duct taped it after they put the plant in. Then they painted it all to match.
wish you guys would have a print all added to your pages so that we can put it into our Evernote with all these ideas
I added the print button, thank your for advice.
You could also use that scoop to put fertilizer in that handle part and water there for easy feeding to the plant.
I’m going to try this with my Cub Scout den.
Great project Joy…
I appreciate all of your cleaver ideas for container gardening. Many save me money and make it easier for me. I am unable to get around well due to a spine injury and your site has helped me. Seems as though some people just look for any little thing to criticize. Pay no mind…your site is informative, has great pictures and I appreciate it. I have pinned several of your ideas on Pinterest myself so others can benefit. Any ideas on which plant food works best for my containers with “auto water” buried jugs or soda bottles? Advise would be appreciated. Keep up the great advise!
It’s good for veggies that need constant watering. Thank’s for your appreciation !
These are all great ideas I will definitely use them.