How to Reuse Milk Jugs in the Garden
Use a milk jug as a watering can., Use a milk jug as an irrigator., Make a milk jug trowel or scoop., Use a milk jug as an electric cord reel.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Use a milk jug as a watering can.
The easiest way to reuse a milk jug in your garden is to turn it into a watering can.
All you need to do is poke around 20 small holes into the lid.
Use an awl, metal skewer, or big needle to poke the holes.Use a milk jug with a lid that screws on instead of a pop-on cap. -
Step 2: Use a milk jug as an irrigator.
An irrigator waters a planter or soil bed gradually, so it’s great to use if you’re out of town for a few days and can’t water your garden.
Simply poke at least five small holes in the bottom of a milk jug.
Then bury the bottom of the jug so soil covers all the holes.Fill the jug up with water through the jug's stem using your garden hose.
Keep the cap on to prevent the water from evaporating.
The water will slowly flow out of the holes and irrigate your plants’ roots.
Be careful not to harm your plants’ root systems when you bury the jug.
For larger plant beds, use one jug at least every three feet (one meter). , Use a marker to draw a line under the handle.
The line should make a semicircle and trace half of the jug’s circumference, with the handle at its center.
Make two more lines from each end of the semicircle to the jug’s bottom, then connect them by drawing a scoop-shaped line through the bottom.You can make the shovel shape sharper if you need a trowel or make it round if you just need a scoop.
After tracing your desired shape, use box cutters or scissors to cut out the opening and create your shovel.
Make sure to keep the cap on the jug to hold in whatever you’ll be scooping.
Using a jug with a screw-on lid will hold soil and other materials better. , Cut out the section of the jug opposite its handle.
Cover the raw edges of the cut section with electrical tape to prevent any nicks to your cords.
Hold the jug by the handle and wrap the cord around, using the cut section to hold the cord in place.If you have an electric leaf blower, edger, lawn mower, or any other corded garden tools, you can use the jug to keep your wires from getting tangled. -
Step 3: Make a milk jug trowel or scoop.
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Step 4: Use a milk jug as an electric cord reel.
Detailed Guide
The easiest way to reuse a milk jug in your garden is to turn it into a watering can.
All you need to do is poke around 20 small holes into the lid.
Use an awl, metal skewer, or big needle to poke the holes.Use a milk jug with a lid that screws on instead of a pop-on cap.
An irrigator waters a planter or soil bed gradually, so it’s great to use if you’re out of town for a few days and can’t water your garden.
Simply poke at least five small holes in the bottom of a milk jug.
Then bury the bottom of the jug so soil covers all the holes.Fill the jug up with water through the jug's stem using your garden hose.
Keep the cap on to prevent the water from evaporating.
The water will slowly flow out of the holes and irrigate your plants’ roots.
Be careful not to harm your plants’ root systems when you bury the jug.
For larger plant beds, use one jug at least every three feet (one meter). , Use a marker to draw a line under the handle.
The line should make a semicircle and trace half of the jug’s circumference, with the handle at its center.
Make two more lines from each end of the semicircle to the jug’s bottom, then connect them by drawing a scoop-shaped line through the bottom.You can make the shovel shape sharper if you need a trowel or make it round if you just need a scoop.
After tracing your desired shape, use box cutters or scissors to cut out the opening and create your shovel.
Make sure to keep the cap on the jug to hold in whatever you’ll be scooping.
Using a jug with a screw-on lid will hold soil and other materials better. , Cut out the section of the jug opposite its handle.
Cover the raw edges of the cut section with electrical tape to prevent any nicks to your cords.
Hold the jug by the handle and wrap the cord around, using the cut section to hold the cord in place.If you have an electric leaf blower, edger, lawn mower, or any other corded garden tools, you can use the jug to keep your wires from getting tangled.
About the Author
Michael Rodriguez
Writer and educator with a focus on practical organization knowledge.
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