Designing with Reclaimed Materials
by Laurie Keit
Rising costs, an economic downturn, and the rising popularity of the green movement are all reasons to incorporate old, abandoned or reclaimed materials into garden design. And using reclaimed materials is a great way to give character to a new garden.
Recycling gives new life to unwanted items while helping us acquire the things we need for the gardens we want, at prices we can afford. Here are a few ideas to help you to personalize and green up your garden.
• Transform old concrete into a one-of-a-kind pathway or patio by breaking it up and resetting it with bricks, flagstone, pavers, decorative tiles, marbles, shells or broken pottery. You can also use old concrete to make low retaining walls or raised beds.
• Paint or mosaic old terra cotta pots for a colorful and economical addition to any garden.
• Keep your eyes out for landscape remodels. Call local landscapers to see if they have any upcoming projects that involved demolition. You may be able to get free materials in exchange for hauling them off the site.
• An inexpensive pump and a little imagination can turn almost anything into a functional fountain. An old wellie boot, terra cotta pots, watering cans, bamboo poles, rocks, statuary and old bowling balls are just a few items that can be turned into fountains.
• Acquaint yourself with Bay Area salvage yards and reclaim old timbers, bricks, pavers, windows, doors — and possibly even an old fireplace surround — for a charming garden room. You may find a slab of marble or granite that is perfect for the countertop of your outdoor kitchen, or old wrought iron fencing to frame your vegetable or cutting garden. Part of the fun is the hunt and not knowing what you may find.
• Use broken seashells, tumbled glass, or ceramics as mulch. Shells retain moisture, have more weight than bark, and are not so easily moved by winds. Glass and ceramics add color and character to any garden and the glass can be used as a faux stream or pool. Avoid injury by making sure the pieces have been tumbled.
• Alternatively, use old cardboard to sheet mulch as a way to kill weeds without chemicals.
• Host a “pot party” and invite other gardeners to bring containers and cuttings to exchange, or join your local garden club and reap these benefits with kindred spirits on a regular basis.
Happy gardening!
On the Web:
www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=398
Laurie Keit is a garden designer and florist who has been doing business on the coast through her company, Seasonal Celebrations, since 2001. An 18-year Pacifica resident, she may be contacted at 650-722-0091 or by e-mail at keit@sbcglobal.net. Her Web site is www.seasonalcelebrations.com.
