How to Use Coffee Cans to Water Plants

Gardening is a relaxing and satisfying pastime and growing vegetables helps to reduce high grocery bills. When watering during hot summer days, however, water is lost due to evaporation. With a little pre-planning, you can do something to alleviate this problem, allowing the plants to be watered deeply while conserving water.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 12 ounce empty coffee can with plastic lid
• Hammer and nail
• Shovel
• Plants
• Water

How to Use Coffee Cans to Water Plants

1. Begin saving 12 ounce coffee cans early in the year or ask friends and family to save their coffee cans. You will need to use one coffee can for each two plants.

2. Dig up the garden soil, removing rocks and weeds. Lay the plants next to where they will be planted, allowing 10 to 12 inches between each.

3. Turn the coffee can upside down on a hard surface. Using the hammer and nail, punch six or eight holes in the bottom of the can.

4. Dig a hole, almost the length of the coffee can, between where two plants will be planted. Bury the coffee can, right-side up, leaving about an inch above the ground.

5. Plant both of the plants on either side of the coffee can. Continue to bury the coffee cans and plant the plants in the rest of the garden. Tamp the soil down gently around the plants and water to settle the soil around the roots of the plants.

6. Take the lid off the coffee can and fill the can with water. Put the lid back on. Repeat watering about once a week and, during extremely dry seasons, fill the cans twice a week.

Tips & Warnings

• The lid on the coffee can keeps mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water. It also keeps other critters from climbing in and accidentally drowning. It also keeps the water from evaporating.
• Save lids from other coffee cans and replace any lids in the garden if they crack.