How to Design Unique Garden Ornaments

Displaying pride in your home and garden is often represented in how well your house is kept and decorated. Garden ornaments can add a bit of whimsy to a pristine flower bed, or a sculptural splash of class around benches. Designing unique garden ornaments can best be achieved using recycled goods and a few power tools.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Chalk
• Recycled doors
• Old wheelbarrow
• Bag of potting soil
• Recycled copper piping
• Recycled table legs
• Power drill/screwdriver
• Hand saw
• Large screws
• Hammer
• Nails
• Scrap pieces of lumber
• Paint
• Paintbrushes

Instructions

1. Measure the garden area in which you wish to add a garden ornament. This space can be in a garden bed, in the midst of your yard or in a space which you wish to make into a seating area. Draw up a plan with the recycled items you have. Old doors can become tables, copper piping can become sculptures and old wheelbarrows can become interesting planters.

2. Screw old table legs onto the old door at each of the four corners with a power screwdriver. Table legs do not need to be from the same old table, nor do they even need to be matching. Measure each table leg to the appropriate length and mark with chalk. Saw all legs to an even length so that the table will not wobble. Leave hinges, handles and windows on the door to add interesting design elements. Paint the door a bright color, or add a unique design such as your children’s hand prints.

3. Screw old copper pipes together to make three-dimensional yard sculptures. Each of the joints will be held together with copper fittings which can be glued into place. Copper piping can be bent into unique shapes when a mild amount of pressure is applied. Copper pipe sculptures will turn a beautiful green shade over time. Great shapes for copper piping are large springs, various sizes of circles, square figures and even copper shaped like playful stick people.

4. Empty the old wheelbarrow of any debris and turn it upside down. The wheel should be up in the air and the handles on the ground. Mark ten spots evenly with a piece of chalk where you will drill drain holes. Using a medium-sized drill attachment on the power drill, begin to make holes where you marked on the underside of the wheelbarrow. Flip the wheelbarrow back over and push it over to the area in which it will be used as a planter. Fill with dirt and plant with your favorite herbs or flowers. Paint the outside, if desired.

5. Prop up an old wooden door against a fence or tree using scrap pieces of lumber. Screw the door securely into place so that it will not fall over in the event of a strong breeze. This door will add intrigue in places where one might not expect to see a door. Grow vines over and around the door to allow nature to take over. Paint any objects with prints such as flowers, stripes, checkers or plaids. Use solid colors that distinguish themselves from the rest of the plants by being bright or abstract.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear safety goggles and gloves while constructing garden ornaments to protect your eyes and hands.