Recycled Backyard: Tire Gardens

Got some old tires on hand? Building a tire garden is easy!

Photo by Jill Staake

• Stack your tires, being sure to keep the configuration stable.
• Fill with compost or potting soil and add some plants. Most people suggest avoiding edible plants, as trace chemicals from the tires could leak into the soil. Visit BirdsandBlooms.com for container planting ideas.
•  Like any container, these will dry out more quickly than garden beds, so be sure to water as needed.
• Get more tire garden advice and how-to by clicking here.

You can even paint the tires using appropriate outdoor paints (ask at your local home improvement store). This is a great project for kids, too. A friend of mine helped her children’s school decorate and install inexpensive tire planters as a way to spruce up the grounds and get the kids interested in gardening.

No room on the ground? Smaller tires from trailers or wheelbarrows are great for hanging from trees or sturdily-mounted hooks. Paint them or leave them plant – whatever suits your own style.

Have you created a tire garden? Do you have tips for our readers? Tell us in the comments below.