Did you know that you can use things you probably already have on hand to take your garden to the next level? From baking soda to aluminum foil, here’s the scoop on how you can utilize these unconventional items in your garden: 

Prune with a kiddie pool

If you have a large pruning task planned, consider placing a kiddie pool beneath the area you’re trimming to corral the mess. You can easily gather the trimmings from the pool and place them in your compost pile (if the trimmings are healthy) or waste bucket. 

Fill planters with water bottles

To make any large, heavy planter a little lighter and easier to manage, fill the pot halfway with leftover empty plastic water bottles before topping it all with soil. The filler reduces the amount of soil you’ll need and helps provide drainage.

Use foil to shoo away birds

Because our feathered friends are generally scared of shiny, noisy things, try tying a few strips of aluminum foil from the branches of your fruit-bearing trees to help save your bounty from birdies.

Lift rust with baking soda

Have a metal tool that has collected a little rust over the winter? Put it in a spare plastic container, sprinkle some baking soda directly on the discolored spots, then gently pour white vinegar over them. Let it all sit for five minutes, then rinse and wipe dry.

Save your milk jug

A gallon-sized plastic milk jug can easily be transformed into a scoop to help distribute fertilizer granules or potting soil: just cut the top of the jug off at a forward-slanting diagonal.