Design with Purpose: DIY Eco Friendly Garden Hacks

Transforming your outdoor space into a beautiful, functional garden doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. With a little creativity and some basic tools, you can design and create a stunning garden that reflects your personal style and meets your needs. In this blog, we'll explore a variety of DIY garden design tips and tricks that will help you maximize your space, and enhance your garden's aesthetics. 

1. DIY Garden Compost 

You can create a nutrient rich compost with this simple recipe. Use a thin layer of natural based kitchen scraps such as coffee grounds, and fruit and vegetable scraps. We recommend trying finely chopped peels and skin of fruit and vegetables. Then, add a layer of leaf litter and top with soil. Never use meat or dairy products in your compost. 

Pro tip: The smaller the scraps the quicker it will decompose and give nutrients to the soil! 

2. Upcycled Planters 

Plenty of household objects can be used as planters! Upcycling tires for circular flower beds, old strainers and colanders for hanging planters, wood pallets can be repurposed into vertical planters, and muffin/cupcake tins can be used at the beginning stages of growth for seedlings. Share with us your upcycled planter on social media! Pro Tip: If the object you want to use doesn’t have holes in the bottom for drainage, use a larger drill bit to add them yourself and voila! You have a new planter! 

3. Creative Bird Feeders 

Encourage natural wildlife to visit your home by creating a bird feeder! To create an upcycled feeder, use a bottle of your choice and make holes at the bottom. Place sticks in the holes to create perches for your new winged friends. Pro tip: Download the app Merlin Bird ID to identify birds you see and hear!

4. Buy plants from local nurseries. This creates a more ecological approach since most plants at these nurseries are native to the area and are not using as much emissions to be shipped to the larger hardware stores. And bonus- you are supporting to local economy in doing so! Our favorite nurseries in and around Tulsa are:

• Southwoods Nursery | 9025 S Lewis Ave. Tulsa, OK 74137

• Under the Sun | Store #19. 51st and Harvard. Tulsa, OK 74135

• Rancho Flores | 4516 E 31st St, Tulsa, OK 74135 

• Sanders Nursery | 20705 E 161st St S, Broken Arrow, OK 74014