Easily DIY A Charming Bird Bath Using An Old Tomato Cage

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Tomato cages in the vegetable garden can help provide extra support for the tomato vines, especially when they're heavy with ripening tomatoes. But if you've been following the gardening trends that are telling you to ditch your tomato cage for other reinforcements, what should you do with that old wiry, cone-shaped cage? Why, take it and make your own inexpensive DIY bird bath, of course. Sure, you could try to make a concrete bird bath, but that can take up more time and resources than this quick and thrifty DIY project. You could buy one, but they can cost $200 or more. With this DIY hack that takes hardly any time, you can have an easy-to-assemble bird bath that your favorite songbirds will flock to for less than $10. 

To make your bird bath, all you need is a tomato plant cage and a plastic dish, like the trays that usually sit beneath pots. Shallow saucers are best — aim for one that's between 1 and 2 inches deep. If you need to buy new supplies, tomato plant cages cost anywhere from $3 to $5, and a plastic pot saucer can run about $5 for a six-pack. 

As with any bird bath in the backyard, it's important to keep it clean, because stagnant water can breed bacteria and make your birds sick. But steer clear of harsh chemicals to clean your bird bath, since they can also harm songbirds. Remember that baking soda, a common kitchen ingredient, is the secret to a clean bird bath no matter if you have a DIY one or a store-bought one.

To make your DIY bird bath, start with your tomato cage. Feel free to spray paint the cage or the plastic tray with your favorite colors. Some birds can be attracted to certain hues. Hummingbirds love red, while bluebirds gravitate towards blue. Next, find a spot that's easily accessible by a garden path or near the edge of your flowerbeds. Then, push the stakes of the tomato cage into the ground, trying to keep it as level as possible. Fill your tray with water, and sit it on top. 

Any bird bath, of course, is beneficial because birds need a fresh source of water — especially in hot summer months — to drink and bathe in. Put the bird bath in a sheltered place with a nice mix of shade and sun, like near shrubs or trees, so that birds feel comfortable and protected enough to linger. You can also add a fun fountain accessory to the middle of the dish, like this Mademax upgraded solar fountain. Birds love moving water!

Bird baths help birds, and they can be a centerpiece of your garden ... especially when surrounded by beautiful blooms. Consider the kinds of birds you'd like to attract when thinking about how to plant flowers around a bird bath. Cardinals, for example, flock to purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) because they eat the seeds. Any of these flower additions will make your yard a bird-friendly haven.