Don't Toss An Empty Milk Jug When You Could Be Reusing It In The Garden Like This

Gardeners are a creative and innovative bunch. We see the potential where others don't, whether we're attempting to revive a wilted houseplant or brainstorming about how to give old teacups new life in the garden. We know how to be resourceful with what most people would readily toss. We save coffee grounds to turn pink hydrangeas blue, or lay out old newspapers to trap earwigs. Give us a problem, and we'll find a cost-effective way to solve it. The next time you're ready to toss an empty milk jug into the recycle bin, consider transforming it into a watering can for your garden. It's lightweight, durable, and is already designed to hold and dispense liquid.

All you need to upcycle your milk jug into a watering can is something to puncture holes into the lid. This could be a hammer and nail, pen tip, thumbtack, drill, or any other sharp tip. Decide how many holes you want to poke and how large you would like them to be. If you have areas of the garden with varying water needs — for example, more delicate plants that require a trickle rather than a deluge — consider creating multiple watering cans with different hole sizes in the caps. Also, before using the milk jug, clean it out well to avoid traces of spoiled milk. 

Once you've decided how many holes you want, place the lid on scrap wood when puncturing holes to protect the surface that you're working on. When you make the holes, do this through the back side of the lid for optimal water flow. After you've put holes in the lid, add an extra air hole to the handle of the milk jug to allow for smoother water flow. For extra creativity, paint or add stickers to the container. Fill up your new watering can, screw on the lid, and start watering. You could also add liquid fertilizer if your plant needs, similar to how you could fertilize with a soaker hose. When you're done watering, remove the lid and turn the watering can upside down to dry out. This will help to prevent mold from growing. 

Another variation of a watering can is one that offers drip irrigation and minimizes runoff in your planting area. Instead of poking holes into the lid of the milk jug, create holes on the bottom of the jug. Set the jug next to a plant that would benefit from deep watering. A third option is to upcycle the milk jug into a type of underground garden watering system. Poke holes into the sides of the jug and bury it next to a plant, leaving only the mouth of the jug exposed. Fill the container with water for slow release into the soil and cap the jug in between waterings.