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Garden Makeovers
Use your imagination and a touch of fun to creatively decorate
sections of your own garden that will invite others to explore!
 SUPPLIES
v Unique large used items such as wagons, wheelbarrows, plows, old cook stoves, ladders, birdbaths old bed frames, old sewing machines and etc.
v Smaller items such as birdhouses, birdcages, animal statues, broken pots, seashells, lamps parts, buckets, garden tools, wreaths, toys, small chairs, watering cans, pots all sizes, rocks, cups and saucers, etc.
v A lot of imagination!
 STEP 1 
Gather supplies and hunt garage sales and thrift stores for unique items to use in your gardens. Collect from friends and relatives. I usually use this opportunity to spring clean my closets, garage and attic. I find spots in my garden that would benefit from a theme that would draw the onlooker into my gardens. I always want to surprise and delight the garden lover. This is a great project for children of all ages. You can begin with any size garden spot. I usually add a section each year. The children will have plenty of ideas when they help in gathering their garden junk. Children love to explore and play so be sure and create sections for both. These gardens usually end up becoming play gardens as the children will usually end up rearranging items as time goes by and this is great way for the children’s ideas to continue blooming.
STEP 2
Think in themes, colors and function as you want your garden sections to tell a story. I stack items to give height. Birdbaths are a good place to start. I usually start at the base and work my way up. Make nooks and crannies with rocks for planting and make hiding place for your garden critters. Continue to add broken pottery, seashells, and large marbles in and around your birdbath. I topped my garden art off with and old lamp that I took apart and I just sat it inside a strawberry pot. I don’t usually glue anything as I want to be able to change things around easily. A quick way to add color is to use bright color spray paints to enhance old items. Saucers are good ways to make flower borders.
STEP 3
Use plants that grow quick and have a lot of foliage small variegated ivies, morning glories, cosmos, chocolate mints, cat mint, lemon balm and pineapple sage are good choices and that has great scents. Pleasing and fun scents are very important in play gardens. You will never have any problem finding workers to work in your gardens.
Garden lovers of all ages will be
delighted with your theme gardens!
 TEACHER TIPS:
This is the perfect time of the year to give preexisting gardens a makeover with items that your have on hand. Plan garden makeover parties and invite friends and family for fun, fellowship and food. You can quickly decorate sections of a garden in an afternoon and you will have plenty of teaching opportunities and ideas that will flourish in this atmosphere of fun and creativity. These gardens will make great areas for garden photography. All ages will enjoy this project. You can make this into a great service project by giving older gardeners a garden makeover or nursing homes a play garden to encourage younger visitors. The ideas are endless. Be sure and have sunscreen and lots of water on hand.
This project gets a 4 on a five point messy scale!
Developed By:
Sharon Abbott
Texas Master Gardener
Meet Sharon Abbott |
