Salvage in the Garden

Recently I saw old radiators being used as a retaining wall on a popular home and gardening show. The designer brought in many items from an architectural salvage yard. Old windows were used to define seating areas, giant old springs were used as pedestals for potted plants and decorative globes, and an open air pergola was created from old gates, fencing, and grates. I applaud the designer for her creativity even though I can't see myself ever using radiators for a retaining wall.

My garden also incorporates salvaged items in its design. A single drain board cast iron sink is hung on the outside of my garage as a potting bench and I have plans to build a "skirt" for it from old barn siding. Bamboo is planted in an old galvanized livestock watering trough and salvaged brick is the most obvious salvaged and recycled item in my garden.
I built my first "patio" in an area that had been an impossibly weedy flower bed with bricks I mined from a dry creek bed on my cousin's farm. It was small - just 4 x 8 - but just the right size for my gas grill.

My next brick project transformed a muddy, wet area on the north side of my garage. My garbage cans now have a nice level non-muddy place to live. The bricks are from an old elementary school that was torn down several miles from my home. It took five trips to get enough bricks for this 4 x 20 strip.

Last summer I reconfigured the back gate, used an old screen door for part of the fence and built a curvy, meandering walkway in a (mostly) running bond pattern, replacing the narrow, straight shot sidewalk.

After the walkway was done, it was obvious, at least to me, another patio was needed in front of the service door of my detached garage. This is by far, my best effort yet, measuring a whopping 10 x 15 with a gentle curve on one side and dead ending into a small pond and my porcelain potting bench.

Plans for another patio where a 20 foot pine tree was removed are in the works. This patio-in-the-making is surrounded by herbs and flowers and is more or less, a half round shape. For this one I'll have to create a retaining wall, but I don't plan to change my original idea of using cement blocks to old radiators.

You can create a unique garden by repurposing salvaged items. Large bare looking walls can be transformed by hanging an old window and adding a flowerbox filled with bright cheery flowers. Vertically challenged gardens can benefit from pedestals, like sections of a fluted column, topped with flowers, birdbaths, or eclectic garden art. And of course, salvaged bricks make fabulous walks and patios.

Using salvaged windows, doors, columns, bricks, and yes, maybe even rusty radiators in garden design may not be for everyone, but if you prefer the uncommon over the mass-produced, consider adding a bit of salvage to your garden design. One thing's for sure - you can't buy this stuff at Lowe's!