Spring Ideas: 15 DIY Gardening Projects
In the springtime, one of the best activities to enjoy the outdoors is gardening. Not only does gardening result in a beautiful yard and maybe even some fresh fruits and veggies for your kitchen, but gardening is a wonderful physical activity that offers plenty of mental health benefits, too.
But if you're new to gardening, you might feel overwhelmed about where to start. But really, it doesn't matter how or where you start, it just matters that you do! That's why we've put together this list of DIY gardening projects to get you outside and gardening in this beautiful weather we've been having.
DIY Gardening Projects For Beginners
If you're new to gardening, the thought of starting a garden patch from scratch might seem a little intimidating. Instead of overthinking the process, check out some of these DIY garden projects for beginners to get started.
Simple & Affordable Raised Garden Bed
Raised bed gardening is perfect for beginners because it allows you to control the quality of the soil much easier than if you were to plant seeds directly into the ground.
Building a raised bed is super simple and affordable, too. Bonus points if you're able to create the raised garden bed out of upcycled wood.
DIY Recycled Wooden Compost Bin
If you've always liked the idea of having a compost bin but never got around to actually buying one, consider building your own!
This DIY project from Mother Earth News includes very detailed instructions, making it an approachable project even for beginners. If building something out of wood seems like too much, you can upcycle a plastic storage bin into a compost bin as well!
Topsy-Turvey Flower Planter
If your yard or garden is small on space, or if you don't have a yard at all, this topsy-turvey flower planter is perfect for decks, patios, or entryways.
You'll need some terracotta planters and rebar, but after that, it's your chance to get creative with how you arrange your flowers and other plants.
DIY Garden Markers
If you got excited, bought a bunch of veggie starts, planted them, and then quickly forgot which plant was which, eliminate that problem next time you plant seeds by making a few of these functional (and cute!) DIY garden markers.
Choose a few river rocks, break out the acrylic paint set, and get your creative juices flowing with this fun DIY gardening project.
Upcycle Glass Bottles Into Mini Greenhouses
Otherwise known as garden cloches, mini-greenhouses are perfect for starting seeds when it's still a little too cold outside. They're also helpful for protecting your seedlings from garden pests and birds.
So next time you enjoy a kombucha or finish off a jar of salsa, save the class for this DIY project.
Build a Succulent Fountain
If you have a space in your yard that gets a lot of sun, this DIY upcycled succulent planter is perfect!
Make sure to mix in some cascading succulent varieties to achieve a waterfall-like effect that mimics flowing water.
If you don't have a fountain that you're looking to reuse, you can use all sorts of different items to plant succulents since they don't require much in the way of watering.
Make a Wood Pallet Garden
Here's another DIY garden project that takes the guesswork out of whether or not your home's soil is healthy enough to plant directly into.
Pallets are also super easy to find and are usually either free or incredibly cheap. And why not add them to the garden rather than letting them sit in a landfill?
DIY Bottle Bird Feeders
After you enjoy a bottle of Washington-state wine from our wine department, save the bottle and try out this DIY bird feeder project!
The only other supplies you'll need are some copper wire and a nifty birdfeeder bottle attachment.
Build a Rain Barrel
With the amount of rain that we get in the Pacific Northwest, why not harvest some of it for future gardening use?
This simple rain barrel project requires just a few tools and materials and when it's done, you'll have the perfect sustainable way to water your plants.
Find the project at Family Handyman
DIY Gardening Projects For Kids
If you're looking for a way to introduce your kids to gardening and want to make it a fun, memorable experience, check out some of these DIY gardening projects tailored specifically to kids.
Track a Plant's Growth
You may have a memory from your childhood that involved planting a lima bean and tracking its growth at school. Enjoy that project at home with your own kids with this free printable plant growth chart.
This is an activity that not only teaches your little ones about gardening, but it allows them to work on measurement and math skills at the same time.
Upcycled Tin Can Garden
Next time you open up a can of garbanzo beans or sweet corn, save the can! Once you collect a few cans, start planting herbs to grow in the windowsill or the backyard.
Once the seeds are sprouted and a few inches in height, transplant them to a larger garden plot so they can continue to grow.
DIY Wildflower Seed Bombs
Support local pollinators and grow beautiful flowers in your garden with this fun project for kids! Seeds bombs are super easy to make and require just a few supplies to put them together.
Just make sure to choose wildflower seeds that are adapted to our local climate. In our garden department, you can find a selection of wildflower seeds that would work great for this project.
Make a Butterfly Feeder
If you're already taking the time to feed the local birds, why not give a little love to the local butterflies as well?
A butterfly feeder is easy to make and will give you the opportunity to teach your kids about butterflies and why they're important! And while you're at it, consider planting some butterfly-friendly plants in the garden as well.
Grow New Celery From a Celery Stalk
Here's a low-cost, super simple, low-key gardening project that your kids will absolutely love.
All you need to do is take the bottom of a celery stock and put it in a glass dish with some water in the bottom. Now, all you do is wait.
Soon, the celery leaves will start to pop of out the middle of the stock! Once the plant has reached a decent size, you can plant it in the garden for a whole new stalk of celery.
You can also try this same project with lettuce or green onions.
Give Them Their Own Garden Patch
Or, just keep the DIY projects simple, and designate a certain area in the garden just for your kids to experiment in. Consider building them their own raised garden bed altogether, or simply use some low-profile, simple fencing to designate an area that's all theirs.
No matter how you get started with gardening, you're bound to enjoy it for years to come. Not only is it incredibly rewarding, but it's a fun bonding experience that brings generations of families and friends together, and builds a community around sustainability in the process.
And if you ever have any questions or want to pick the brain of some local gardeners, our garden department is happy to help you out. Or, you can always get in contact with the Skagit County Master Gardeners as well.