Use Steel Cans In The Garden

One of the ways I recycle is by burying my steel cans in my garden, I leave the bottoms on and I bury them about 12 in. deep open side up. I fill the canned with compost and then plant above it. If I'm doing row planting, I will bury a roll of cans and plant above them. The cans will eventually rust away after a couple of years and in the process add much-needed iron to my clay soil.

I also take 1 gallon cans cut off the bottom and put them on the surface of the ground between my tomato plants, I push them in about an inch or so, then I fill them about half full with fresh compost and use this for watering. I fill it up with water and it slowly trickles through. We're in another drought here in Southern California.

By Babette from Lemon Grove

Contest:
Tip Contest

Related:
Reusing Tin Cans

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By 02/04/2008

90% of the cans made in the U.S. today are made out of ten-coated steel, according to the history channel

I have never used a tiller in my garden; I dont walk on my planting areas. My beds are no more than 4 ft. wide so no need to walk on them and compress the soil therefore I do not need a tiller a garden fork works just fine to loosen the soil.
Babbie

By Missy (Guest Post) 01/31/2008

Congratulations for winning the contest!

San Diego, CA

By frugal mom (Guest Post) 01/29/2008

Won't a tiller get the buried ones?

By frugal mom (Guest Post) 01/29/2008

Where do you find steel cans? All I see are the tin ones used for food.

By 01/29/2008

Oh wow, I actually have some cans that I was wondering what to do with.

By 01/28/2008

Three cheers for you! We all need to do as much as possible to reuse and recycle anything that we can. I think your idea is great and will try that in my garden this year! Thanks for sharing the great ideas!