However carefully I handle pots and crockery indoors and outside, I’m always left with a few breakages here and there. Whether it’s broken terracotta pots that I’ve accidentally dropped or chipped and cracked mugs, plates and pots that have come a cropper in the washing-up.
But never one to throw things away if I think I can make use of them somewhere, I’ve come up with plenty of easy ways I can recycle broken crockery and pots in my garden. While there are plenty of purely practical free garden ideas that broken crocks are useful for, there are lots of decorative ways you can recycle crockery and pots in the garden too that look super-pretty.
1. Use a few broken crocks to aid drainage
While the popular plant drainage hack of adding a layer of crocks or gravel at the bottom of pots has been debunked as not really necessary, I still find it useful to add just a couple of pieces of broken crock at the bottom of a container when I’m filling it up with soil.
Adding just a few crocks to cover up the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot prevents the soil from falling through the hole and making the patio mucky.
And combined with a few pot feet ideas for drainage, I find that water drains away more freely and plants don’t get waterlogged.
2. Add broken crocks as top-dressing
One of the big issues when you have lots of pots and container ideas to look after in the garden is watering – especially in the summer months when it’s really hot. So I’m always up for trying any smart watering ideas.
An idea I heard about recently is adding a layer of broken terracotta at the top of pots to act as a top-dressing. The theory is that the layer of crocks helps prevent water from evaporating directly from the soil surface, keeping the soil moist for longer (much like adding a layer of gravel).
A top-dressing like this also helps to suppress weeds and prevents splashback when watering the containers. To break crockery and terracotta safely (if you want smaller pieces) put it inside a fabric bag and break with a hammer. It’s always advisable to wear gloves, like these from Amazon and safety goggles, like these from Screwfix too when doing this.
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3. Use half a broken pot to protect climbers
When growing climbing plants like clematis, they prefer their roots to be kept cool and protected from the sun, so a terracotta cover like this clematis root protector, £24.99, from Crocus, can be a good idea.
But if, like me, you have a terracotta pot that has broken in half due to the frost, instead of getting rid of it, I’ve used it as a root protector, tucking it in around the base of my climber…and it’s cost me next to nothing.
4. Make mini tea cup planters
I’ve lost count of the mugs and teacups that have been chipped, cracked or become handle-less over the years. There have been some really pretty chintzy floral favourites that can no longer be used for supping tea and coffee once they’ve become damaged, but it seems a shame to just throw them away.
Re-cycling mugs as mini planters is a fun budget garden idea for using old crockery that looks super-pretty and colourful when lined up on a plant stand.
Relatively small in size and with no holes for drainage, mugs and cups can work well as mini pots for slow-growing plants with shallow root systems, like succulents, miniature ferns, herbs and African violets…and my pink and white saxifraga seems to be thriving in my old coffee cups.
5. Use an old teapot as a container
Similar to the mini teacup planters, using an old teapot to grow plants in, like growing geraniums, succulents or trailing ivy spilling out over the sides, is another quirky container idea that looks fun.
With the lack of drainage holes in cups and teapots, adding a layer of gravel at the bottom of the teapot will help with drainage, followed by regular potting compost.
6. Make a chintzy tea cup bird feeder
Having seen the trend for chirp-cuterie board bird feeders, this cute tea cup and saucer feeder is an easy idea and a great way of making use of any less-than-perfect pieces of crockery.
Make it by turning the cup on its side on the saucer (with handle pointing up) and then attaching the two using a dab or two of strong grab adhesive like this Gorilla glue, £11.98 at Amazon – just use a piece of tape to keep the cup steady while the glue dries.
Once set, tie a length of twine from the cup handle and hang in a suitable spot in the garden, filled with bird feed.
7. Use a tapas dish for a bird bath
Dishes are another item that I manage to chip or break in the kitchen on a regular basis, with quite a few terracotta tapas dishes that have been relegated to the garden and used as drip trays underneath planters.
Tapas dishes can also make great bird baths, with their smooth-glazed interior and shallow sides that make it easier for birds to dip into or drink from. Adding a few pebbles or stones inside for grip and shallow perching is another good idea so that different-sized birds can use them. Just remember to replace the water frequently and clean the bird bath regularly.
I’ve found some fun ways to make use of broken crockery and pots in the garden. Do you have any bright recycling ideas to make use of them in your garden?
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