How can I reuse or recycle an old kids slide?
Sherri emailed to ask:
Any ideas on using an old kids slide in the veggie garden?
I like that she added the “in the veggie garden” bit because that’s nearly always where my mind goes first and I worry that I come off as a bit obsessed with growing in random recycled things! ;)
I’m presuming that the slide is made from formed plastic – as that seems to be the thing for garden slides these days – but the ladder section might be chunky plastic or more slender metal, depending on the size of the slide. Either way, they could be used to add height to a veg garden such as providing supports for climbers or for vertical gardening — propped up against a wall, chunky plastic ladders might be suitable for use as a ladder planter (ideal for small pots of herbs and/or salad leaves) or hanging baskets etc could be hooked onto a metal ladder with thin rungs.
Depending on the shape of the slide section, it might be suitable to use in a few different ways in a veg garden – if it’s flat (rather than wavy/bumpy or overly shaped at the top & bottom), it could be used as a water-catching trough underneath pots/containers or adapted into a potting bench type thing (the sides of the slide would stop surplus soil going all over the place … I’m a messy gardener with a soil shortage so this sort of thing would be very beneficial for me!).
Any other veg growing/gardening suggestions?
What about other ideas for reuses or recycling ideas for such a slide?
my friend used it to put hay for her chickens to use it as a bed
It could be propped up on cement blocks or the like and used as a raised garden bed. I’ve seen something like this intended for use for the disabled, or those who don’t bend over or kneel easily. (I’ve seen cement cow troughs, the only remaining peice of a demolished barn used as the same) Drainage holes would need to be made, of course.
I also pondered it’s us as the roof of a long chicken run.
In an extreme case, it could direct water- part of a garden water
system? direct gutter water away?
Long sandbox?- again, on legs of some sort.
Great idea, but i found that the easiest way to ensure that it was put to better use was to donate it to the local primary school.
They have secured it within their playground for the young ones and they seem to love it from what i can see as i drive passed.
Turn it into water slide or fountain, little spring in your garden, planter.
If you have second floor, place the slide under the window, but above trash can and shute the garbage down. :) Haha.
Can keep it under window of the second floor for emergency escape. :)