New Zealand Garden Swap Newsletter

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GARDEN PEDESTALS

UNIQUE EYE CATCHING ORNAMENTS FROM YOUR KITCHEN AND GARAGE

Do you "dare to be different" in your garden style?

Often that involves introducing unique objects. But no matter how unusual the item, it can often become 'lost' without a 'stage'. That's where the pedestals come in. They raise objects above the masses and help them stand out. So why not make the pedestals unique too? Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices started.

WINE BOTTLES

Rather than putting your empties out for recycling you can do this yourself. Re use them as part of a birdbath. You will need 15 wine bottles, 5x 10mm plastic pipes, one trash can lid and some decorative rocks.
1. Soak bottles in soapy water to remove labels.
2. Dig a 5mm deep circular trench big enough to hold a ring of 10 bottles.
3. Place the bottles shoulder to shoulder and backfill round their bases.
4. Within the perimeter of bottles, drive 5 pipes 6mm into the ground. Space them evenly in a circular formation.
5. Invert a bottle over each rod and tie the necks of all 5 bottles with wire or string for additional stability.
6. Use a colourless waterproof seal to fill in the holes in the trash can lid where the handle attaches.
7. Decorate the lid with rocks and place it over the bottles.
8. Add water for a birdbath.

CAR SPRINGS

Here is an idea for a place to put a garden gazing ball. You can paint the springs in any colour. While some springs stand straight you may have to dig others into the ground for greater stability.

CLAY POTS & TILE

Here are two simple ideas for pedestals. Turn a clay pot upside down as a base and put an identical pot on top of it. Fill the pot with soil and plants or put a gazing ball on it. If you like the look of a clay drainage pipe, set a tall piece on end or epoxy two shorter ones together. Set the pipe on end and fill with soil to make a planter or simply put a nice pot on top of it.

PVC PIPE

This is a simple idea using PVC pipe in varying diameters or the same diameter. Cut the pipe into several lengths of the same height or varying heights. Cut out any shape in the sides of the PVC pipe that you would like with a jigsaw. File or sand the sharp edges. Rough up the outer surface of the pipe with a medium grit sand paper. Spray the pipe with an adhesive then apply sand to the surface. After that dries apply paint over the top of this. This will give you a rough coated surface that will disguise the fact that this is simply an ordinary PVC pipe. You can use different paint effects. Secure the pedestal or pedestals in place either by digging in the bottom 60mm or by inserting supporting rods into the ground in the cavity of the pipe.