Skip Navigation

DIY home gardening projects for spring

 

Our backyards are extensions of our homes. They're where we entertain friends and family, lounge with our favourite books, play with the dog and grow our own flowers, vegetables and herbs. Why not nourish some projects of your own this spring with these 5, easy to take on, DIY gardening projects that will breathe new life into your backyard just in time for summer.

DIY Succulent Bench

1. DIY Succulent Bench

If you saw our DIY Home Décor piece then you may have noticed that we are suckers for succulents! It's no wonder that the first item on our list of gardening projects is this easy DIY succulent bench. This homemade bench has a foundation of cinder blocks that double as plant holders. The designer of this bench used a mix of faux and real succulents, but feel free to use whichever plants you like. There's lots of creative freedom with this one as well: stain the bench, dazzle up the cinder blocks, add a few outdoor throw pillows and voila! You've made yourself an easy bench that is both pretty and practical.

Source: A Kailo Chic Life

Pallet planter

2. Recycled Pallet Planter

Old wooden pallets can be repurposed for boundless uses around the home, one of which is this planter for growing herbs. The versatility of pallets means you can get truly imaginative and personal with planter choices, but we like the recycled pallet planter above for its simplicity and natural aesthetic. It's an easy way to grow and organize your herbs this spring, and it's budget-friendly too.

Source: Garden Lovers Club

3. Butterfly Feeders

Butterfly feeders are a beautiful addition to your backyard that attract some of nature's most colourful beings: butterflies. There are numerous different ways you can make these feeders and most of them are easy to assemble, requiring little more than paint, twine, a Mason jar or bowl and sugar. Ontario is home to hundreds of different butterflies including monarchs and swallowtails. Though they tend to make an appearance later in the season, getting your feeder ready now may attract another one of nature's winged beauties, the hummingbird.

Source: Craftionary

4. Hide Your Air Conditioner

Air conditions may be cool to have, but they're also eyesores that can detract from the beauty of your home. The springtime is the perfect time to conceal your outdoor air conditioner with a project that adds appeal to your property. But before you dive into this project, you'll want to make sure of two things:

  1. Don't block ventilation
  2. Don't block the unit in

Blocking the airflow can cause the unit to malfunction, while blocking it in will prevent you or a repairperson from being able to fix it. Unique ways to conceal the unit include fencing, shrubbery, bamboo shoots, wooden pallets and more. Check out the link below for air conditioner inspiration.

Source: Arista

5. Plant Flowers That Deter Pests

Flowers may be attractive to us, but certain flowers are not only unattractive to pests, they'll also keep them away. If you're planting this weekend, consider adding some of the following flowers to your garden so you can have a double dose of beauty that helps keep unwanted creepy crawlies away.

  • Marigolds (pictured) – Protect against root-eating worms, making them a good companion for tomatoes and cruciferous vegetables. Their aroma also marks the scent of veggies, giving them an extra shield of protection.
  • Petunias – Consider these your pretty little potato protectors. Petunias deter potato bugs, squash bugs and bean bugs.
  • Chrysanthemums – Known for deterring ants, roaches, ticks, silverfish, lice, fleas, bedbugs, Japanese beetles and more, these natural insecticides repel pests. However, they can repel the good guys too, so be strategic with these plants.

Source: Garden Therapy

What about larger projects?

If you're considering doing more extensive projects and renovations this spring, contact your OTIP home insurance broker at 1-866-523-4111 to find out how this might affect your home insurance. We can help ensure you have the proper coverage in place before you dig into your next project.

 Get a Quote Win with Edvantage - Goodlife Fitness Wouldn't it be Grand. Get a QuoteYour retirement. Your choice. Choose from our 3 RTIP plans and coverage limits - the most flexible retirement health insurance for the Ontario education community.