Timeless tools in the garden

Collecting old tools is something we gardener’s do naturally and gradually.  One wears out and we can barely throw it away!  Impossible!  They are honored ‘friends’ in our gardens.

Luckily, old tools are discounted by ‘normal’ people and sold for pennies at yard sales especially. Ladders, handled tools, old hand  tools and sprinkler knobs are all easily found and treasured by Flea Market gardeners!

Carol Hall’s old tools and tool box

Carol  Hall shows us, “The box with the hens and chicks was my husband’s. The tools were all found in my garage, some were left from the previous owners. Galvanized bucket was a yard sale find. Notice the redneck birdbath. I got that idea on an outing.”

Carol Hall’s cultivator planting bed

“This is an old cultivator of my dad’s, along with a potato fork, hay hooks hanging on the handle, a coal bucket and a grinding wheel in the sand. The milk can was actually a popcorn can that I spray painted,” Carol says.

Tool tales from a garden

Becca Hawkins says, “My garden shed with lots of old collectibles! Some call it junk, I call it “Art”!”

Robin Johnson’s old shed wall full of tools and tubs

Robin Johnson says, “My husband bought me this old wringer type washin machine at a yard sale & I had planned on putting flowers it but it actually works so now he won’t let me.”

Retire old tools here

Nancy K Meyer’s singletree plant hanger is displayed as well as displaying her flowerpots

Nancy K. Meyer says, “Just like a kid at Christmas I could not wait till next spring to give this a test run.  Single trees and horse shoes and iron kettles.”  A singletree is a bar between the pulling animal and the wagon or plow that balances the weight being pulled.  An example of a singletree is a metal crossbar between a horse and a buggy.

Tool time

One of the nicest things about these ideas is that you can start with what old tools you have and then add more later.  Hang old tools on the side of a shed or on a vintage gate or wooden fence.

Kirk Willis’s nail keg o’ tools

Kirk Willis tells, us, “This is nothing fancy…just an old tool arrangement I put together…I have an obsession with picking up rustic tools at garage sales and thrift stores.  My family and friends even give them to me as gifts…which I love.  Old tools do have stories to tell!  I placed the tools in an old nail keg I had…and placed this under our covered, front country porch.”

Kirk Willis’s gate. I believe the succulents are being well cultivated!

Kirk says,  “A few years back, my in-laws gave me money and an antique watering can for my birthday…they know I like garden treasures!  So, I was able to buy an old gate and attached some rusty tools to it.  I placed the fence in front of an electric box by our driveway to hide it!  I added more old trowels I picked up at garage sales…and some were given to me by family and friends.”

Cheryl’s display on a brick chimney

Cheryl Cravino, from HostaAmour, says,  “Here is a way I use old tools in my gardens! The birds love them….last year we had chick-a-dees in every house!”

Brian Stephan’s artwork

Brian Stephan says, “I finally figured out how I wanted to display the last batch of vintage garden tools I bought. I used an old frame, rusted wire fabric and fishing line to tie them to the fabric.”

Marie Niemann’s gate display

Marie Niemann shows us her display, “Here’s how I display my vintage garden tools, on my favorite old rusty gate, they are also handy to use.  Once my squash plants climb up they’ll pop out more with a green background.”

Darlis Wallace’s shed wall of all kinds of treasures

Darlis Wallace says, “This is project I’ve been playing with on my garage! Fun!”