Urban Gardening Meets Upcycling – Hanging Baskets from a Kitchen Sieve

Urban gardening offers city dwellers new ways to relax in a green oasis, even without their own garden. It's perfect that there are so many upcycling ideas that make gardening in the smallest spaces even easier.

A balcony is generally not as large and expansive as a garden—quite the opposite. But that doesn't mean balcony owners have to forgo blooming beauties, aromatic herbs, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Hanging baskets are space-saving ways to transform a balcony into a sea of blossoms.

If you have a discarded metal kitchen sieve at home, you can give it a career boost instead of throwing it away! A kitchen sieve can quickly be repurposed into a practical hanging basket. Upcycling allows you to take disused items from their natural environment and give them a new purpose.

Depending on your preference, the kitchen sieve can be painted your desired color before its new job. Regular outdoor paint works well for this. Alternatively, you can spray-paint the sieve, which is quicker. In any case, the kitchen sieve should dry thoroughly before being repurposed for urban gardening.

Of course, a kitchen sieve can also find a new home on your balcony as a standing planter. But if you want to become a true Urban Gardening pro, you'll want to take that kitchen sieve to new heights—specifically, hanging from the ceiling!

For the kitchen sieve to float above your balcony, you'll need some string to hang it from. Regular twine works great for this. Depending on your preference, you can either wrap it around the handles first or tie it directly to them. To ensure the sieve hangs securely, tie two lengths of twine to each handle, letting them run long. Finally, knot all four strands together at the top, so the kitchen sieve hangs centrally. And then, your plants can move in!

Of course, a trailing plant is particularly well-suited for your hanging kitchen sieve. However, it doesn't always have to be flowers. Strawberries also work great for hanging baskets, allowing you to snack on them right from the air! If you've already delved into urban gardening, this upcycling idea can create a nectar oasis for bees and other beneficial insects. And as a bonus, your sieve planter will also bring a wonderful fragrance to your balcony.

However, a little caution is needed when watering: after all, a kitchen sieve was originally designed to let water out, not keep it in. Therefore, remember to water moderately and avoid overwatering so your balcony doesn't turn into a swimming pool!