The Merits of Using Salvaged and Upcycled Materials in Your Landscape Projects

The Japanese phrase “wabi sabi” means, generally, to embrace the imperfections of the world around us and to appreciate the character, charm, and uniqueness of things as they age. When applied to garden design, it highlights many of the reasons you may want to incorporate used materials in your landscaping efforts. Whether the wabi sabi philosophy appeals to you, you enjoy the challenge of finding creative ways to use salvaged materials, you want to reduce your environmental footprint by reusing and upcyling re-claimed materials, or you simply hope to save a buck, employing used materials in your landscape makes sense.

There are two primary ways used materials can be brought into your landscape. One is to simply use a design element in its present form. An old bench under your tree immediately creates a unique, comfortable look with an established sense of place that a new bench cannot duplicate. Or you can construct an element from used materials. A bird feeder or a new gate can be made from salvaged materials that started out looking nothing like its final form. In either case, you can choose the degree of “age” you want to express. Your old bench need not look like it lived in the back of a shed for the last 20 years. A coat of paint will freshen it up, maybe help compliment the other colors in your garden yet still not look like it just came from a big box store.

Another advantage of using salvaged materials is that it can inspire creativity. The small patio pictured here uses both old concrete pavers and bricks salvaged from a fireplace. There was not enough of either to cover the intended area. You may or may not like this particular look, but it does have a design element missing from a patio constructed with a single material. Garden sculpture created from used materials is a completely open creative exercise.

Challenges of Using Reclaimed Materials

Working with used materials does present some challenges. While there are many sources, as listed below, acquiring used materials is generally not as easy or convenient as going to the store to purchase new items. You may need to wait a while until the material or item you want shows up. You may need to store materials while you collect enough for the project you have in mind. Of course, nothing says your project must be created entirely of used materials. It may make perfect sense to purchase some new materials to mix in with the used to move things along. Used materials may not be as uniform or easy to work with as new materials. They may require more preparation. You may not find the same variety available as you would in a store. But with a little persistence, creativity, and flexibility you can develop an attractive, unique, functional, and cost-effective landscape project from recovered and reclaimed materials.

A Few Specific Uses

Used bricks – pathways, patios, retaining walls, raised beds, plant stands
Broken concrete (often called urbanite) – pathways, patios, retaining walls
Redwood or cedar fence boards – raised beds, bird houses, bird feeders, accent fencing, and gates
Poly barrels – water retention, large planters when cut in half
Dismantled bedframes – trellises, metal posts for any number of uses
Large cooking pots and similar vessels – plant pots
Clay pipe – plant stands
Pallets – tables and benches
Pressure treated wood and railroad ties – retaining walls, steps (best not to use for raised beds, especially any bed that may hold vegetables)
Old tires (painted or not) – plant containers, small water features, retaining walls

Specific Examples

*Broken concrete (urbanite), old bricks of various types, and a little creativity results in a one-of-a-kind garden path.*

Plastic deck boards can be framed with salvaged wood to make a rot-proof raised bed.

*Salvaged pavers and fireplace bricks result in a look you otherwise would not achieve.*

*The bird feeder was constructed from redwood fence boards, heavy screen, used pipe, and scrap rebar. The old funnel on the support keeps squirrels out.*

*A section of old chain becomes . . . a rain chain.*

*The dragon fly and rooster were constructed from scrap metal.*

*This garden sculpture made from an old chain, bike wheel, and scrap metal, required basic welding skills.*

Sources of Used Materials or Items

The opportunities to use recycled and reclaimed materials in your landscaping projects are varied and essentially endless. Some sources for materials include: