Homeowners are being urged to use tin cans in their gardens (really) — here's why

It's officially springtime and while, like us, our gardens have been in hibernation, it's now the perfect time to shake off the cold weather and get to our gardening chores.

And while for most people that'll look like carrying out the 5 things to get your garden ready for spring, there's an unlikely household item that I've just realised I should be adding into my seasonal tasks – with a little crafting.

After going down a gardening hack rabbit hole on TikTok (one of my favorite hobbies, apparently), I found out that households are being urged to keep hold of their tin cans for a gardening hack. So, before you pop them in the recycling, why not breathe new life into them for spring? Your garden will certainly thank you later. Here's how it works.

What is the tin can hack?

I recently stumbled upon @mrsclarehoops on TikTok, who shares easy crafts and thrifty upcycling hacks to her over 200k followers. And as she embarks on her series of hacks for spring 2026, she's come up with one entirely focused on old tin cans.

Clare simply requests that you don't throw away your used tin cans, but instead transform them into lovely planters for your spring bulbs and flowers. After all, you'd spend money buying them from a shop or online, so why not repurpose something you're only going to recycle anyway?

Whether it's old food cans or finished paint pots, there's just a few simple steps that I'll jump into below that'll help you transform them into planters. And it turns out it's a hack that's been going on for years with crafters like Aimsy's Antics posting her own DIY tin can planters.

And, as she explains: "Recycling is so important, so what better way to do it than by transforming your rubbish into something pretty and useful?" Which reminds me of the proverb, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." You can get as creative as you like transforming your old tin can into something that fits into your spring garden and here's how.

How to make a tin can planter this spring

I'm not super handy in the garden, so when I first stumbled across this hack I was worried it was going to require me to get a bunch of tools out. Fortunately, that's not the case. All you have to do is follow these five simple steps:

• Clean the tin can, remove labelling, and let it dry fully
• Use a screwdriver and hammer to make 3-5 small drainage holes in the bottom
• Spray it with garden paint or add any decoration you like
• Fill with potting soil or place in a potted plant
• Water, as needed

I was a little concerned that the tin cans would rust over time, especially when being frequently watered, but so was someone in @mrsclarehoops comments asking: "I love them but do they rust??"

And fortunately, Clare answered: "They will eventually but I think it adds to the charm – iron oxide is good for plants too." And while I'm not sure I have tin cans as big as Clare, I'm now seriously considering repurposing my smaller tin cans into lively additions around my patio.

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Add a splash of color to your used tin cans with this garden spray paint that's eco-friendly, weather and UV-resistant, and fast drying. If you're not sold on the 'Basil Smash Green' there's 18 other colors to choose from and it works both indoors and outdoors if you've got any other upcycling projects on the go.

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