Did you know it will take 50-80 years for a tire to break down when discarded? Loads of auto shops will recycle tires for you, but they are still ending up tossed on the side of the road. We had the grandest time pulling 6 tires out of some woods near our house and creating a few DIY projects around the house.

Tire Project number 1 : Tire Garden

Step One: Scrub mud off tires with a bristled brush.

Step Two: Cut tops off tires to create more surface area to plant in. I did get Jeremy to help me with this part. It’s best if you use a serrated knife and some sort of handle to pry open the space after you cut it.

Step Three: Spray Paint, I used white and it took 1 can for 1.5 tires. Two cans totally covered four tires. This is the spray paint I used, Rust-Oleum.

Step Four: Drill holes in the bottom of the tires for drainage. I used an electric drill and a 31/64 inch drill bit. Just put a bit of force behind the drill and the drill should go right in.

Step Five: Put cardboard on top of the hole. We did this to help keep the dirt we wanted for our garden from spilling out, and if we ever wanted to shift it around we totally can!

Step Six: Put in the dirt. We used this topsoil that we got from our local Home Depot.

Step Seven: Plant your Garden! We started our seeds inside, for about two weeks before putting them outside. We’re trying to grow cucumbers, sweet corn, okra, and butternut squash!

Bonus Tip: Save your fingers and grab one of these Spray Grips, it’ll connect to any spraypaint cans you have!