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9 Ingenious Ways to Make the Most of Your Gutters

9 Ingenious Ways to Make the Most of Your Gutters

9 Ingenious Ways to Make the Most of Your Gutters

KJ Barber by KJ Barber
August 4, 2020
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Have you ever noticed old gutters lying by the side of the road, or in a trash pile somewhere? If so, you might not want to pass them by next time. As they say, “One man’s trash, is another man’s treasure”. In the case of gutters being tossed out, this old familiar phrase is so true!

There are several creative and clever ideas that could come to life with old gutters. Even your existing gutters might not be utilized as much as they could be at times. For example, do you have a downspout lined up in a way so that rain water running off can go into a large barrel? Rain water is excellent for watering gardens and lawns. If you save it in this manner, you could have it on hand during dry spells.

However, once you or someone else is considering replacing the gutters, don’t throw the old parts out. There are several ways to put them to good use. And, if you don’t see any lying around anywhere, check with construction companies to see if they are willing to share leftover pieces with you.

The following is a mix of both very practical ways to utilize gutters off the grid, as well as ways to enhance living space and organize items for anywhere or anyone.

Related: 36 PVC DIY Projects for Your Homestead

#1. A Wall Garden

9 Ingenious Ways to Make the Most of Your GuttersLeftover gutter pieces can be cut to your desired size, then mounted onto a fence, side of the house or garage, or anywhere you could mount them. Put them open side up to use as elongated planters.

Yes, they are narrow. So, you would use these planters to grow seedlings before transplanting, as well as herbs, succulents, or other small plants.

#2. Garden Edging

You could use old gutters to decorate, as well as help protect your garden space, by placing them around the edging, open side up. You can plant herbs and plants known to help keep pests away, such as the following:

  • Chives or Mint – to repel aphids, some beetles, mites, and rabbits;
  • Rosemary or Sage – to repel cabbage moths, some flies and beetles;
  • Garlic – to repel some beetles;
  • Basil – to repel flies, mosquitoes, and thrips;
  • Cilantro – to repel aphids, spider mites, and potato beetles.

#3. Organized Storage for Small Items

9 Ingenious Ways to Make the Most of Your GuttersGutters can be cut up in small sections, about 4-6 inches or so, depending on what you want to organize.

Flip them on their side, so that the opening is on top and bottom, and line them up to organize things such as nails, screws, brushes, or small tools.

You could also mount these on a board or wall for storage slots.

#4. Catching Chicken Droppings

If you have chickens, you are probably well aware that keeping up with the droppings in the coop can be time consuming and tedious. But, if you take a gutter and place it under the roosts of the cage (open side up), droppings can be caught in there, rather than the floor.

I would suggest using a mounting system that would allow for the gutter trays to be removed for easier cleaning.

Related: DIY Chicken Tunnel (Step-by-Step Guide)

#5. Indoor Garden Shelf

9 Ingenious Ways to Make the Most of Your GuttersCut the pieces of gutter to the desired size, and attach them to a wall to use as a small planter for herbs and succulents.

You can paint the outside of the pieces to go with your particular decor.

This is a great option for anyone who is short on counter space, but still wants to have fresh herbs within easy reach to use while cooking.

Related: How to Grow Medicinal Herbs On Your Windowsill

#6. Cable Organizer

It’s not uncommon to have a mess of cables and wires around the house, if you are hooked up to power and devices. They can be unsightly, in the way, a trip hazard, and a tangled mess. Unless, of course, you do something to help organize and hide them.

By attaching a piece of gutter under the desk, it can hold all the cords and channel them right to the electrical outlets. You could also use them on a wall to conceal wires and cables.

#7. Waterscapes

9 Ingenious Ways to Make the Most of Your GuttersYou could also get creative with gutter pieces in creating a unique water feature to hang on the side of your shed, fence, home, or garage.

Hang each piece in a manner that would drain into the one below it when it rains, until it reaches a large tub at the bottom.

In that tub, you could have fish or water plants.

Related: DIY Mosquito Trap That Really Works!

#8. Aquaponics Gutter Gardens

This project is perhaps a bit more ambitious, but gutters can provide a unique opportunity in aquaponic gardening. Aquaponics is a time-consuming project to get started, but you will end up with a unique self-watering system for your garden, and it could be done using old gutters.

I could really dedicate an entire article in setting up this system, but save the gutters in case you want to do this someday!

#9. Built-in Ice Trough in a Table

9 Ingenious Ways to Make the Most of Your Gutters
Source

This is perhaps one of the most fun ideas I have seen in a while. Cut out a section in the middle of a wooden table top, then mount a piece of gutter from underneath, with the open side up.

You can then put ice and beverages in the trough for entertaining. Or, if you don’t want ice and beverages, you could plant some of the herbs mentioned earlier to keep bothersome insects away.

As I mentioned earlier, some of these ideas are great for living off the grid, while others are more frivolous and just fun. However, each is a great way to repurpose old gutters, rather than just toss them out.

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Tags: DIYself-sufficiencysurvival
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Comments 8

  1. Gma says:
    5 years ago

    Great ideas! My son hung some in child’s playroom for kids books. Works great!

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  2. Heidi says:
    5 years ago

    cute! thx!

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    Reply
  3. Clergylady says:
    5 years ago

    Some interesting uses for gutters. I’m still watching for gutters for water catchment.

    Did you like this comment? 1
    1
    Reply
  4. IvyMike says:
    5 years ago

    Cool, I love vertical wall gardens, don’t have a proper wall for one, though, the lettuce in the pic is real pretty.

    Did you like this comment? 1
    2
    Reply
  5. City Chick says:
    5 years ago

    Good ideas, but u fortunately, No discarded gutters here laying on the side of the road. All recycled at the junk yard for the value of the metal. Heck, they’ll even try to pull the gutters and downspouts off your house if they think you still have the original ones which are heavier and worth more money.

    Did you like this comment? 3
    Reply
  6. Gallo Pazzesco says:
    5 years ago

    Now THIS is fun and new thinkin’ right here! THIS is the kind of stuff us old school preppers who thought we had seen it all love! Thank you!

    Did you like this comment?
    1
    Reply
  7. Walter Hinsdale says:
    3 years ago

    Where are some ideas for making those little lantern holders for your front yard? The little black man characters with the typical big lips.

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
    • Dameon Hersh says:
      3 years ago

      How about a lawn sprinkler too? Featuring ole Big Nosed Fentanyl Floyd, sprawled out on the ground with water spraying out of his Big Nose while holding a counterfeit $20?

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      Reply

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