Protect Your Plants With A Budget-Friendly Garden Cloche DIY From Dollar Tree

One of the biggest challenges you can face as a gardener is preventing tender plants becoming fresh snacks for the neighborhood's rabbit, raccoon, or mice population. They are only some of the worst garden pests you'll want to banish from your yard immediately. Garden cloches are great for keeping out these hungry culprits while still letting in natural light and airflow. But if you've just planted a batch of new seedlings, buying cloches each of them can be expensive. That's why we love this DIY garden cloche, made from a Dollar Tree wire waste basket and a cabinet knob.

These DIY cloches are sturdy and can be pressed into the ground to prevent them from tipping over when bumped. To be extra safe, secure it into the soil using tent pegs or garden stakes. For a charming touch, use cute Bee Gnome Yard Stakes or the whimsical Flower Branch Yard Stakes from Dollar Tree. 

Critters are not the only things that these cloches protect against. If you're looking for creative ways to shade your plants from the brutally hot sun, a waste basket cloche provides a great temporary solution. Attach a small piece of shade cloth to the frame using cable ties to shield tender plants during particularly hot days. If you don't have shade cloth, most any fabric will do. The fabric is easy to remove when the plant is stronger, or when the weather cools.

Pop into your nearest Dollar Tree to purchase an Essentials Wire Waste Basket. This TikToker also used a light plastic knob, but you can use what you have at home or pick up a Tool Bench Hardware Heavy Duty Hook while you're at Dollar Tree, as it will work much the same. Fasten the knob or hook in the center of the waste basket and tighten it. That's it! It's ready to protect your plants. 

As far as colors go, it's up to you — although white will look dirtier faster. If that bothers you, you may want to take inspiration from the viral painting hack you need to know if you raise chickens in your yard and opt for black, as it virtually disappears in a garden setting. Alternatively, you can spray paint the basket green if you want it to blend in with the plants and the environment naturally.

If gophers and moles are a problem in your garden, prevent them snacking on your flower bulbs by buying a few extra waste baskets. Bury them in your garden bed, fill them with soil, and plant your bulbs safely within the cages. Cover each plant from the top with a DIY cloche. For extra security, attach the top and bottom basket with cable ties or wire twist ties. With protection from above and below, your bulbs will be safe to grow and thrive.