14 Creative Uses For Old Bed Sheets In The Garden

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It's hard to know what to do with old bed sheets. Whether they're stained, ripped, or just outdated, it seems like such a waste to throw them out. This is especially true considering the environmental impact of textile production. So, instead of throwing your old bed sheets out in the garbage, why not reuse them? There are many clever ways to repurpose old bed sheets around the home, but you can also use them outdoors in your garden. For example, bed sheets can be used to protect plants from the weather, prevent weeds from growing, or give you a bit of much-needed shade in the summer. 

Unless you're buying fabric by the yard, which is fairly expensive, it's rare to have such large slabs of fabric to use, cut into, and sew with. That's why bed sheets are so useful to create things like weed barriers, shade cloth, mulch, or potting table covers on a budget. You can also cut the fabric into smaller pieces to use for decoration DIYs, like flags and labels, or to create some gardening thread.

For these DIYs, you can use flat sheets, duvet covers, or fitted sheets. In some cases, you'll just need a pair of scissors to cut smaller sections from the bed sheets, in which case you can also use pillowcases. For some more advanced DIYs, a sewing machine will come in handy, though it can easily be replaced with some hot glue. 

Bed sheets are a great way to create a DIY weed barrier out of something you already have. Simply lay the fabric on top of your garden bed, and make holes where the plants will poke through the sheet. You can make these holes using an X-Acto knife or scissors, since it doesn't need to be too precise. Then, arrange the sheets on the ground, with the plants poking through the holes, and cover the fabric with some mulch. This is a cheap alternative to landscape fabric, which can help prevent weeds from growing around your plants. 

To protect your plants when it's hot and sunny, old bed sheets can work wonders as a shade cloth. To set up an old bed sheet as a shade cloth, use four fiberglass sticks to hold up the corners. Use a mallet to hammer the sticks into the ground, and place the bedsheet on top of it. You can use zip ties or garden twine to secure the corners in place, but keep in mind that this won't stand the test of time, especially if there is any rain or wind. Still, this is a great temporary solution during a particularly sunny day. 

Old bed sheets can also be used to shade you while gardening, so you won't get sunburnt or heatstroke. To create a larger shade cloth, sew several flat sheets together to create a larger piece of fabric. You can sew them next to each other to create a vertical piece of fabric that can hang between two trees, but you can also sew them into a larger square if you'd like to create a horizontal shade cloth. Attach each corner to a tree branch or pole by poking a hole through the fabric to fit a zip tie or twine. 

Old bedsheets are a great way to protect plants from frost. It's best to use fabric that lets air through and that won't keep too much heat and water trapped underneath (natural fibers do this better than synthetic ones), and depending on your plants, something lightweight might be best to avoid weighing down on them and damaging them. Covering plants during cold snaps can prevent frost from damaging plants, and simple bed sheets are enough to do this even as temperatures drop as low as 28 degrees Fahrenheit. 

When cut into skinny sections, bed sheets can be used as gardening thread. One option is to cut long and thin sections from the bed sheets and use them as is. Another approach is to create fabric scraps twine by attaching several strips of fabric together and twisting them tightly. Fabric thread can be used throughout the garden to attach plants to their trellises and hang pots. You can even use the thread with some other DIYs, such as securing shade cloths to trees and poles. 

When you're potting, pruning, and digging in the ground, you sometimes need something to clean your hands before moving from one task to the next. However, you might be wary of using actual hand towels for such messy tasks. Instead, you can use fabric from old bed sheets to create small hand towels that you won't be afraid to use and stain in the process. All you need to do is cut small rectangles out of fabric, or you can sew them to pieces of old towels for a dual-fabric and more absorbent alternative. 

Old bed sheets make for a wonderful protective cover for your tables and floors when working with soil mix. For any potting tasks that need to be done indoors ahead of spring, lay down the old bed sheet onto your working area before taking out nursery pots and soil mix. When you're done, fold up the bed sheet carefully from all corners and shake it outside before tossing it in the washing machine. With this, you can turn your dining room table or bedroom floor into an all-season gardening station. 

One of the easiest projects for beginner sewers is the good old cushion cover. You can turn a bedsheet or an old blanket into a seat cushion that perfectly fits your outdoor furniture, whether it's a bench, a wooden armchair, or a metal chair. This is a great way to make your outdoor furniture more comfortable, which you can use to hang out or to take a break while gardening. 

Reusing fabric from old bed sheets is a fantastic way to create decorations for your garden. To create small flags, cut a rectangle of fabric from a bed sheet (twice the length of your desired flag). Fold the piece of fabric in half around a small wooden rod or stick in the center, and use hot glue to create the flag structure. You can use these to decorate your lawn or use a marker to write plant names on the flags to create custom plant labels. 

You can make braided rag rugs from old bed sheets easily by simply cutting long and thin pieces of fabric to use as your base material. These can be used outside on a deck, patio, or in a shed. For example, use a DIY rug in a backyard shed or greenhouse to insulate your feet from cold concrete and wooden floors or to wipe your feet from garden mud. And since you're making it out of old sheets that would otherwise be thrown out, you won't be worried about getting it dirty and wet. 

When planting young and delicate seedlings and plants outside in the spring, they're inevitably exposed to inconsistent weather. If you're worried about a wind or rain storm wreaking havoc on your babies, a bedsheet used as a cover overnight could bring you some peace of mind. To avoid the weight of the sheets damaging your delicate seedlings, use something to prop up the fabric, like arches made of gardening wire or even garden furniture, if you're in a pinch. 

If you'd like to scare some birds away from your garden, use some tree branches and dark bed sheets to create a DIY scarecrow. You'll need two strong branches to create the body and the arms, which you can attach together using some twine. Drape the bed sheets over the figure and secure it in place with hot glue or zip ties. For the head, use a foam pumpkin, a mask, or wrap a ball in some fabric and draw a scarecrow face on it. 

When it's time to harvest your vegetables, a small bag can be helpful. You can carry these from crop to crop, filling them with your vegetables as you make your way through the garden rows. To DIY one, you can go very simple and just create a pouch out of two rectangles sewn together. To elevate it, create a drawstring closure at the top, or add some handles so that you can carry it like a tote bag around the garden. 

Garden flags are a wonderful way to make your garden feel truly like home. You can choose fun colors, patterns, and designs that match your style and help bring a bit of personality into your outdoor space. To make your own, you don't even need to sew. Simply cut a large rectangle from a fabric sheet and fold it over in the center to create the shape. Add some glue to the edges, leaving a bit of space at the top of the flag to fit the holder. To complete this DIY, get a horizontal flag holder, like this Yeahome Garden Flag Holder.