Repurpose Foam Pool Noodles With These 5 Clever Garden Ideas

Foam pool noodles are good for more than keeping you afloat in the water. Their flexible, durable, and light-weight material make them almost endlessly useful in your yard. From supporting potted plants to covering raised beds, foam noodles come in handy in more than one place in your garden. Here are our favorite ways to reuse pool noodles all around our outdoor spaces.

1. Fill Large Pots

Instead of filling a large pot with pounds of potting soil, fill the bottom with pieces of pool noodles. That way, you can save potting soil while still having a full-looking potted plant. And excess water will still be able to drain out the bottom, so you won’t have to worry about root rot. Simply cut the pool noodle into small sections, and place them in the bottom half of the pot. Pour potting soil over the pool noodles to fill the rest of the pot.

2. Stake Plants

If you have top-heavy plants, like dahlias or peonies, use a foam pool noodle to stake and support them so they don’t fall over. Cut the noodle to match the height of the plant, then slit it lengthwise so it can wrap around the stem. Choose to only use the pool noodle to keep the plant upright, or pair the noodle support with a wooden or metal stake to further ensure the plant grows straight. If using a stake, insert it into the soil 2 inches from the stem, and wrap the noodle around both the stem and stake.

3. Raised Bed Cover

Make a quick and easy cover for your raised garden beds with a pool noodle, wire, and netting. Thread a sturdy piece of wire through a noodle, making sure it’s long enough to come out of both ends, and gently bend the noodle into an arch shape. Place the arch over your garden bed, and press the excess wire at the ends into the soil. Continue making pool noodle arches and placing them every 2-3 feet across the entire bed.

Once the arches are secure, drape a large piece of netting over the entire bed, securing it to the arches with clothespins or clips. Weigh down and tuck any excess netting near the sides of the bed using rocks or staples to make sure it stays in place.

4. Garden Sprinkler

Turn a pool noodle into a sprinkler for your garden beds using a knife, duct tape, and a hose. All you need to do is cut holes every 2 inches down the length of the noodle and slip your garden hose through. Once you turn on the water, it will run through the holes, creating a small sprinkler system. If you want stronger sprays, cover the hole at one end of the noodle with duct tape, creating stronger water pressure.

Lay the makeshift sprinkler next to or in your garden beds for an upward spray. Or, if you prefer downward sprays, bend the noodle to create an arch over the beds and secure with wire.

5. Soft Borders

If there are children regularly running around your backyard, you know how often falls and accidents happen. Eliminate possible bumps and bruises by using a pool noodle to cover sharp edges. Cut an entire pool noodle in half so it easily slips over any edges and corners. Cover the borders of raised beds, plant cages, or any metal garden structures.