Gardener Transforms A Bookshelf Into A Functional Flower Bed

April showers might bring May flowers, but how do you get those blooms to thrive? The first step is finding the right environment for your garden. Flower pots are cute for display, but full beds need sufficient sunlight, nutritious soil and fertilizer, and a protected place to grow. Thankfully, it doesn't have to be an expensive or difficult project. Nikki Sandoval, creative community garden director of the PDX Storybook Garden, shared a genius repurposing idea using a discarded bookshelf. By removing the backing and laying the bookshelf flat, she created a raised wooden garden bed that was ready to be filled with beautiful flowers the whole neighborhood could enjoy.

Nikki explains in a Facebook video that she noticed a neighbor left the tall, broken bookshelf on the curb. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. She immediately saw its potential and brought the bookshelf to her nearby community garden. The DIY is easy to replicate in your own backyard with just an old bookcase, a hammer or screwdriver, soil, and a bit of elbow grease. 

You might not stumble upon a bookshelf in your neighborhood like Nikki, but that doesn't mean you've lucked out. Thrift stores, Buy Nothing Facebook groups, and Facebook Marketplace are great sourcing channels for secondhand options. Any size will work as a raised flower bed as long as it has four exterior panels to keep everything contained and 8 to 12 inches of depth for root growth. Try to seek out solid woods like cedar, black cherry, or oak to prevent decay over time. (Pressure-treated wood from furniture made prior to 2004 may contain chemicals that can leak into your soil, so it's best to avoid this type of wood.)

Nikki removed the unit's backing, which is important to allow water to spread thoroughly without rotting the panel. You can do this by hammering into the back panel, though you may need a screwdriver if the backing is secured will nails. She also took out a few of the shelves in her find to create a planter with three compartments. This isn't necessary, but it is helpful if your bookshelf is longer than 10 feet or you want to keep plants separate. Level out the ground with a shovel so that the unit lays flat.

On the repurposing track, use cardboard or newspaper as a biodegradable and affordable alternative to landscaping fabric, though do note it'll need to be replaced every season or so. When the goal is to cultivate a luscious flower bed, not just any bag of dirt will do. Garden soil comes premixed with minerals and nutrients specifically designed to help flowers thrive. Typically, the pH should be a little acidic to neutral, though there are ways to change pH levels at home if you plan on growing more delicate flowers.