old tyre recycle ideas anyone

[jenko]

anyone seen grand designs recently, why not build a house out of them...........

[Nomada]

Here's an idea, make them into gardening trugs

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tired-and-True-Trugs/

[tractor jon]

Here is what we have used old tractor tyres for.

We get them from the local tyre fitters for free.


Jon

[Sky]

You grow grass in them?

[Annpan]

I think that is onions and leeks sky

[tractor jon]

Its not grass, its onions, shallots and lettuce in that one.
we also have carrots, leeks, cauliflowers, courgette, strawberries, peas, runner beans, swede, beetroot and rhubarb growing in other tyres.

Jon

[wulf]

Here's what my tyre planter looks like:



We already have a bunch of them in the back garden, growing herbs, but I picked up on the idea of turning them inside out. The advantages are:

- more growing space

- less tyre-like appearance

- no convenient slug / snail hiding place right next to your plants.

That was my first one; I did a second last night which only took about 20 minutes from gathering my tools, tipping out the existing earth, cutting and flipping inside out (more details on my blog).

Wulf

[LandDownUnder]

I have just been given my first tractor tyre, and theres more on the way.............and FREE. Little did i realise the size of a tractor tyre, i thought it would be off say a small Massey Fergussen.............oh no this baby is near 6 foot in diameter lol. Anyway i have cut the side walls off with a stanley knife ( if anyone has a quicker, less energetic way i would appreciate it as theres about another 5 on their way ) I have read about heavy metals in the tyre as it gradually wastes away etc leeching into the tubers on spuds grown in them but at least mine won't have weeks and weeks of pesticides sprayed over them so i guess i'll take a chance.
I would like to know how to turn a tyre inside out ? especially this one.

[Lentil]

I used to have a planter made from a turned inside out tyre; it looked like a circular moat!
I would like to know how to turn one like that, as I think it could be used as a moat around a bucket, planted up with beans or salad leaves, to keep the battalions of slugs at bay.

[wulf]

Turning them inside out is a bit of a struggle. First cut away the side wall (a stanley knife will work - try some glycerine as a lubricant as it helps the rubber part easily). Then get a portion turned inside out and stand on it.

Following that, you have to wrestle your way round the rest of the tyre. It will seem to get harder and harder until you get about halfway and then suddenly the tyre will decide it wants to be inside out and the last bit is relatively easy. I suspect it is probably easier on a hot day and with older tyres that have been bashed around a bit. If it beats you, you can always return for a rematch - you will get your energy back but the tyre won't recover from the stretching already inflicted and should be easier.

Wulf

[Lentil]

Couldn't shredded tyres be used instead of gravel ?
Under children's play areas would be good too.
Heaven knows how you could shred them though: Thinking I could get rid of my front lawn & have shredded tyres with big tire planters as raised beds, this would be easy to manage & productive, even for oldies: Cheap too!

From: Walsall, West mids. UK

[Thomzo]

It's already being done on a commercial basis. They often use shredded tyres as mulch along motorway verges. I don't know if you can buy it for domestic use though.

Zoe

[Lentil]

Done some research but delivery of mulch, chip, etc is expensive.
You tube etc show how to make your own but you need a commercial shredder.

*I have decided to make a bit by hand by using cycle tyres and a Stanley knife(will try local cycle shop and neighbour who moves rubbish and looking in ditches and skips etc). If I can get enough for under one Privet hedge I will be pleased, as my neighbours children throw the gravel onto my lawn and it wrecks my mower blades; rubbber should be safe.

Looking out for a big tyre for my first raised bed!
Beth