Collecting precipitation for use in the garden saves money and makes for happier plants. If you don't want to spend a few hundred bucks on a large-capacity rain barrel, simply rig up a recycled laundry detergent dispenser with a built-in spigot. After cleaning out any suds from the empty container, spray-paint its exterior and let it dry overnight. Using an X-acto knife, cut a rectangular hole in the top and slide your gutter in. When you're ready to water your plants, simply press the button and let loose the flood.

With its deep bowl, sturdy handles, and abundance of drainage holes, an old colander is begging to be repurposed as a hanging planter. ReadyMaker Phoebe Streblow rigged up this thrift-store find with nothing but a sturdy wire hanger. Place a layer of coconut liner in the bowl to retain moisture, drop in some potting soil and a favorite plant, and you've got your own floating garden.

Leaving a garden hose strewn haphazardly in the yard is a bad idea. Ask anyone who's ever tripped over one or lifted a nozzle to discover a menagerie of creepy-crawlies beneath it. To solve the problem, ReadyMade's Becky Eaton attaches an old paint bucket to a fence post with a few screws. It's not only a great solution for hose hanging, but it also functions as a cubby for gardening tools.

If you love the light that fireflies emit, you'll go ga-ga for this solar-powered portable sconce from ReadyMade contributor Megan Reardon. Unlatch a Mason jar (we used Ikea's Slom model) and apply glass-frosting spray to the outside of it, leaving the lid alone. Remove the solar panel and battery pack from a garden light kit (we used Malibu's) and mount it on the underside of the jar lid with poster tack. The solar panel should face up through the top, and the light should hang down into the center of the jar. Close the lid, and place the jar on a sunny windowsill. The solar panel will charge the light, which will glow in the evening, all without harming a single firefly.