Before heading out to the garden, take stock of these 10 common household items—some you might otherwise count as garbage! They may be your new favorite garden tools.

1. Use Yogurt Cups to Trap Slugs

Dig a hole in your yard the size of a yogurt container near any plants being eaten by slugs. Place the cup flush with the ground, and fill with beer or salted water. Bait the rim with sliced potatoes; the pests will crawl into the container and drown.

2. Use Charcoal to Nourish Your Compost Heap

Mix charcoal into your compost pile to increase its carbon content. (If the pile smells like ammonia, it needs carbon.)

3. Use Carpet Scraps to Cushion Your Knees When Gardening

Roll up a scrap of carpet and kneel on it when spreading mulch, planting flowers, or weeding.

4. Use a Christmas Tree to Edge Your Borders

Cut the trunk into 2-inch discs and set them into the soil to edge flower beds or walkways.

5. Use Packing Peanuts to Lighten up Big, Heavy Planters

Pour peanuts into a large pot and add soil to boost drainage and make it easier to move.

6. Use a Sponge to Keep Water-Loving Plants Moist

Place a sponge in the bottom of a planter before adding soil, to keep water in reserve.

7. Use a Pencil to Start a Plant

Made from the wood of bug-repell­ing incense cedar trees, a pencil jabbed into the soil is a durable support for small plants. Use twist ties to hold the seedlings in place.

8. Use a Drywall Bucket to Tame a Garden Hose

Coiled in a bucket, it's neatly stored and stays tangle-free.

9. Use Wine Corks to Fluff up Your Soil.

Chop or grind corks into granules and add them to soil as moisture-retaining mulch.

10. Use an Old Plastic Bag to Protect Fruit

In late fall, tie plastic bags over nearly ripe fruit on a tree to keep out bugs and guard against frost damage

Thank you to Shine @ Yahoo for the great tips!!