Clothes Hangers

Like most people, we have an abundance of wire clothes hangers. I once heard a rumour that they have babies in the bottom of the wardrobe when the owner isn't looking. They are a very simple device, probably cost very little, but there are so many of them that it seems a shame, not to mention a waste of good metal, to send them to landfill. 

We always kept one (opened out) with a re-fashioned slimmer hook at one end, for 'fishing' things out of awkward corners.

We also have a straight length of one which can be used to make holes in the ends of plastic containers to be used as seed-pots in the garden.

But recently, we have found a new use - for pegging down long sticks to demarcate paths in my sister's newly designed woodland garden. They work perfectly, holding the sticks securely in place.

With the 'hanger part' cut off, the remaining wire is like a staple, and is very successful at securing the loose sticks, though I found I had to be sure the sticks were flat along the ground, and not slightly raised, to prevent creating a 'tripping point.

Seems like I will have enough 'pegs' to include one in the centre of each stick, as well as at both ends, thus reducing the risk of anyone tripping in the event that they are chasing through the trees!

The final image shows the discarded 'hanger parts' which I really like the look of. (Click the image as always to see a larger version)