Pop up hampers can be found very cheaply (often available at dollar stores) and can be very useful for lots of unusual uses. In this instructable I show 3 great ways to use a pop up laundry hamper in your garden.

Step 1: Use It As Insect Netting

Do you always seem to have cabbage moths attacking your brassicas? Do rabbits or squirrels harvest your plants before you do? Use a pop-up hamper to protect your plants from insects and rodents. You can simply place it upside down, with the opening above the plant. Use garden staples to hold it down, or even some rocks. To help secure against insects, bury the bottom under soil or mulch. The mesh is fine enough to keep most predator insects and rodents away, while allowing good sunlight through. If you do live in a very sunny area, however, this can help to provide some shade from that sun as well.

Step 2: Use It As a Mini Greenhouse

Want to get a jump start on your gardening season by planting some vegetables under cover? Convert a pop-up hamper into a cloche or mini-green house by adding some plastic covering. This can extend your season by adding warmth in the early spring or late fall. Just get some cheap plastic sheeting (a drop cloth, tablecloth cover, or shower curtain liner all work well) and staple it around the pop-up hamper. Trim off any excess plastic and put the greenhouse over the plant.

Step 3: Use It As a Portable Compost Bin

Need somewhere to put your weeds and clippings when you are in the garden? A pop-up hamper can provide a compost bin that you carry with you, until it is ready to be dumped into your main pile.