🪵 Don’t Throw That Log! 4 Genius Ways to Reuse Tree Trunks in Your Garden (Malaysia DIY Guide)

So you were walking around your neighbourhood and saw piles of freshly cut tree logs by the roadside after MBPJ or DBKL did their usual pruning work. Most people just walk past. But you? You see potential.

In Malaysia, we often overlook free natural resources — especially something as rustic, sturdy, and aesthetic as tree logs. These aren’t just firewood or bulky obstacles. With a bit of creativity (and maybe some sanding), they can become beautiful features in your home garden — for zero ringgit.

In this HARVEST-style guide, we’ll show you how to reuse those logs for:

1. Raised garden bed borders
2. Rustic seating and stools
3. Log flower pots
4. Decorative features (natural art, moss logs, fairy corners)

And the best part? You’ll have neighbours and Instagram followers asking:
“Eh where you buy this one?” (Spoiler alert: You didn’t. You rescued it.)

🔍 Before You Start: What to Check Before Using Public Logs

Before grabbing logs from the roadside, here’s a checklist:

✅ 1. Make sure it’s safe and legal.

• In most Malaysian residential areas, municipal logs left by the roadside are considered waste. But it’s still best to ask your local MBPJ/DBKL/MPK if it’s okay to take them.
• Never remove logs from protected forests or parks.

✅ 2. Check for pests.

• Look for signs of termites, carpenter ants, or burrowing insects.
• Avoid logs with crumbling insides, white threads (fungus), or strong mildew smell.

✅ 3. Choose wisely.

• Go for medium to large logs that are sturdy, not too dry (fragile), and don’t have deep cracks.

🧱 1. Use Logs as a Raised Garden Bed Frame

This is the easiest and most functional way to reuse logs.
Arrange logs in a rectangle, circle, or hexagon on the ground to frame a garden bed. Fill the inside with soil, compost, and seedlings.

🛠 Tools & Materials:

• Machete or axe (to level logs)
• Shovel
• Garden soil or compost
• Leveling stones (optional)

💡 Tips:

• Place a layer of crushed bricks or stones under the logs to reduce ground rot.
• Use logs of similar thickness for even framing.
• You can stack two layers of logs for deeper beds — great for root veggies!

🌱 Perfect for:

• Chillies, tomatoes, brinjals
• Ulam garden: Pegaga, Kesum, Bunga Kantan
• Herbal corners: Serai, Pandan, Daun Kari

Bonus aesthetic: Logs develop moss over time = cottagecore garden vibes 🌿

🪑 2. Turn Medium Logs into Rustic Garden Stools

No need to buy plastic chairs for your garden lepak spot. A well-sized log makes a beautiful natural seat — perfect for outdoor tea time or TikTok content.

🛠 Tools:

• Sandpaper (medium grit)
• Optional: Clear wood sealer or varnish (for outdoor use)

💡 Tips:

• Slice the top flat using a saw or request help from a nearby carpenter.
• Sand the top and sides to avoid splinters.
• Apply eco-friendly sealant for weather protection.

🪑 Ideas:

• Line up 3–4 log stools with a small table = instant tea nook
• Place one next to a pandan bush = natural sitting corner
• Paint the tops with mandala art or quotes

Warning: Don’t use logs that are unstable or too narrow — they can tip over!

🌸 3. Hollow Out Large Logs for Flower Pots

Yes, logs can become planters!
With a bit of carving, you can turn a large trunk into a stunning, rustic pot — perfect for trailing plants, ferns, or even bonsai.

🛠 Tools:

• Mallet & chisel (or chainsaw for pros)
• Sandpaper
• Optional: Coconut husk liner or landscape fabric

🌱 How-To:

1. Hollow out the top 5–10 inches of the log’s center.
2. Drill a few holes at the base for drainage.
3. Line with coconut husk or fabric to prevent soil washout.
4. Fill with soil and plant your favourite blooms or herbs.

🧑‍🎨 Creative Touches:

• Grow bunga telang, mint, or mossy ferns
• Add small figurines for a fairy garden
• Place next to stepping stones or walkway

These log pots are guaranteed to go viral on Instagram — don’t forget to tag us!

🪵 4. Use As Decorative Garden Sculptures

Not everything in a garden needs to be functional. Sometimes, beauty itself is a function.

Logs can be repurposed into:

• Mossy sculptures (let nature paint it)
• Fairy corners with tiny doors and lights
• Natural plant stands for smaller pots
• Garden signs with painted quotes

💡 Idea:

Paint one side of a log with “Selamat Datang Ke Kebun Saya” or your garden name. Place it at your garden entrance for a personalised rustic touch.

🛑 Optional: Treating the Logs

If you want your log creations to last longer, consider sealing them with:

• Linseed oil
• Natural beeswax
• Outdoor wood sealer (eco-friendly types available on Shopee)

Skip this step if you love the weathered, natural decay look (which can also be gorgeous).

📸 Show Off Your Log Creations with Project HARVEST!

Found a log? Transformed it into a masterpiece?
We want to see it!

Snap a photo of your raised bed, stool, or planter and tag @projectharvest.my — your creation might just get featured.

Use hashtags:
#HarvestLogs #ProjectHarvestMY #GardenDIYMalaysia #KebunKreatif

🌳 Final Thoughts: The Garden is Full of Hidden Treasures

Nature is always giving. Even when trees are trimmed, she leaves behind gifts — we just have to see them differently.

So next time you see roadside logs, don’t walk past. Grab one (or three), bring them home, and let them become part of your garden story. From raised beds to flower pots, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

And remember: in the HARVEST mindset, nothing goes to waste — not even a fallen tree 💚