Uses for old 68mm drainpipes?

[IndigoElectron]

We have just had our drainpipes replaced and the builders kindly left the old ones behind

I was hoping I could make use of them. I've seen in some books that you can use them to help get water right down to the roots of plants, by cutting off a short section, burying it in the compost and watering through the drainpipe. But I think my drainpipes might be a bit wide for this? I don't want to get in the way of the plants' roots - or doesn't this matter? I don't know if they will fit in my 30cm pots, but maybe in a trough or raised bed?

If this won't work, any other ideas for what I can do with them? I also have a small length of wider drainpipe, maybe about 100mm diameter.

Thanks!

[lottie dolly]

cut them into short lengths,say from 3in up,to use as pots for potting on when pricking out,the same way you use a loo roll middle,only slide the plant out before planting out,wash and reuse,i also find them useful when sowing parsnips into the ground,i sow the seeds within the ring,then remove before the snips get to bigg,that way you know where the are,and aids in weeding,

[Greenfingerpaula]

I saw a fab idea in my book, Crops in Pots.

Cut the drainpipe, spray them silver, stand then vertically with bricks inside, preferably on a gravel surface. Then put pots of herbs etc inside so they splay out over the sides or up out of the pipe - looks beautiful .... In fact, here's the pic from the book -


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

[veggiechicken]

Get some "bends" to link the pipes together and make a brassica/fruit cage. Something like these Tom Matkey PVC Tomato Cages

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks everyone, I will have a think if I can manage any of those

[arpoet]

If they are the old cast iron downpipes they are very hard to cut.
I use my old ones to hide my hosepipe from the water butts that collect water from the house roof so I can water my veg patch 30 foot away and my greenhouse 60 foot away.

[Bigmallly]

Just a couple of additions to the above:
Assuming they are plastic - Cut into 12" lengths & use to blanch Leeks or cut into 4" lengths & use as Brassica collars.

[IndigoElectron]

They are plastic. Thanks both for the tips. Looks like I was right to hang onto them

[rhonsal]

stack shorts sections on their side and fill with cane offcuts/twigs/leaves and make a winter home for beneficial insects.