On my quest to find an easy-to-slip-on gardening shoe or just something to slip on for taking the compost out, picking herbs or hanging out washing...do you think I could find a pair that DIDN'T have the Croc-like holes?? I was sick of damp/soggy feet from dewy grass getting through the holes in my Crocs and decided to go in search of some of those cool slip-on rubberised, waterproof shoes…

Then, when I did finally find some, they were very limited in design and colour and expensive: around the $55 - $60 mark, and still only looked a bit like glorified galoshes!

I then got my frugal cap on and headed to the Warehouse and K-Mart in search of some of those loud-coloured gumboots that were on sale at the end of the season for $15....my pair of choice happened to be pink tartan numbers with a flat tread (so as not to catch the dirt).

I then got a sharp pair of scissors and cut the leg off around the top of the foot and around the back of the heel, creating a small ‘back’ so I can slip them on but they stay on.

They have been a great solution that came from an inability to actually find what I was looking for…so hurry and get in before the gumboot stock sells out for the Winter, otherwise you can get the pick of the bunch next Autumn!!

Hi Lissie, What a great idea. I have some gumboots that I never seem to wear because of the hassle of getting them on which I am going to try cutting down. Seems like a very practical pair of slip on boots to have near the door to dash out to the garden.

Hi Lissie, thank you for sharing this great idea. I have been using Crocs to garden in ( I know a fashion fopar!!) but I do find that the soil and any dew on the grass does get through the holes and onto your feet. Also the tread does seem to track dirt into the house.

You have saved us all lots of money. Check out these rubber ankle boots for gardening http://www.spats-boots.co.nz. I think your version will be just as dapper and will not cost $99 plus postage.

Now all we need is some inventive person to come up with an idea to use the leg cutoffs from the gumboots?

What about using the cut offs as seedling protectors. Plant seedling and then place boot cut off over plant and secure with a small stake. The boot will protect the seedling from wind and birds and should create a small protected environment for it to grow. You can easily slide off the boot when the seedling is established.

You could cut off thin lengths of the waste part of the gumboot and use for supporting plants to trellis and climbing frames etc. I use inner tube from old bicycle tyres which work really well. It is soft and flexible.

What about as tree guards? When you are planting a young tree you could slip the upper (Waste) part of the gumboot over the tree stem and it would provide protection from the lawnmower, weed eater and nibbling rabbits and hares etc. When the tree has grown too large you could just cut it off.

Come on guys - how many other uses can we think of?

what great ideas!!! You all are very creative!!

Thanks Janet, I looked up the spats-boots site and, well, the beauty of our cut-your-own style, is that you can cut gumboots to that ankle length or lower, so they resemble a clog or mule (like what I have done).
And thanks everyone for the off-cut ideas - fab! I have mine in my daughters' dress-up box at present....they use them as casts for 'broken' arms and legs when playing doctors!! (But, then, mine were pink tartan!!)
But I'm sure they will make it out to the garden at some stage!

On that idea of cutting into strips for tying up trees, if you are short of some tyre inner-tubes, give your local bike shop a call as they mostly offer the used ones for free - to call in and help yourself.