Using Less Plastic in the Garden
How to Use Less Plastic in the Garden
Concerned about the impact of plastic on the environment? Are you using more plastic than you would like in your garden? Read our article for handy hints and practical alternatives to using plastic in your garden.
If you have done any gardening at all you will probably have used a plastic pot or two in your time, but it doesn't have to be that way. There are plenty of functional and beautiful alternatives to plastic that can be used for everything from seed sowing to potting up. If you are sowing larger seeds you can easily make your own pots out of newspaper with a paper potter or use the cardboard tubes from toilet rolls, and sow into these. Tin cans can be decorated and used for small plants. If you don't feel inclined to make your own there are plenty of alternatives that you can buy.
Why not make your own newspaper pots? They are great for seed sowing, especially for larger seeds. The picture to the left shows young sunflower plants that have been grown from seed sown direct into paper pots. You will need to purchase a paper potter in order to make paper pots. Paper potters are cheap and make making paper pots a breeze. One great advantage of paper pots is that the plants can be planted directly into the garden without removing the paper which will rot away as the plants starts growing.
We all have these at home and just throw them away, so why not reuse them to sow your seeds in? The cardboard inners from toilet rolls and paper towels can be used in the same way as paper pots. They are great for sowing larger seeds such as sunflowers and sweet peas and can be planted straight into the ground as they will biodegrade in the soil.
Fibre pots are biodegradable and made from wood pulp fibre. You can use these for seeds and cuttings. As these pots biodegrade quickly when wet they can be planted straight into the ground. This means that there is no root disturbance when you plant your plants in the soil. Fibre pots should be kept moist at all times so the roots can grow through the fibre. Before you plant them in the ground give the pots a good soak so they biodegrade in the soil.
Most of us will have empty tin cans from tinned food. Drill some holes in the bottom, fill with compost and you can grow small plants in these. They will go rusty but as rust is fashionable in garden design at the moment you will be right on trend! If you don't like the rusty look you can always paint the cans in a design of your choice. You can also use the tins as cane toppers to protect your face and eyes from the top of short bamboo canes.
It may look a bit like a plastic pot but actually it's made out of bamboo. These are a relatively new introduction and you may need to search to find them. They are available in a range of colours and have a slightly mottled appearance. The main difference is that they are a lot heavier than a standard plastic pot. The picture to the left shows a Plectranthus happily growing away in a bamboo pot. Bamboo saucers and seed trays are also available.
Terracotta pots are the traditional alternative to plastic. They are available in a range of sizes and designs. Heavier than plastic they add stability to larger plants. They are more porous than plastic pots so the compost will dry out quicker. They are available in glazed and unglazed forms. Unglazed pots can be painted for an individual look. Paint pens are ideal for this, draw your design then protect with a coat of clear varnish.
Wooden barrels are a good choice for larger plants. Half barrels are available as a waste product of the whisky industry. They will still have that whisky aroma. When buying from a garden centre ensure that the barrels have not dried out and the wooden slats are still firmly attached to the metal retaining band. Half barrels can also be transformed into a small pond and make a good Christmas tree stand. New wooden barrels and troughs are also available.
