How to Make Your Garden a Plastic-Free Zone | ExpatWoman.com
 

How to Make Your Garden a Plastic-Free Zone

There are different materials and products out there to help you go plastic-free in the garden.

Posted on

25 April 2019

Last updated on 19 January 2020
How to Make Your Garden a Plastic-Free Zone

All Credits: PA

So, you want to help stop the scourge of plastic by making your garden a plastic-free zone?

It’s estimated that 500 million plant pots and seed trays are sold each year, the majority of which are sent to landfill or incinerated.

SEE ALSO: Choosing the Right Compost for Your Dubai Garden

Few garden centres offer take-back pot recycling or reuse schemes at present, although you can check at Recycle Now (recyclenow.com/local-recycling) to see if your council recycles plant pots, though these also tend to be few and far between.

Plastic gardening products can take up to 450 years to biodegrade if they aren’t recycled, according to greenhouse manufacturer The Greenhouse People (greenhousepeople.co.uk), which has put together some top tips for going plastic-free:

It may seem obvious, but the most effective way to reduce plastic in your garden is to simply stop buying it.

With demand growing, more garden centres are offering biodegradable pots made using materials such as coir (from coconut husks), wood chips, rice husks and seaweed. Terracotta also makes a great rustic alternative.

If you’re feeling extra resourceful, scoop out the insides of half a lemon and fill with soil, before scattering a small number of seeds. Once the seedlings sprout, you can transfer to a larger area. Lemon peel also acts as a natural fertiliser, making it a great multi-purpose alternative to plastic.

Use biodegradable jute netting to tie in peas and beans, rather than plastic netting, and wire mesh to create fruit caging to protect your harvest from birds.

2. Try wooden seed trays



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After my beekeeping class today I finally finished building and staining the last 5 seed trays and realized that, not including the linseed oil (because I had pre-purchased that for a different project), ten wood seed trays cost me approximately $19 and a few hours to assemble. That's only $1.90 per reusable, beautiful, sturdy, eco friendly, seed tray that should last for at least 4-5 years, if not longer. Heyooo! #frugalliving at its finest!. If you have an interest in building one just to try it, all you need is two 8' furring strips and a single deck baluster. Cut lengths: 6 - 20" 2 - 10" *The tiny bit of leftover wood from these cuts is perfect for making handles! Slice the baluster at a 45° to make the triangle corner bits, and cut those to whatever length you'd like in order to allow you to stack the trays while plants are growing in them. I cut mine to 6". To stain, use a strong black tea to add more tannins to the wood (this doesn't actually change the color by itself), and then darken the tannins by using a wash of baking soda dissolved in h2o - about 4 tsp to 1 c water. And then once it's dry, seal the wood with any basic wood oil; mineral, orange, linseed, tongue, etc. . Add newspaper in the bottom before filling with soil to keep fine sediment from washing away, and off you go!. . . #diy #seedtrays #seedlings #seedstarting #woodenseedtray #gardening #urbangarden #urbanhomestead #reuse #brakemanorseedtrays

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They will still get your seeds off to a flying start and are much more eco-friendly than plastic ones. You can also now buy bamboo seed trays which are biodegradable. You can even plant seeds such as broad beans and sweet peas in loo roll tubes.

3. Make use of broken pots

Use broken terracotta to line the base of pots

One of the main benefits of plastic is that it’s durable and very unlikely to break. The same cannot be said for the more brittle terracotta and ceramic pots.

But don’t dispose of them if they break. Plant pot shards are easy to repurpose by placing them at the base of larger pots to improve drainage, or stick them in the ground and write on them to create handy plant labels.

4. Choose tools wisely

Choose tools carefully

When it comes to gardening tools, it’s important to think about durability, comfort, as well as the interests of the environment.

With this in mind, if you’re serious about reducing the amount of plastic in your garden, opt for metal tools with wooden handles, which should outlast their plastic rivals.

Metal can rust, so a little TLC is needed at the end of each season to keep them in tip-top condition. Clean each tool with a rag or brush, using warm soapy water, then when dry, spray with WD-40 or rub down with mineral oil. Store by hanging on hooks (away from the damp floor) in a dry airy location for the winter.

If you find you’ve somehow accumulated lots of plastic-based tools and equipment, don’t fret.

Should you use a community allotment or have friends who also enjoy a spot of gardening, why not suggest sharing your plastic equipment or handing it down?

Be a green pioneer and inspire fellow gardeners with the changes you’re making and they may just follow suit. Remember, knowledge is power, so if you’re serious about preserving the environment, lead by example.

 
 

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