How to Reduce Plastic Use in Your Garden
Want to minimise your plastic footprint outdoors? Follow this expert advice for eco-friendly gardening alternatives
Considering the amount of single-use plastic we consume daily, is it time to review our gardening habits? If you’re concerned about the impact of plastics on the environment and want to make a change, try these ideas from three UK professionals for a low-impact outdoor space
Professional advice from: Guy Barter, Chief Horticulturist at the RHS | Fiona Green of Green Tree Garden Design | Claudia de Yong of Claudia de Yong Garden Design
Professional advice from: Guy Barter, Chief Horticulturist at the RHS | Fiona Green of Green Tree Garden Design | Claudia de Yong of Claudia de Yong Garden Design
Take your own containers to the garden centre
Alternatively, you could refuse the pot entirely. “When you go to a garden centre, if they only sell plants in plastic pots and you’re going to plant them immediately, why not take a large jute bag with you?” says garden designer Claudia de Yong. “Then, when you’re at the till, empty your plants into the bag and hand back the plastic. Or you could ask for a wooden tray or box instead.”
“One of the nurseries I use for smaller herbaceous perennials does like to have the trays the plant pots come in returned,” Fiona says. “I always try to collect these up and make sure they (eventually) make their way back to the nursery concerned.” But this is still not ideal, as Fiona admits “most nurseries don’t want the pots back (I’ve asked!)”.
Alternatively, you could refuse the pot entirely. “When you go to a garden centre, if they only sell plants in plastic pots and you’re going to plant them immediately, why not take a large jute bag with you?” says garden designer Claudia de Yong. “Then, when you’re at the till, empty your plants into the bag and hand back the plastic. Or you could ask for a wooden tray or box instead.”
“One of the nurseries I use for smaller herbaceous perennials does like to have the trays the plant pots come in returned,” Fiona says. “I always try to collect these up and make sure they (eventually) make their way back to the nursery concerned.” But this is still not ideal, as Fiona admits “most nurseries don’t want the pots back (I’ve asked!)”.
Make your own compost or buy wisely
“If you have the room, it’s a good idea to make your own compost and therefore avoid buying it in plastic bags,” says Claudia.
But if you need to supplement your own supply or buy specific soil improvers, you can still do so with an eye on the environment. “Buy larger economy packs of compost and fertiliser,” says Guy, “as smaller packs use proportionately more plastic packaging.”
“I reuse [compost bags] in my garden where possible, for [things such as] growing potatoes and breaking down leaf waste,” says Fiona. “As a rule, we try to avoid using individual bags of compost, and prefer to get bulk deliveries in dumpy sacks, which we then reuse for collecting garden waste, but that isn’t perfect.”
Do you want to make your own compost? Find instructions here.
“If you have the room, it’s a good idea to make your own compost and therefore avoid buying it in plastic bags,” says Claudia.
But if you need to supplement your own supply or buy specific soil improvers, you can still do so with an eye on the environment. “Buy larger economy packs of compost and fertiliser,” says Guy, “as smaller packs use proportionately more plastic packaging.”
“I reuse [compost bags] in my garden where possible, for [things such as] growing potatoes and breaking down leaf waste,” says Fiona. “As a rule, we try to avoid using individual bags of compost, and prefer to get bulk deliveries in dumpy sacks, which we then reuse for collecting garden waste, but that isn’t perfect.”
Do you want to make your own compost? Find instructions here.
Think long term with garden structures
Shifting your mindset from short to long term is a good way of avoiding the use of plastic in favour of a more sustainable material. This is especially true with garden outbuildings and structures, such as greenhouses and cloches.
“Use glass cold frames, cloches and greenhouses instead of plastic ones,” Guy advises, and you’ll be investing in the future of your garden as well as in something potentially more aesthetically pleasing, too.
Do you want some advice for your garden? Find a local landscape contractor on Houzz
Shifting your mindset from short to long term is a good way of avoiding the use of plastic in favour of a more sustainable material. This is especially true with garden outbuildings and structures, such as greenhouses and cloches.
“Use glass cold frames, cloches and greenhouses instead of plastic ones,” Guy advises, and you’ll be investing in the future of your garden as well as in something potentially more aesthetically pleasing, too.
Do you want some advice for your garden? Find a local landscape contractor on Houzz
Buy smarter seed trays
If you grow a lot of plants from seed, you’ll probably get through quite a few seed trays and cells each year. Add these up and it can create a small mountain of single-use plastic.
The alternative? “Use biodegradable pots, seed trays and cell trays instead of plastic ones,” says Guy, so when they reach the end of their useful life, they can biodegrade back into the earth.
Biodegradable pots made from paper, coir, rice husks or seaweed. “The pots and plants can go directly into the soil and will degrade over time,” says Claudia.
If these are hard to source, she suggests making your own “with newspaper, using a paper pot maker. This method works well for starting seedlings and you can also use any cardboard tubing, such as those inside loo rolls. You can grow seedlings in eggshells and egg cartons as well,” she says.
If you grow a lot of plants from seed, you’ll probably get through quite a few seed trays and cells each year. Add these up and it can create a small mountain of single-use plastic.
The alternative? “Use biodegradable pots, seed trays and cell trays instead of plastic ones,” says Guy, so when they reach the end of their useful life, they can biodegrade back into the earth.
Biodegradable pots made from paper, coir, rice husks or seaweed. “The pots and plants can go directly into the soil and will degrade over time,” says Claudia.
If these are hard to source, she suggests making your own “with newspaper, using a paper pot maker. This method works well for starting seedlings and you can also use any cardboard tubing, such as those inside loo rolls. You can grow seedlings in eggshells and egg cartons as well,” she says.
Say goodbye to plastic plant labels
If you like to label bulbs and seeds to remember exactly what’s planted where, or if you plant up a lot of cuttings that need identifying, plastic labels can build up.
As an alternative, try replacing them with wooden ones. “You can either use [ice cream] sticks or handmade hazel markers,” says Claudia. These have the added benefit of looking rustically pleasing when dotted in rows in borders or vegetable beds.
If you like to label bulbs and seeds to remember exactly what’s planted where, or if you plant up a lot of cuttings that need identifying, plastic labels can build up.
As an alternative, try replacing them with wooden ones. “You can either use [ice cream] sticks or handmade hazel markers,” says Claudia. These have the added benefit of looking rustically pleasing when dotted in rows in borders or vegetable beds.
Wrap your plants carefully
If you need to protect delicate plants during cold weather, steer away from thin, single-use plastic covers. “Use heavier duty plastic mulches and fleece crop covers,” says Guy. “[These] can be reused for several years rather than [only being] single-use.”
If you need to protect delicate plants during cold weather, steer away from thin, single-use plastic covers. “Use heavier duty plastic mulches and fleece crop covers,” says Guy. “[These] can be reused for several years rather than [only being] single-use.”
Rediscover garden twine
“Avoid plastic-coated ties and use string and jute to tie in plants instead,” says Claudia. Twine has the added bonus of being kinder to your crop than plastic ties, as, she adds, these “can cut into the stems of tender plants”.
Your turn
Do you have any more plastic-reducing tips to share? Tell us your thoughts and tips in the Comments below. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Read up on my gardening advice here.
“Avoid plastic-coated ties and use string and jute to tie in plants instead,” says Claudia. Twine has the added bonus of being kinder to your crop than plastic ties, as, she adds, these “can cut into the stems of tender plants”.
Your turn
Do you have any more plastic-reducing tips to share? Tell us your thoughts and tips in the Comments below. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Read up on my gardening advice here.
When you buy a new plant from a garden centre, chances are it will come in a single-use plastic pot. While a few of these are handy to keep for potting seedlings, spares can quickly stack up.
“Seek out garden centres that take pots back for recycling,” says Guy Barter of the RHS.
“I’m increasingly aware that the horticulture business in general is not very environmentally friendly where plastics are concerned,” garden designer Fiona Green says. “I’m usually inundated with pots by the end of each round of planting, and very few of them can be recycled.
Please note: In Australia, some rigid plastic pots (made of polypropylene) can be washed and placed into your recycling bin for collection. This is indicated on the base of the pot by a number 5 enclosed in a triangle. However, it is also important to check with your local council if they allow plant pots to be recycled in the yellow bin. Some may have dedicated collection points.