7 cheap and trendy recycling tips
Better Homes and Gardens’ resident landscaper, Jason Hodges, shares his top recycling tips that will save you money.
I often hear, “I’d love a garden but don’t have the money”. Well, rather than stop there and say, “Bad luck, I hope you win lotto won day”, I say, “You’re not looking at all your options”.
Recycling is important in all parts of our life, our footprint in Australia per person (the amount of materials we consume) is one of the highest in the world. But as luck would have it up-cycling and repurposing in building and landscaping is one of the hottest trends right now.
So if you’re on the tightest of budgets – nothing – here’s some free, fun and ultimately cool and trendy garden ideas for you this spring and summer.
1. Making a small glasshouse out of a soft drink bottle
Simply cut around the base of the bottle to create a pot, punch some holes in the bottom for drainage and slide the top back on over the pot. I remove the lid to allow it to breath in the warmer months; it’s a great seed-raising bed. Or alternatively cut the base of the bottle out and place it over seedling in the garden to protect them from winds, snails and slugs until they get established.
2. Don’t waste boiling water
Next time you put the kettle on fill it up, the excess boiling water is a perfect weed killer. Now don’t go pouring it on the lawn or garden beds near plants, but weeds in paving or between the cracks in concrete will be easily controlled with boiling water. It’s free, effective and there are zero chemicals involved.
3. Make compost bins
Make a compost bin, or bins. Mine is out of fence palings, but you can use anything you like – pallets, chicken wire, old pool fencing. I like three bays, one that’s broken down ready for the garden, one that’s breaking down and one I’m still adding to. As one bay empties you move them along in the cycle. It’s great for your garden and reduces landfill. The thing I like most is the number of worms in my compost. They transfer to the garden and keep my soil health. I didn’t add worms to my compost they just moved in. What’s that old saying? “Build it and they will come.”
4. Don’t waste fish tank water
If you’ve got a fish tank inside or a water feature outside, don’t waste the dirty water down the sink when your’re cleaning and changing the water. Pond water has many nutrients and trace elements that your plants will love. The silt on the bottom of your pond is great too as it works like a soil conditioner.
5. Put seeds in envelopes
If you have harvested seeds, an old envelope is a great storage solution. The ones with the plastic window (usually bills) are good as you can see how many seeds you have through the window.
6. Make use of paddle Pop sticks
These are great little nametags for seeds and seedlings. They don’t last forever but they last long enough for you to know what you have coming up in the garden.
7. Keep toilet roll holders
Last but not least (pun intended), make great mini pots for things like tomatoes, beans, peas and carrots. Plants that have deep root systems benefit from not being disturbed when being planted out into the garden as seedling. With the toilet roll you plant the whole thing. The cardboard roll simply breaks down and becomes organic matter, helping to protect the seedling and then hold moisture and nourish it as it breaks down.
So look at what’s going in your bin, see it in a new light and you could be the trendiest gardener in your street without the price tag that you might think goes with it.
Written by Jason Hodges. First appeared on Domain.com.au.
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