Gardening that won’t cost the earth

Date:  08 August 2010

Why not make gardening greener?

It doesn’t have to cost the earth to have a great garden. So why not save money and reduce waste sent to landfill by giving your garden a green makeover.

Each year the average Hertfordshire household produces over a tonne of waste. This adds up to half a million tonnes of waste being produced Countywide every year. That’s enough to fill the Titanic five times over! We are all guilty of throwing away items that could be reused in a different way but you’d be surprised at how many used and unwanted household items, with a little imagination and creativity, can have an incredible range of uses in the garden – giving you a unique garden your friends will be envious of!

Here are a few tips to get you started:
• Clam shell type plastic containers such as muffin trays can be used as instant mini greenhouses to grow seedlings year after year.
• Use old wellington boots or chipped/cracked crockery such as teapots to plant herbs and flowers for that ‘shabby chic’ style.
• Old bath tubs and sinks make excellent ponds when sunk into the ground. Or they can even be used as planters!
• Old net curtains are excellent for laying over plants to keep pests such as insects off your fruit or vegetables.
• Encourage wildlife into your garden with a bird box made from scrap wood or even old signs.
• Transform your garden and kitchen waste into rich soil improver by composting. It couldn’t be easier; Hertfordshire residents can get a cut price compost bin delivered to your door through Hertfordshire Waste Partnership. To order visit www.herts.getcomposting.com or call 0845 130 6090.

Reusing products is even better for the environment than recycling. It’s not just keeping an item out of landfill, but it’s reducing your carbon footprint by getting more out of the materials and resources that have made it in the first place. On top of that it can save you money! If we all take some simple actions, and what better place to start than in the garden, we can have a really big impact on the amount of waste we produce and also on the environment.