Recycling in the garden

Millions of tonnes of garden waste, such as grass cuttings, prunings and leaves, are sent to landfill sites each year – in fact it equates to filling the Royal Albert Hall with grass, twigs and leaves more than 70 times over! Yet they are a valuable source of nutrients which could be turned into something altogether more useful – COMPOST!

Start composting

Composting is an easy way to divert green waste away from landfill sites. Garden cuttings, leaves, twigs and grass cuttings together with some kitchen waste can all be recycled, and will eventually turn into a rich compost to improve the quality of the soil in your garden and provide nutrients for your plants.

A third of the average household bin can be composted. This includes:

• fruit and vegetable peelings;
• teabags;
• cardboard and newspaper; and
• your garden waste.

Best of all, it’s easy to do it yourself in a home composting bin.

Visit the Home composting area to find out how to get hold of a low price bin and some top tips for getting the best results. Within 6-9 months you’ll have top quality compost to dig into your soil and give your borders a boost!

Save water

We can all do our bit to reduce the amount of water we use in our homes and gardens, yet maintain moisture levels in our soil.

• Fit a nozzle on your hosepipe so you can control how much water you use.
• Grey water (such as dishwater or water from washing vegetables) can be used to water plants as long as it’s allowed to cool, contains no chemicals and isn’t used on plants you intend to eat!
• Collect rainwater in a water butt.
• Use a soil conditioner or home made compost to aid moisture retention.
• Choose plants which like dry conditions, such as grasses, herbs and succulents.

Get creative

There is not much in your home that can’t be put to a good use in the garden!

• Empty plastic drinks bottles cut in half make great planters or bird feeders.
• Seedlings can be planted in empty yoghurt pots,egg cartons or cardboard toilet roll tubes.
• String old CDs or milk bottle tops together to scare the birds away.
• Fill in gaps in your lawn by using grass seeds sown on used tea-bags!