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the garden, too.

Empty plastic bottles have many uses in the garden - they're really limited only by your imagination. Small bottles make great cane toppers, so that you don't have to worry about damaging your eyes when you're bending down in the garden. You can use them as funnels, putting them in the ground next to your plants, so that any water you give them goes directly to the roots and doesn't stay near the surface and evaporate. Large, clear plastic bottles make great cloches for young and tender plants, protecting them both from the weather and garden pests.

Small plastic trays, the packaging from store-bought items, make great small seed trays and saucers for pot plants. If you can find two that match, or a large one with a hinged lid, then you've got a propagator to help your seeds germinate. Yogurt pots can be cut up into plant labels, and old CDs can be hung up as bird scarers.

The third and final reason why recycling and composting in the garden are important is that they're good for you too. By composting your kitchen and garden waste, you'll be able to save money on fertilizers and potting compost. You may even be able to save money on your water bill - soil that contains plenty of organic matter needs much less water than tired soil fed with chemical fertilizers.

Another way to save water is to install a water butt and catch some of the rain that falls on your roof before it drains away. Rain water can be stored for use in the garden when the weather is drier, and plants like it better than mains water anyway.

Reusing plastic containers saves money on plant pots and seed trays, and you can save money by making your own pest defenses and plant labels too. You can even make pots for seedlings out of newspaper, or the cardboard tubes from toilet or kitchen paper rolls.

And, if you're security conscious, recycling and composting in the garden has one more benefit for you. Whether you shred your private documents or not, once you've mixed them into your compost heap your details are secure! In just a few short months they'll be compost, dug into your garden and safe for ever.

Learn more about this author, Emma Cooper.
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