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We all know that the vast number of plastic bottles in the world creates a big problem, so here are some solutions for how we can put them to good use around the garden.
In this week’s episode Ben shows us some ingenious uses for reusing plastic bottles; perfect bite-sized projects for the weekend or to do with the kids on a rainy day.
It might be a drop in the ocean, but the ocean is made of many drops.

22 Comments
I'm only watching this JUST to hear you say 'bottle'
Re-using bottles is great. Now do mushroom crates. These are everywhere and you can't watch a gardening YouTube video without seeing them. I use them as seed trays, to hold multi cells, general utility (keeping plant pots in a tidy place, small gardening equipment, etc.) And they work brilliantly as a compost sieve. I'm sure there are many more uses for mushroom crates which hotels and restaurants will be very happy to give away.
I've been saving Plastic bottles, jugs for about three years…all sizes.
I bought a cheap under $4) soldering iron to poke any holes…and two cheap razor knives with 10 extra blades for under $4 to cut the bottles with. Bigger bottles I plant actual plants in marigolds, a few radishes, chives, petunias, creeping thyme, in to sit around the garden
Brilliant- thanks… I hate waste and these are great ideas.
No way. I'm too aware of micro plastics to use any of these awful bottles.
I have an allotment in a bad area of Victoria, B.C. Canada. Here, bottles are worth ten cents. Using bottles to protect your plants will work until you walk away. They will be gone long before the next morning.
I like to heat my awl or screwdriver or knife tip or you name it over an open flame. Then you can poke any plastic bottle easy peasy without having to fill it with water.
Trouble issun degradesthe plastic andthen itbreaks andyouhave it inin yoursoil.. I don't do it anymore.
The drip irrigation bottles were a real boon in the heatwave last year,
This is genius
Good info. Thanks.
Thanks Ben! You can fit a slim bottle to the tops of t-posts to keep your garden fabrics from being torn.
I cover my seedlings with water bottles too because of birds and frost π
I use a dart to punch holes π
Clever ideas! Thank you π
A client I had, used spent shotgun shells on canes in his garden. It was used to stop eye damage when weeding between plants. This was over 20 years ago π
Thank you so very much for this invaluable information. Bless you!!!πβ€οΈ
would kombucha vinegar work for flies instead of apple cider? have lots to play with.
β€β€awesome
If it's warm when you trap those slugs, absolutely do not delay in emptying it immediately upon catch, preferably into the nearest blast furnace within throwing distance. The results are otherwise both visually and olfactorily horrifying.
I love you. Everything you have shared with us has been so perfectly logical that even a sanguine/emotional farmer like me could understand everything exactly as needed.
Thank you for your sanguine enthusiasm, and your willingness to share your skills with us.
Great ideas. When you cover the sowed seeds with the top of the bottle, do you water them through the neck or so you take off the top? Same for the plants you have covered with the mini "greenhouses" in the garden.