Plastic Bottles: Reduce, Reuse, Re-Garden

Using Your Plastic Bottles

Finding new uses for disposable materials is one of the biggest trends over the last number of years. Many things that used to be deemed junk have now been re-purposed into countless other useful items. From used tires and old rubber boots, to Mason Jars and plastic bottles, there are thousands of DIY projects you can complete in your own garden using any old bits and pieces you can find around your home. One of the most common discarded items to turn into gorgeous DIY projects are plastic bottles. Hopefully you’ve got a few of them floating around in your recycling bin.

Simple Planters

Much like mason jars, plastic bottles can be used for vegetable or herb planters. Simply turn the bottle on its side and, using a utility knife, cut an oval out of the side of the bottle. Alternatively, you can cut the top of the bottle off and use the bottom as the planter. Fill the bottle with BigYellowBag’s Black Garden Soil, plant your seeds of choice, water carefully, and watch those plants grow.

Self-Watering Planters

If you are one of those people who tend to neglect your plants, try making your own self-watering planter using a few simple materials. Using a utility knife, slice the bottle roughly in half. Poke a small hole in the cap of the bottle and thread a length of cotton string through the hole. Ensure the string is pulled to approximately halfway through the cap and knotted to keep the cap in place. Replace the cap on the top of the bottle. Fill the bottom of the bottle with water and invert the top and place it inside the bottom. The string should be resting in the water. Fill the top of the bottle with BigYellowBag’s Black Garden Soil and add your plant or seed. The string will soak up the water and saturate the soil as needed.

Self-Watering for Hanging Planters

How about that hanging planter that’s easy to forget in that hard-to-reach spot? A plastic bottle works great to turn it into a self-watering planter! Simply cut the top of a plastic bottle off and poke several holes in it. Bury the bottle inverted in the center of your planter. The soil should go only up to the edge of the bottle. This bottle will catch rainwater and slowly release that water into the soil for your plants’ roots to reach.

Vertical Gardens

Alternatively, if you are running low on space in your garden and you’ve used up all the tips you found on our Small Garden Blog, dig out your empty plastic bottles! One option is to try a bottle tower garden. You can find the instructions here.

Another project you could try is a garden wall. To begin, cut out one side of the bottle. Near the top of the cutout, poke a hole with a nail or a screwdriver. Poke another hole on the other side of the bottle directly opposite the first. Repeat this step near the bottom of the cutout. Pass a rope or string through one set of holes. Next, tie a knot to ensure the bottle can’t slide further down the rope. Do the same with a different rope through the other set of holes. Ensure the knots are even. Repeat these steps with as many bottles as you’d like, depending on how tall you’d like your wall garden. Fill each bottle with BigYellowBag’s Black Garden Soil and your choice of herbs or plants.

Don’t Throw Them Away

There are tons of things you can do to make use of your old plastic bottles. Hopefully these few ideas help you think twice about throwing those versatile bottles away.