The cost of keeping your garden in tip-top shape can quickly get out of control. Whether it’s overspending on plants at the garden centre or investing in some new garden furniture, the cost of being green fingered can be expensive than people expect.

However, gardening doesn’t always have to be too expensive (both in time and money). The recent trend of upcycling/recycling old products and materials has meant that landscapers can create the same beautiful aesthetics without having to break the bank.

Not only is upcycling and recycling cost-effective but it’s also environmentally friendly as it sees old items and materials get a lease of new life whereas they may have been previously discarded. We’ve come up with a few ideas of to make better use of recycled materials and upcycling items in your garden.

Here are just a few tips to help get you into the upcycling fold!

Pallets as compost bin

If you happen to get landed with some wooden pallets, don’t just get rid of them at the tip. Wooden pallets make for excellent building materials for an attractive  compost bin, and help avoid taking them to the tip on

Plastic bottles

This idea from GrowVeg.com suggests using plastic bottles with the bottom cut out to act as protective covers for young plants. Plastic bottles allow the light to get through, rainwater to nourish the plants and an opening for air.

Composite decking

Composite decking like HD DECK DUAL or HD DECK XS products are not only durable (so less time is spent having to buy and apply a new coat of paint each summer) but also very environmentally friendly. Some go further by using recycled wood flour and combining it with recycled plastic to create a super strong but natural looking wood grain.

Teapot planters

Another great but simple idea is to use old teapots as cute planters. Compact and easy to move, you can create a really quaint garden atmosphere with a few strategically placed teapots that can help soften the surrounding area. Even more appealing is that these cheap planters can be moved inside and outside with ease.

Scaling up means your carbon footprint can go down…

The tips are above are…just the tip of the iceberg and act as an inspiration for those looking to really get the most out of their garden and make it – while not more environmentally friendly, then at least materials-friendly – as a result. In addition, the attractiveness of such garden innovations means you can really stand out as an individual and even set trends yourself!