WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

If gadgets and plastic are mounting up and you’re buying rather then saving gardening kit, try these ideas to give your patch of the planet a green boost

Hire rather than buy

Many garden tools rarely see the light of day, spending most of the year in the back of the shed. So rather than buying equipment like hedge trimmers and pressure washers, with all the resources and energy needed to make them, why not borrow or hire instead? Many builders’ merchants and tool companies run hire schemes. TOP TIP Local tool libraries are becoming more widespread. Most have an annual fee of £10-£40, then borrowing is free for members. Find your nearest at bit.ly/library-of-things-directory

Choose perennials

Annual veg crops and bedding plants can have a big environmental cost, due to peatbased compost, plastic pots and transport. Avoid having to resow or replant each year by growing perennial crops like Daubenton kale and Jerusalem artichokes. TOP TIP Use perennials instead of bedding – hostas and heucheras in shade, alpine pinks and Mexican fleabane in sun.

Grow winter crops

Leaving your veg plot empty over winter is a wasted resource, and risks nutrient loss and damage to the soil structure. So protect your soil and maximise your homegrown harvests by filling your plot with winter crops like kale, sprouting broccoli, Brussels sprouts and leeks. TOP TIP Sow green manures, such as winter tares and field beans, to provide ground cover and increase the fertility of the soil, reducing the need to use chemical fertilisers with their significant carbon footprint.

Save your own veg seeds

Seed catalogues are tempting, but do you really need to buy more packets of seeds? Saving your own veg seeds makes use of a valuable resource that would otherwise be wasted. TOP TIP Collect seeds from healthy, vigorous plants on a dry day. Some, such as parsnips, are best sown the following spring; others, like tomatoes and beans, can be stored for a couple of years. Don’t forget to label your seeds so there won’t be any surprises next year!

Right plant, right place

If you’ve ever seen a sickly camellia in chalky soil or a sun-lover like lavender fading in a shady corner, you’ll know how crucial it is to choose plants to suit your conditions. They’ll look far better and last longer than plants that are struggling, meaning you won’t have to keep buying replacements. TOP TIP Many house plants prefer specific light, temperature and humidity levels. Choose an array of succulents for a bright windowsill and fill your bathroom with thriving ferns.

Preserve your harvests

When gluts arise, you can avoid waste with a few favourite recipes and storage ideas. Courgettes and tomatoes make tasty chutney and ratatouille, which is great for freezing. Chillies, garlic and onions can be dried and hung up until required, or turned into savoury marmalades, jams and tangy pickles. TOP TIP If apples are piling up faster than you can bake them into pies, check whether your local community garden or orchard runs apple-pressing days to produce delicious juice.

Swap with other gardeners

Seed and plant swaps bring gardeners together to use spare resources. They include Brightonbased seedysunday.org, now in its 20th year, and bristolseedswap.com. Type ‘seed swap’ into your search engine to find events near you. TOP TIP There are often more seeds in a packet than you need. If you plan in advance and order with friends and neighbours, you’ll have access to a wider range of seeds with fewer leftovers to store. If you can’t find a local seed swap, why not set up your own? For more tips, see p102.

Return to repairing

Throwing equipment away when it breaks is second nature these days, but returning to a make-do-and-mend mindset helps to contribute to a more sustainable future. TOP TIP Repair shops and community groups can often give broken tools a new lease of life and you may even learn how to mend them for next time. There are nearly 200 Repair Cafés in the UK – check for one near you at repaircafe.org/en/visit