10 Clever Hacks for Plastic Bottles in the Garden💡

No one likes the waste that comes with throwing away old plastic bottles. So press them into service in the garden. They have a surprising number of uses!

In this video, we’ll show you how you 10 ingenious ways to repurpose plastic bottles into handy garden tools, containers and more!

If you love growing your own food, why not take a look at our online Garden Planner which is available from several major websites and seed suppliers:
and many more...

[saschadibbern]

Heatbatteries for cold nights (spring and autumn). Fill bottles with water. Spraypaint one side (sun-facing side) with black color. Lay them between the temparatursensitive plants to absorb sunlight on the day and radiate heat in the night.

[crossgrainwoodproductsltd]

My little Italian grampa, who I adored, taught me everything I know about gardening. We used clear garbage bags that we put over a tomato cage so the bottom is facing up. You then bury the ends so we used much larger, 30 or 40-gallon bags so there was length to bury the ends and room at the top so you could cut a half circle in the top section. This created a small greenhouse and on really sunny days you can open them a bit. I use clothes pins to keep the flap closed at night or on days with no sun. This gives each plant like tomatoes or any other plant you want to get a head start on. I had ripe tomatoes by May each year. Last year I got a late start but was eating tomato, and mayo sandwiches in the middle of June. We reused the bags by cleaning them thoroughly and hanging them open to dry. Of course, the bags are not as thick as the ones we used to be able to get and are a lot more expensive than they were in the 70s and 80s. I got 6 years out of my last set of bags and bought a new set last fall. You can get heavy-duty bags still, but you have to get them from industrial supply houses such as Grainger here in the States. I got my tomato plants in the ground this year the last week of Feb. I have been picking sweet grape tomatoes for my salads for the past week. I have another plant of beef stake tomatoes that I picked two this past weekend. I also plant in secession, so I have a steady supply of tomatoes and other plants all summer long into fall. I usually plant every two weeks to keep them coming steadily instead of one big harvest. It is just myself now so I do plant a lot less than when my spouse was alive. Anything I have in abundance goes to a couple of older relatives and neighbors who no longer can plant a garden. My grampa told me to always plant more than I will need to give to others who no longer can plant for themselves and to the poor. He was funny, loving, and a very smart, soft-spoken man. He spoke a little English, which is amazing he was able to build a successful business with so little English and a 6th-grade education. Gramma spoke a little more than him and taught me Italian from the time I could speak. My first word was in Italian, lol. Both were wonderful grandparents and truly beautiful souls. They are deeply missed.

[janiceannal]

I live in an exposed location in the north of Scotland but have, with the help of husband, built and successfully used a plastic bottle greenhouse over 10 years. Apart from an occasional plastic bottle it’s needed only minor repair over the years. I get a lot of pleasure from it.

[barbaradownie]

THE PLASTIC BOTTLE GREENHOUSE IS SO INGENIOUS I NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[gbarbecue]

A lady at my allotment made the plastic bottle greenhouse last year. I'd never heard of it before but it really was the most marvelous thing to see.

[sandyg]

I saw another YouTube gardener use the lids as spacers between nesting pots to keep them from getting stuck together. I use that idea now too.
I use a bottle w/o the ld as a funnel for filling my TP tubes with soil. It makes for less spillage between tubes.
I LOVE your fruit picker idea! I am going to try that. Thank you for all of the great ideas.

[taratimblin]

So glad I found your channel! Very handy information!

[melanieallen]

I love the fruit picker idea!!I also love the greenhouse made out of bottles!!

[juliagoodall]

Fill large empty plastic bottles with water and use to weigh down fleece and mesh covers. They don’t tear the fabric like bricks do. I’ve just discovered your channel and I’m enjoying catching up with your videos. I’ve had an allotment for nine years but it just goes to show that there is always something new to learn and try in gardening!

[bedtimebiblechat]

Decades ago, my brother in law used milk plastic containers in his garden around his tomato plants for watering them during the hot summer months. His tomatoes were huge and everyone wanted to know what he was feeding them to get them so big. He showed them the milk bottles with water and they were awed!

I used the 1/2 gal milk bottle for a scoop before but the plastic was too flimsy. Maybe years ago, they had more plastic in the bottle to do it but not anymore.

I loved that greenhouse!! What a great idea. I loved all your ideas! Thank you.

[karinlandsberg]

I use old dish soap bottles for watering seedlings - the lid is either a flip lid or one of those dealies that you pull to open, nice control for the wee plants.

[Grumpah]

I use plastic bottles for a lot of seedlings AND for cloning my plants. Being able to see the roots without disturbing them is priceless <3 Upcycle everything you can!

[chaddamp]

The plastic bottle green house is an amazingly simple idea that should be encouraged

[Katya-zjni]

Not for the garden but I use them filled with water to make up freezer space . Not only does this maximise efficiency it also means in the event of a power cut food will keep frozen longer or if a water complication arises it’s there.

[DawnieRotten]

The bottoms of those types of bottles NEVER stay standing; never fails that they'll fall over. I use yogurt cups. And, as far as plant labels plastic mini blinds are the way to go! Just ONE mini blind will yield SO MANY; they really are an 'endless supply'. BONUS: KEEP the blinds pull cords and the 'string' that holds all of the slats together and use those to 'tie up/off' things in the garden.

[allingtonmarakan]

AHH! I wanted to make a cold frame and I was going to try and obtain an old window from a firm that refurbishes houses in our neighbourhood but now I will simply make the top out of canes and PET bottles. BRILLIANT! Thank you!

[cpoco]

I love the watering can bottle... I'll be adding one to my greenhouse (once I've built it).

[lindachambers]

I love your channel, it's always so full of great tips, and has really encouraged me to give veg growing a go. You should have your own TV show.

[melodied]

On my self-watering pots, but I had to be careful not to make them top-heavy with the soil, so I used 2 litre containers that were lower and wider. I also made a few snips at the top of the water reservoir so the top would sit down into the bottom. I have a terrible time forgetting to water my indoor houseplants, so this helps me keep them alive!

[leslie-lynnesinkey]

Another advantage of the bottle irrigator is that you water your plant, not your weeds. If you're in the middle of an exceptional drought (the driest level), they won't last long without water. Also, a tip for the self-watering planter...stick the wick through the lid, then screw it on...much easier!