Published: 15 July 2010
by TOM MOGGACH

WE'RE nearly there – just a handful of days left until the school summer holidays. 

It’s been a fun half-term of gardening, with both teachers and children. 

Lots to learn, including one key lesson in creativity – there’s no end of cunning ways to recycle the humble plastic bottle. 

Here are four ingenious ways to use them in your growing space:

DIY greenhouse

Frankly, some ideas are best suited to schools – such as collecting a few thousand empty plastic bottles. At St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Islington, children brought in two-litre bottles to construct their own greenhouse. 

“We were looking to be more creative and extend the growing season,” explained teacher Sinead Garvey. With help, the children cut the bottom off the bottles then threaded them onto long bamboo canes to form the panels for the walls. 

If you’re tempted to make your own, you will find full plans on the internet. 

Simple Cloche

This is a simple way to protect vulnerable plants from pests and frost. Just cut off the bottom of a clear corrugated plastic bottle, then pop it over the plant. 

It’s best to unscrew and remove the lid for ventilation. To keep the structure sturdy, dig the bottom edge into the soil and balance a stone on top. At this time of year, it’s an ideal way to keep pesky birds off young brassica plants such as kales and broccoli. 

Watering device

Large watering cans are not ideal for seedlings and small spaces. You can buy clever plastic devices – like a tiny rose for a watering can – that you screw onto the top of water bottles. (Try: garden-innovations.co.uk). 

Or make your own for free by making tiny holes in the plastic lid of a water bottle. Either use a slim drill bit or heat up wire to make the holes – be careful, this is a job for adults, not children, and it’s important to keep safe.

Bird feeder

To create a bird feeder, puncture holes through opposite sides of the bottle, then thread through canes, sticks or knitting needles to create perches. 

Next, create a small hole about 4cm above, so the birds can reach their food. Make sure it is not so large that seed may fall out.

Then make holes beneath the lid, and thread through string to hang the feeder. 

Fill with bird seed, and suspend, away from cats.