![\"IMG_5620\"](\"http:\/\/www.theguidetogaygardening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_5620-e1439392106695.jpg\")
<\/a>It’s also ideal to line areas where pebbles are going down.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Carpet can be used to retain moisture in greenhouses<\/p><\/div>\n
2. Carpet your greenhouse shelves<\/h3>\n
Okay, it might sound bizarre, but some carpets hold water like a sponge – metal greenhouse shelves? Not so much. To stop water running straight to the floor I’ve simply cut out sheets of carpet and placed my pots on top; works like a charm.<\/p>\n
And whilst I’m on greenhouse shelving – SAVE YOURSELF SOME MAJOR MONEY AND GO TO IKEA<\/em><\/strong>. I was looking into greenhouse staging and it was costing almost \u00a3100 for one stack. IKEA’s metal shelves are \u00a39, thinner so you’ve got more manoeuvring space and have four tiers!<\/p>\n One of the first things the husbo did when we moved was to knock down the brick wall\u00a0out the\u00a0front so we actually had a driveway. But you can’t let all those bricks go to waste! I’ve used them to create path blocks and edging (it’ll later get filled with pebbles to the top<\/em>). You can use cement if you wish, but as my gardening style normally requires plants to spill over, all the gaps will get hidden in time. Odd bricks have also become doorstops and pot supports.<\/p>\n Reuse bricks to outline paths – here, pebbles will be filled up to the top of the bricks and plants will eventually cover any gaps.<\/p><\/div>\n In the same way that bricks were reused for hard landscaping, the concrete slab path now has a new home as my shed and greenhouse footing. A couple of bags of sand and a spirit level and job done. Yes, it’s not entirely flat but it was almost free (sand was \u00a32 a bag<\/em>).<\/p>\n Why chuck cardboard into the recycling when it’s ideal for gardening?!<\/em><\/p>\n I had shed full of cardboard from the new kitchen, gifts and other house moving paraphernalia. I used it on the no dig garden; laying it directly onto the grass before piling compost on top. I also lined my raised beds with it; it’ll help retain moisture and will simply rot down.<\/p>\n I tell you – the house looked like a 1970s sauna with the amount of wood cladding there was!<\/p>\n You can’t really burn this stuff in a woodburner or chiminea because of the varnish used. However, you can<\/em> still build things with it. I’ve placed all the varnished edges on the outside of the raised beds. They may not look designer chic, but they work and were free – that’s what counts!!<\/p>\n 1970’s cladding has been converted into a raised bed. I only need it to last a few years; perfect.<\/p><\/div>\n Talking of chimineas; save those woody stems and twigs! Small branches from overgrown shrubs and trees often aren’t worth much for winter fuel if you have a stove or open hearth. And you can’t readily compost them either. But, what you can use them for is garden fire pits and chimineas.<\/p>\n I don’t know about you, but I normally only use my garden burner for an hour or two, so I don’t want to throw a bloody great log on it. A few solid pieces of branch along with some twigs create the perfect marshmallow-roasting fire.<\/p>\n With the veggie garden only just established, I still have to buy a lot a food and often this comes in metal or plastic trays. These are perfect for saucers so you’re not continually watering greenhouse pots. I agree, they don’t look great, but if you’re greenhouse is for cultivation and not aesthetics, that doesn’t matter. And you could always paint them. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n3. Reuse bricks for paths<\/h3>\n
<\/a>4. Reuse any paving<\/h3>\n
5. Compost and line beds with cardboard<\/h3>\n
6. Build your raised beds from scrap wood<\/h3>\n
<\/a>7. Save woody stems and logs for the chiminea<\/h3>\n
8. Use excess food packaging for greenhouse saucers<\/h3>\n