Here are some slow, small solutions for reducing plastic waste and microplastic pollution in our gardens. Taking these steps is a beautiful act of kindness towards our little patch of Earth. 

1. Grow from seed or cuttings

Avoid plastic pots and punnets from the store by growing from seed or cuttings where possible. It takes a bit longer than store-bought seedlings, but it is cheaper and removes the need for plastic. 

Browse our seed library for seed from local WA suppliers, and check out our Perth planting guides to plan when to sow your seeds.

Some plants like mint, rosemary and sage grow really well from cuttings. Ask a neighbour if you take a few snips of their plant. Pop them in a jar of water and wait for the roots to start growing before planting into soil.

If you do buy seedlings ready for planting, try your local farmer’s market or community garden. You’re more likely to find biodegradable pots here rather than a large chain store. Plus, you’ll be supporting a local small business! 

2. Start seeds in biodegradable pots

Some seeds are hardy enough to sow directly in the ground, but others require sowing in pots or trays and then are transplanted when older. 

Some great plastic-free options for sowing seeds include:

	Fertilpots – Made from FSC wood pulp – plant the whole thing in the ground when your seedlings are ready to minimise root damage and transplant shock)
	Coir pellets – Add water and they will expand, then plant your seeds in them)
	Wooden seedling trays – A great reusable option. We love these jarrah seedling trays that are locally made in Perth.
	DIY newspaper pots (make with a newspaper pot maker, or use a jar or wine bottle to shape them)
	DIY toilet roll pots (simply cut some flaps on one end of the roll and fold over)

3. Make your own compost

Avoid the single-use plastic packaging that compost and potting mix comes in by making your own compost at home. Making compost can be as easy or as involved as you want it to be. New to composting? Check out our Beginner’s Guide to Composting.

If you want a larger supply of compost you could try a hot compost system. If you want a quick, low fuss alternative you could bury a worm buffet in your garden bed and simply pop your kitchen scraps and ripped up cardboard in as you think of it. 

While many compost bins and worm farms are made from plastic, they can be used for many years and reduce reliance on single-use plastics. If you want to avoid plastic altogether, consider fashioning your own compost bays from wood or metal wire.

If you’re setting up a new garden and need a lot of compost, consider buying by the trailer load from a soil supplier. Our friends at Green Life Soil Co. in Middle Swan (Perth) make some excellent living soil mixes if you live out that way.

4. Explore DIY fertilisers and plant food

Most fertilisers and plant food come in plastic packaging. A plastic-avoiding, money-saving alternative is to experiment with making your own. 

Here are some easy ways to get started with DIY fertilisers:

• Worm juice and castings – The byproducts of having a worm farm are two highly nutritious plant foods. Sprinkle worm castings around your plants or mix with soil to form a potting mix. Dilute the worm juice before pouring around plants for a nutritious boost.

• Compost tea – Mix 2 cups of compost or worm castings with 19L of unchlorinated water, 50ml molasses and 1 tablespoon kelp powder. Use to nourish soil and boost the microbe population.

• Weed tea – Cut back unruly weeds and put them in a bucket. Cover with water and pop on a lid. Leave for a month or so, stirring every other day. The resulting liquid is a powerful fertiliser. Dilute 1 part weed tea to 10 parts water.

• Bokashi juice – Set up a Bokashi system on your kitchen bench to process all food waste (including meat, dairy and cooked foods). The resulting liquid can be diluted and fed to your plants.

• Chop and drop – When pruning in your garden, simply drop the prunings onto the soil around your plants. The prunings will break down and add nutrients to your soil over time. This also works with lawn clippings.

5. Make your own mulch

Avoid mulch packaging by buying your mulch in bulk from a local supplier. Or try making your own. You could invest in a small mulching machine to turn branches and other prunings into mulch, but even just chopping up your prunings into smaller pieces is a great way to start. You can also spread leaves and lawn clippings across your garden beds as a cheap and easy mulch.

6. Buy package-free where possible

Look for bulk and BYO container options in your local area. If you’re local to Perth / Carlisle, we stock a number of package-free gardening essentials including:

• Seed raising mix

• Powdered kelp

• Bokashi and ensopet starter

• Plus a wide range of plastic-free garden tools and accessories.

7. Use compostable plant ties

Opt for compostable materials wherever possible. Jute and hemp twine are great companions in the plastic-free garden. 

8. Use wood or metal plant supports

Support your climbing plants with DIY stakes made from branches you’ve pruned in your garden. Alternatively, invest in some wood or metal plant supports.

9. Invest in a metal watering can

Plastic watering cans break down quickly and present a microplastic risk for your garden. A sturdy, good quality metal watering can will last you a lifetime. 

10. Swap plastic hose parts for brass

Plastic hose and tap connections break down quickly, especially when they’re in direct sunlight. When you’re ready to replace them, opt for brass hose and tapware alternatives.

To all our fellow gardeners who are opting for less plastic in the garden, we salute you! 

Looking for ways to reduce plastic in the home too? You might be interested in our other guides:

• 10 Easy Plastic-Free Swaps

• Plastic Free Food: How to Shop, Cook and Store Food Without Plastic

• Reducing Plastic Waste in the Bathroom