Being eco-friendly as a gardener starts at the design and planning stage – and one of the best ways to reduce waste and prioritise sustainability is to reuse and recycle as much material as possible when carrying out garden makeovers.
Not only will this help you be greener in the garden, but it can also save you money on costs, as well.
Here’s how to reuse building materials when doing up your outdoor spaces.
1. Create raised beds
If you have any old flagstones, timber scaffolding boards, bricks or unused roof tiles, these can all be used to great effect as raised beds.
Interestingly, raised beds are also excellent for gardening itself, giving you greater control over soil quality and soil compaction, as well as extending the growing season, reducing water logging and making the act of gardening less physically taxing to boot.
2. Hardcore for sub-bases
If you have any leftover bricks or concrete from previous building work that you’re unsure what to do with, avoid paying for skip hire by using the rubble as a sub-base alternative for surface finishes like concrete, tarmac and paving.
Do make sure, however, that the rubble has been crushed or broken down and mixed with smaller aggregate pieces to prevent sinking over time.
3. Build gabion walls
This is a fantastic way to use up a significant amount of old material that would otherwise go to waste!
Gabion walls are wire mesh cages that have been filled with rocks, rubble and soil, ideal for preventing erosion, soil retention and general flexibility, moving with the ground as it shifts without cracks appearing.
Bear in mind that a wider base will be required for taller gabion walls in order for them to remain structurally sound, but you can use these features as retaining walls, seating, fencing, privacy screens, custom garden planters and structural cladding.