Topic: Reusing old compost bags

[Garden Manager]

for those of you who buy stuff in bags from the garden centre etc (such as potting compost, bark chips, manure etc), heres a couple of tips on how to make use of them once empty.

Firstly they can be reused, either to store waste, home made compost, or simply rubbish you are planning to take to the local tip.

Most bags can be used a fair few times as bags, but when they start to tear and get holes in them there is another useage. if you carefully cut them down one side and across the bottom (depending on how you opened the bag originaly) you can make sheeting out of the old bags. These again have a multitude of uses, such as putting compost emptied from the bin onto, or maybe to cover bare areas of soil to keep them dry, or maybe to pile soil from a planting hole on to save messing up the lawn or a path. I could go on.

I personaly used a load when i made my bog garden recently. I lined the area with cut up bags to retain moisture before replacing the soil.

I suppse you could go further once the cut down bag starts to break down, but I personaly havent got that far yet!

[Vez1]

Some people on my site cut them into strips, then tie them to a pole. Home made bird scarer. Seems to work

[adam04]

you can use them as liners too for hanging baskets.

[Derekthefox]

Us allotment folks must be among the most environmentally friendly people on the planet ... everything seems to get reused over and over ...

Derekthefox :D

[redimp]

I cust mine really carefully and use them to store homemade compost in.  Like some of the other ideas though.

[EmmaLou]

I pop my spade and fork into them for the car journey home from the allotment. Keeps my car nice and clean!

I also line the car boot with them when I need to transport trays of seedlings.

[jennym]

I have used them in this way:
Turned inside out, cut down a little, punctured a few times for drainage, and with some soil in, for storing fruit bushes or trees that I need to transport or that have been ordered and received too late to get into the ground.
I tie string on for ease of handling.
The major nurseries grow their containerised trees on in purpose made plastic bag type pots like that, and it works well for me too.

[dotCompost]

  Mind you I bought the bags back with me.

You Bet..!! So do I.

[Derekthefox]

Hmmm, I see no-one has mentioned kneeling mats ...

Derekthefox :D

[dotCompost]

kneeling mats ...

do you stuff 'em. I mean to make 'em comfy to kneel on..??

[Derekthefox]

I had not thought of that ... perhaps some straw ... or an old satin cushion ...  ;D

I have always presumed the ground was soft enough to kneel on ...

Derekthefox :D

[kenkew]

If you forget your cap and it starts raining you could cut the corner off a bag but leave two long bits on either side for tieing your new hat on with. Might also do as a quick throw on if you cut arm holes. Now that should get your neighbours talking!

[ruudbarb]

Nappies for the neighbourhood moggies that come from near and far to cr*p in my lovingly prepared seed beds after they have been sown............ >:( >:( >:(

[Derekthefox]

In my case kenkew, the neighbours would think I have been out shopping for new clothes ...  ;D

[derbex]

Hope it wasn't manure in the bag Ken :)

I just keep reusing them to carry weeds &c to the lottie in. I've also grown spuds in them.

Jeremy

[jennym]

If you forget your cap and it starts raining you could cut the corner off a bag but leave two long bits on either side for tieing your new hat on with. ...

Oh dear, I've done that you know  ;D

[Derekthefox]

You didn't happen to get a picture did you Jen ...  ::)

[Garden Manager]

 ;D ;D ;D

Now back on topic please or the thread will be locked  ;) ;D