Plastic-free gardening made easy: 12 smart swaps to try

At a time when plastic seems to be involved in almost every purchase we make, it can often seem impossible to avoid it when it comes to tending our gardens. From disposable garden centre plant pots to power tools like mowers and even modern outdoor furniture sets, plastic can be found in all aspects of gardening. 

But… there are areas where we can avoid it – usually without compromising on quality or long-term cost. In fact, we find our non-plastic tools and accessories perform better, last longer and look more beautiful than their plastic counterparts. Plus, you’ll be helping the environment in the long run. 

Here are the swaps to make for plastic-free gardening

Jute netting

Buy from Agriframes (£7.00), Sarah Raven (£10.95), Crocus (£15.99)

Have you ever felt guilty using - and then disposing of - plastic netting in the garden? It’s almost essential for supporting climbers in the veg patch and protecting seedlings and bulb pots from hungry garden visitors, but it’s no friend to the environment. 

Biodegradable jute netting is a great alternative. Not only does it have a lovely rustic look, but you can add it to the compost heap at the end of the season. 

Metal plant supports

Browse metal plant supports at Agriframes, Garden Trading, Crocus and Burford Garden Co.

Buying plastic plant supports is easy and inexpensive, but spend a little extra money on metal versions and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful, long-lasting designs that blend seamlessly into your garden. 

Metal plant supports come in all shapes and sizes, from hoops to tall stakes to hollyhock spirals and obelisks. 

We’ve rounded up all the best ones you can buy online in our guides to the peony cages and climbing plant supports. See our complete run-down in our full list of the best plant supports to buy.

Ceramic and terracotta pots

Buy Classic Italian terracotta pots from Crocus (£1.69)

Browse other pots at Crocus, B&Q, Garden Trading, Gardenesque and Rowan & Wren

It can be hard to avoid plastic when buying plants from the garden centre, but when it comes to potting up in your garden and nurturing seedlings in the greenhouse, opting for terracotta or ceramic choices is a no-brainer. 

They look beautiful and they’re unlikely to crack or fade. If the time comes to replace one, you can reuse the broken pieces at the bottom of your other pots to help with drainage.

Wool fleece

Wool fleece comes with lots of benefits like naturally occurring nutrients to help support your plants as they grow. It works well as a moisture-retaining mulch and as a wrap-around cover to insulate pots in the winter. Plus, it’s completely biodegradable. 

Be sure to buy completely plastic-free fleece to avoid microplastics finding their way into the soil.

Bamboo or compostable seedling trays

Seedling trays are another area where it’s easy to resort to single-use plastic, but there are plenty of alternatives out there now, from compostable cardboard versions to reusable bamboo and metal designs. 

We’ve found all the best plastic-free seedling trays to use this year. 

Organic cotton and natural rubber gardening gloves

Have you ever considered the plastic content of your gardening gloves? Many of us haven’t, but from polyester fabric to waterproof, grippy fingers, it’s often there. 

We recommend finding a sturdy pair of gloves made from more sustainable materials. These ones are crafted from organic cotton and natural rubber. 

Wooden garden furniture 

Browse wooden furniture at Off The Grain, Buy Sheds Direct, Robert Dyas, Gardenesque and B&Q

Plastic furniture can be weatherproof and easy to clean, but it also tends to be flimsier than other options, less attractive and more damaging to the environment. 

If you want to go plastic-free, we recommend wooden designs, which you can sand and re-seal or re-paint each year once you’ve learnt how to care for wood furniture. 

Find plenty of beautiful wooden designs in our garden furniture buyers’ guides or browse our favourite garden benches to get started. 

Alternatively, why not consider modern metal garden furniture for a more sleek or industrial look?

Wooden handled tools

Browse copper gardening tools at Burford Garden Co. 

Find other wooden-handled tools at Crocus, Garden Trading and the National Trust shop

Wooden-handled tools are often inexpensive and, thanks to their durability and vintage look, they’re a great plastic-free swap. 

For bonus points, stock up on a few copper tools, which will enrich the soil with nutrients as you work, and look beautiful hung up in your shed or greenhouse. 

Burford Garden Co.’s gorgeous selection of copper tools have responsibly sourced wood handles too.

Compostable or reusable waste bags

Buy from &Keep (£6.50), Friendly Turtle (£6.50)

It’s easy to bundle garden waste into disposable bin bags, whether you’re taking it to the compost heap or your local recycling centre. But reusable plastic-free sacks make a lovely planet-friendly alternative. 

We love these biodegradable waste bags, which you can add to your compost bin when they reach the end of their life.

Metal watering can

While plastic watering cans often crack and fade after a year or two of use, metal versions tend to be much more durable, and have the added bonus of a vintage look too. 

These days, you can get metal watering cans in all sizes and colours, so you can find the perfect one to suit your garden and tastes. 

Wooden, ceramic or slate plant markers

Say no to ugly plastic plant markers in favour of wooden or metal designs. You have the option of buying plain wooden, bamboo or slate labels and personalising them yourself, or buying a selection of pre-designed markers. 

You can find more beautiful plant labels in our guide, which includes ceramic, metal and even creatively twisted wire designs.

Glass or wire cloches

Browse other beautiful cloches at Crocus

Flimsy, plastic cloches quickly become discoloured and cracked in the garden, while glass and metal versions are much more durable. They’ll also add instant character and style to your veg patch, whilst discouraging hungry visitors, of course. 

We love Crocus’s selection of gorgeous cloches, from wire domes to Victorian-inspired square designs.

Find more eco-friendly gardening kit at these retailers: 

• &Keep
• Ethical Superstore 
• The Friendly Turtle 
• Earth Hero US

Read more:

• 8 aesthetic yet practical kit upgrades to make your garden more beautiful
• 10 tips for gardening plastic free
• Plastic changed how we gardened forever and now it's everywhere. As responsible gardeners, we need to reduce, reuse and recycle.