(photo source)

As the year inches forward ever so slowly, we are now squarely in garden planting season in most parts of the northern hemisphere. Have you started your garden yet? Start by reading our garbage gardening tips - and MORE garbage gardening tips - and round out your garbage gardening experience with these: even more garbage gardening tips.

1. Composting is one of the best ways to cut down on household waste and nourish your garden. You don’t have to spend lots of money on a fancy composting system, though - you can build your own from a recycled garbage can and other recycled or repurposed components.

2. Think you can’t compost in the city? Think again! Here’s a rough sketch of how to set up your very own urban composting bin.

3. If you would love to start a garden but can’t find what you want at the garden shop, asking another gardener for clippings of their plants is a great way to add some diversity to your green space.

4. For advice on using things in new and creative ways, who better to ask than a self-professed redneck granny? This Gardening Granny shows you how to repurpose many things for use in your garden - from carpet remnants to an entire car.

5. With some creativity, the principles of garbage gardening can be applied to just about any type of item you can find. An old boot, porch post, or suitcase - and even broken clay pots - can find new life in your garden.

6. Some cities have special once-a-year recycling programs for the trays and seedling pots that your young plants come in from the nursery. These plastics are not ordinarily accepted by your regular weekly recycling program, so if you can’t reuse them this special service can save tons of plastic trays and pots from ending up in the trash.

7. Did you know you can recycle water? Collect rain water with a rain barrel, gather the condensation from your window air conditioner, or recycle gray water from your home to water your plants. Be sure that household gray water doesn’t contain harmful substances before giving it to your plants, especially those that will eventually be eaten.

8. Even pantyhose or stockings with runs in them can find new life in the garden. Tie up staked plants, store off-season bulbs, and even repel deer with the creative use of old pantyhose.

9. Some schools may accept donations of used gardening tools for students who are learning to run a garden. Many high schools - especially technical schools and those for troubled teenagers - have working gardens in which students can learn about the hard work and dedication involved in raising and caring for a garden.