Plastic Lumber for the Landscape

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.

While “milk does a body good,” its’ recycled cartons can also do some good in the garden.

Consider using all plastic lumber, wood/plastic composite or fiber-reinforced plastic lumber for your garden construction projects. Plastic lumber is constructed from 100% recycled plastic and is often used for docks and decks.

Wood/plastic composites are usually made from 50% recycled plastic and 50% sawdust or other recycled fiber and often made with a wood-grain texture. Fiber reinforced is a mix of plastic and chopped or strands of glass fiber. This is the most expensive, but the strongest of the three.

All three come in a variety of colors, sizes similar to standard lumber, and never need staining.

And consider giving milk jugs a second life before recycling. Use them to make a hands-free harvest basket, cloche or soil scoop.

A bit more information: Use a milk jug to make a hands-free harvest basket to use when picking raspberries and strawberries. Enlarge the opening at the top, but leave the handle intact. Secure the milk jug around your waist by running a rope or belt through the handle. Now you have two hands free for harvesting and a safe place for your harvest.

For more gardening tips, how-to garden videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com.