Did you know that you can re-use your old bedding plant trays
Spring is here and we'll soon be outside as much as possible - digging,
planting and bringing a touch of colour to our gardens.
If you are planning to put in some new bedding plants this year, then remember not to throw away the white expanded polystyrene (EPS) trays they were grown in.
 These can be re-used to help other plants grow.
Break the polystyrene up into big chunks and place the pieces at the bottom of your window boxes, pots, tubs or hanging baskets.
Then put your compost on top and plant up as usual.
The pieces will work in exactly the same way as the broken terracotta pots that many gardeners use for drainage.
They will also provide extra insulation and reduce the risk of roots being frozen in the winter.
If you are creating a new flower or vegetable bed, then the bedding trays can be broken up (into the smallest pieces possible) and incorporated into garden compost.
Here the benefits include an improvement in the aeration of the soil, a reduction in the amount of compost needed and a lighter soil with better drainage.
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