Why Are Gardeners Replacing Plastic With Bamboo?

As gardeners, I'm sure we can all agree on the importance of nature. Without it, we simply couldn't do what we love. A lot of what we use is made of plastic, for example plant pots. Those can be great - they can be strong and durable, last for a long time, and are lightweight - but they do come with some drawbacks. Ceramic flower pots are also popular, but these can be heavy and, in some cases, can break quite easily.

But what if I told you there was a natural alternative to these?

Bamboo gardening equipment has been growing recently (see what I did there?). It is being used by many gardeners in place of plastics. Haxnicks has a great range of bamboo products for both indoor and outdoor gardening. So why should you use bamboo?

Despite its tall, thin form when it is growing, bamboo can be used in just about anything, from small pots for your succulents and houseplants, to scoops, support poles, fencing and trellises. Regardless of what you need, bamboo's got you covered!

It grows like grass ... and that's because it is! Bamboo is in the Poaceae family, which means that it is related to not only your lawn, but also to some rather unexpected members such as corn, wheat and rice. With these genetics, some types of bamboo can grow up to 4 feet in a day - that's about 1mm every 70 seconds! It can also grow in most soil types since bamboo plants have relatively shallow root systems (between about 30cm and 50cm depending on the size of the plant). This makes it a great sustainable and renewable material to use in your garden.

Due to its vigorous growth, it is a great absorber of carbon dioxide both from the air and from the soil. Because of this, it has been used for afforestation in some countries instead of trees, which grow a lot slower. This means that, although there are emissions from transporting it, the net carbon footprint is less than that of plastic or metal.

A huge benefit of using natural bamboo products in the garden is that when you no longer need them, they can be broken up and composted since the materials are fully biodegradable. This helps to prevent litter and waste, and this compost can then be reused in your garden to amend your soil and keep you growing healthy plants. It's like a double investment for your garden!

The most important aspect of any piece of equipment is how well it performs, and bamboo products are incredible! Bamboo has a high strength-to-weight ratio similar to that of wood, and much like wood is used as a sturdy building material in many countries. It is relatively lightweight but is surprisingly durable so you won't need to worry about accidentally snapping a pot while transplanting.

When I first heard about bamboo gardening accessories, I thought that they would be thin and flimsy and that they would break easily, but now, having used bamboo for a number of years, I can say that I have been pleasantly surprised. It has become a staple of my garden. I love the fact that if it does break, it isn't wasted because I can then compost it and use the compost to give the bamboo one final task of keeping my garden healthy. But don't just take my word for it - gardeners across the world have come to fall in love with bamboo. It's clear to see why too. It's great for the gardener, great for the garden!