Before you toss that plastic milk jug, bottle, or carton in the recycling bin, consider how you can use it in the garden. With a little reshaping and some creativity, you can save money, improve your garden, and help reduce landfill waste.

We talked to two gardening experts for advice on how to use milk jugs six different ways in the garden.

Use as a Seed Starter

Though it may seem counterintuitive at first, you can actually start seeds in a milk jug.

“The dome of the milk jug acts like a mini-greenhouse to provide a protected environment for seeds to germinate,” says horticulturalist Donna Aufdenberg. “The milk jugs are perfect for starting seeds in late winter to have seedlings ready for spring planting.”

1. Rinse the container thoroughly and discard the cap.
2. Use a knife or screwdriver to punch several drain holes in the bottom of the jug. Just below the handle, cut almost all around the jug, leaving a small area attached.
3. Fill the bottom half of the jug with well-draining potting soil and moisten it thoroughly, letting the excess water drain from the bottom.
4. Sow seeds following the depth instructions on the seed packet. Depending on the type of plant, you can sow about 10 -25 seeds per container.
5. Reattach the top of the jug with duct tape, write the planting date and type of seeds on the jug, and place the milk jug outside where it will receive sunlight but be protected from the wind.
6. Check the jugs weekly. If the soil appears dry, open the container and spray the soil lightly with water, then seal the container again.
7. As the weather warms, open the container during the day to help harden off the plants and then close it during cool nights.
8. Once you see two sets of leaves appear, transplant to garden, raised beds, or containers for the growing season.

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Create a Container Garden

Use smaller milk cartons to create an indoor or patio garden for shallow-rooted plants like lettuces and herbs such as basil, cilantro, and chives.

Simply cut a few drainage holes in the bottom of the milk container and a larger opening on one side. Place the containers on a wire rack in a baking tray and fill with potting soil. Moisten the soil well and plant seeds or seedlings in each milk carton.

Place the tray in an area that receives plenty of sunlight, keep the soil moist, and harvest the plants for a perfect, home-grown salad.

Make a Watering Can

Poke some holes in the plastic cap of a milk container to create an easy-to-use watering can. The gentle flow of the water is perfect for most houseplants and outdoor container-grown plants.

Protect Tender Plants

One plastic milk jug can be used in two ways to protect tender seedlings in the garden.

Use the top half of the jug to make a cloche—a bell-shaped glass dome placed over a garden plant. The cloche acts as a mini greenhouse to maintain higher nighttime temperatures.

“Remove the plastic lid for ventilation during the day, and then replace it at night,” says plant pro Beth Berlin. “Anchor milk jugs with stakes or soil staples so they do not blow away.”

Opening the top each morning prevents the plant from overheating.

To protect larger plants from the wind and to deter nibbling rabbits or other pests, remove both the top and bottom of the milk jug. Place it around the plant, pushing it a couple of inches into the soil to keep it in place.

Make a Garden Scoop

Any size plastic milk bottle with a handle makes an ideal scoop for compost, potting soil, granular fertilizer, or any dry gardening mix. To make a scoop:

• Rinse out the milk jug well.
• Outline where you want to cut the bottle, leaving the top and handle in place.
• Use scissors to cut away the bottom of the bottle.

Use to Collect Compost

A gallon-sized milk jug is an ideal depository for vegetable and fruit peels in the kitchen before they are added to the compost pile. Cut a large opening in the side of the jug opposite the handle. Fill with bits for your compost pile and use the convenient handle to carry the scraps outside.