Secret lives of plastic bottles in a garden

From the Bulb and Blossom Club
Gardeners often put a shallow layer of rocks or pottery shards inside the bottom of container pots to help with drainage. Yet one of the disadvantages of container pots is the larger they are the heavier they get. An ideal solution to this is to reuse plastic bottles (with caps on) to fill the bottom of large container pots. These plastic bottles will promote drainage, make the container pot lighter and much easier to move, and save money by not having to buy as much good quality potting soil. All sorts and sizes of plastic bottles can be used, water, ketchup, juice, syrup, even plastic peanut butter jars.
Clean and dry the inside of the bottle and put the lid on. This will help keep the container from flattening. Fill a pot half full of clean plastic bottles. Fill in the gaps around the bottles with less expensive dirt. Gently shake the pot and tamp down the dirt around the plastic bottles. Finally fill the rest of the pot with good potting soil and a plant.
A plastic liter bottle is also a handy item that makes garden watering faster and easier. Leave the cap on but cut off the bottom of the bottle. Poke holes into the cap and around the neck of the bottle. Bury the bottle upside down so that the holes in the neck are about 4 inches below the surface of the soil. Fill the garden with these and when it is time to water, simply fill each of the bottles with water. Refill any bottle that has already drained by the time you go around again to really drench the soil. Thirsty warm season crops like tomatoes and squash love moisture around their roots.
Plastic water bottles can also be used to protect newly transplanted seedlings from cold temperatures, harsh winds, and birds and deer. Clean the bottle and remove the cap (for air circulation). Cut the bottom off and place it over the seedling and push the bottle into the soil to make a mini greenhouse.
If you have trouble reaching fruit high up in trees, a liter plastic bottle is the solution. Simply cut a large oval half way between the neck of the bottle and the bottom. The hole should be large enough for a piece of fruit to fit inside. Remove the cap, insert a stick or broom handle in the neck opening, and secure it with tape. This will extend your reach so you will be able to grab the fruit with the opening in the bottle and pull it down.
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