Gardeners are being encouraged to think twice before binning their old milk cartons, as these everyday items can be given a new lease of life in the garden. Rather than simply recycling an empty milk carton or bottle, savvy gardeners can repurpose them to aid in their horticultural endeavours.

These containers can be particularly useful for accelerating seed germination and aiding plant growth.

Wales Recycles has highlighted that the UK consumes a staggering 60,000 tonnes of milk cartons annually. Shockingly, only 29.5% of these are recycled, with the vast majority – 70.5% – ending up in landfill or being incinerated.

By holding onto your used milk bottles, you could not only cut down on costs but also play a part in tackling climate change. This eco-friendly gardening hack is gaining traction among those looking to make a difference.

TikTok user and green-fingered guru Simon Akeroyd has divulged his speedy method for cultivating herbs using nothing more than an old milk bottle. His one-minute tutorial has captured the attention of gardening enthusiasts online.

Simon's video takes viewers through the process: puncturing drainage holes in the bottom of a carton, cutting it open, filling it with peat-free compost, sowing herb seeds like parsley, and placing the makeshift planter in a sunny spot while ensuring regular watering. He likens the milk cartons to "warm mini greenhouses".

The results speak for themselves; within a fortnight, Simon showcases thriving parsley plants, all sprouted from seeds in repurposed milk cartons.

With a current fan base of 802.7k on TikTok and 12.5k likes, his videos concentrate on budget-friendly gardening tasks, inspiring everyone to cultivate their own produce.

Not only has he gained considerable popularity on social media, but he's also penned over 30 gardening books.

By employing a bit of creativity, gardeners will not only create stunning blooms for their outdoor spaces, but they'll also be doing their bit for the environment by repurposing household items.

While it may take some time to witness the final results, there's no greater satisfaction than seeing your efforts bear fruit. And for those new to gardening, fear not - these tasks are incredibly straightforward and don't demand much expertise.

It comes as yhe next time you’re about to throw away your banana peel, hold onto it instead – a surprising viral hack shows it can actually be used to help your plants.

Lifestyle influencer mama_peyy recently came online to share her wacky trick to get her garden growing. On TikTok, she said, “Don’t throw away your banana peels, use them as fertiliser.” Banana peels make great plant fertilisers as they are rich in potassium and other nutrients which are important for plant growth.