Hands up all those who have visited a Garden Centre or DIY Store looking for something to add that touch of wow to the garden. Lets face it, whats on offer is not exactly going to be unique is it? So instead of running with the crowd, why not go for something different!

Go Green

Have fun and be creative. Salvaging and recycling can be so much more than just composting green waste. Think of all the other items that are cast aside in the throes of so many re-vamps and make-overs: brick, stone, redundant furniture, old sinks, cast iron bathtubs, the list goes on.

Real Rubbish Garden!

At Chelsea a few years ago, the RSPBs Real Rubbish garden designed by Claire Whitehouse demonstrated how reclaimed and re-usable materials could be incorporated in a contemporary garden.

Use some imagination

Salvaging is all about using your imagination. Rather than throwing out items without a second thought, stop a minute and apply a bit of lateral thinking.

Could it be recycled or re-used in other ways? We all make regular visits to our local tip to dispose of rubbish. How often do you stop and look at items others have thrown out?

What treasures could you have missed? Plastic coleslaw and salad pots make excellent seed storage containers. Old toilet-roll centres are perfect for starting off broad bean seeds whose deep roots wont be disturbed when it comes to planting them out in their own bio-degradable cells. Old wooden pallets can be turned into the perfect compost bin (who says five into one, wont go!).

Even the most unlikely items can be reborn; an old lavatory pan becomes a witty planter; a discarded bath becomes a herb garden. Its not really a new idea either. We all remember the ubiquitous white-washed split tyre planters that appeared everywhere in the seventies but its not so easy to do the whole cut-and-turn thing since the advent of steel belting but a couple of worn-out tyres makes a useful container for any plant thats a bit thuggish and likes to muscle in on its neighbours. I use mine to corral an unruly spread of mint whereas at CAT (The Centre for Alternative Technology at Macynlleth in Wales) they use a tyre stack as a composter. Small but nonetheless efficient.

Create something different

Its surprising how many old wheelbarrows you will come across on a visit to your local Council Tip

A wheelbarrow provides plenty of scope for decorative planting and can usually be picked up for around a fiver. Itll be well-used and showing signs of age, which is perfect for the purpose. If youre feeling really industrious, you could give it a coat of Hammerite to make it look pretty, otherwise just drill or punch some drainage holes, plant up and enjoy. And an added bonus with a wheeled planter is if you fancy a change of scenery, its easy enough to move it around.

Need a piece of art to create a focal point? An old push mower or lawn roller takes on a sculptural quality when set against a dry-stone wall and glimpsed through a blossom-clad arch. The same may be said for an old-fashioned horse-drawn ploughshare - make sure you have the space though.

Dont overlook old furniture either. You could pick up an old chest for a few pounds and with a lick of paint it can be used to store hands tools, riddles, dibbers and the like and - with a bit of weather-proofing even turned into a tiered display area.

When it comes to re-using and recycling we are only limited by our imagination.

Discover that elusive bargain

Having recently moved home and inherited a garden that beckons contemplation, I decided it was necessary to procure some seating that befitted the task. Disappointed at the sameness of the choices on offer I decided to search for an alternative that I found in the shape of a rather handsome bent-wood rocker. All it needs is some slight attention to a loose splat and a bit of refinishing in order to withstand the elements. Im looking forward to sitting it on the side lawn beneath the boughs of a knarled apple tree and shall inset some bricks (reclaimed of course) in the grass to avoid the rockers becoming entrenched. For 5.00 Ive bought my own little oasis of calm and tranquillity.

Council Tips are not the only places to look of course. If you are looking for something with a bit of age and different Auction Houses and Salvage/Reclamation yards are a good place to start you could find Youll only find new ones in shops.

There are reclamation and salvage yards, second-hand stores and even auction houses all of which are comparable to the fabled Aladdins cave. Salvage and reclamation is pretty big business these days and it pays to shop around. If you have a project in mind, particularly if you live in a period property, there is no better place to scout around to find authentic and original every-day objects and architectural features to breathe new life into your garden. Keep an eye out for weathered statuary and chimney pots that look terrific planted up or can be used as rhubarb forcers or celery blanchers.

Fancy a bog garden? A cast iron bath and Im not suggesting some exotic 400 French jobbie, cheap an cheerful is the order of the day here - sunken into the ground (plug removed of course) is the perfect container. Most towns have an Auction house but be aware that there will be few bargains to be found on Antique or Collectable days. Sometimes you may find Specialist sales with a horticultural or agricultural bent and you may a find a bargain here but broadly speaking, a General Sale is your best bet.

General sale days are great fun because the range of goods on offer is so wide, everything from ceramics to furniture and everything in between. Take advantage of the viewing opportunities and dont be afraid to ask the Saleroom Staff how much they think something might fetch and if they think it will be popular. With a bit of homework you may pick up a really bargain.

Whether its an old wheelbarrow, planter, pot, chair or statue; reclaimed and recycled items add a touch of individuality and character to a garden and thats something you wont find on the shelves at any out-of-town mall.

Whats in your garden?

When it comes to recycling in the garden, dont forget the plants themselves. That Rose of Sharon may be the bane of your herbaceous border but to someone else, it represents a brilliant bit of instant ground cover so dig it out, pot it up and pass it on or even sell it at the Car Boot!

Recycling is all about sustainability, all about making the very most out of what we have. So get involved. Visit your local tip, look for items to recycle and re-use in the garden. Go round reclamation yards, auction houses and even have another look in your own back yard. At worst, youll save some money and who knows, you may find a hidden gem. Whatever you do, have fun and rejoice in the fact that what youre doing is literally not costing the earth.