For most households, the humble cardboard toilet roll tube is an item destined for the recycling bin without a second thought. However, for gardeners across the UK, these little cylinders represent a free and ongoing supply of a surprisingly useful material.
From Bathroom to Seedling Nursery
A green-fingered expert, known on TikTok as @gardening.with.ish, has recently shared a series of three 'nifty' uses for old loo rolls that can benefit any garden. The first and perhaps most popular application is for starting seeds.
The first thing you can do with your cardboard tubes is make little seedling pots, explained Ish. In his demonstration, he used a three-litre plant plot containing six loo rolls, each filled with compost and ready for sowing. The beauty of this method becomes clear after the seedlings begin to grow. After three or four weeks, the entire tube can be placed into a larger pot or straight into the ground.
The thin cardboard will slowly decompose over the following months, providing nutrients to the young plant and, crucially, causing very little root disturbance. This makes loo roll pots ideal for starting off plants like salad leaves or carrots, which do not appreciate having their roots disturbed during transplanting.
Enriching Your Garden's Soil
The second clever use for these cardboard tubes lies in the compost heap. Instead of sending them for industrial recycling, you can add them directly to your own compost bin at home. You can simply just chuck the tubes in, said Ish, recommending layering them with other organic material.
This is a fantastic way to add carbon-rich 'browns' to your compost mix. The worms absolutely love this stuff, he added. The cardboard will break down efficiently, helping to create a rich, fertile compost that will greatly benefit your garden beds.
A Natural Defence Against Weeds and Pests
Ish's final suggestion involves a dual approach to using loo rolls in raised beds for weed suppression. The first method is straightforward: Cut up one of these tubes and lay it flat on the ground and all of a sudden you've got yourself a really good weed membrane.
This cardboard layer blocks light from reaching weed seeds, preventing them from germinating. An added benefit is that this physical barrier can also protect the stems of young plants from common garden pests like slugs and snails.
The second method involves flattening the tubes and burying them underneath raised beds to form a mat that stops any weeds from growing up from below. You'll need quite a few for this, so it's a perfect long-term project. Another benefit of doing it round about now is that it will also work as a really good thermal layer against frost, Ish noted, providing extra protection for plants during colder months.
The response from his followers was overwhelmingly positive, with many confirming they already use these techniques. One person commented: I always use these for seedlings. I also use egg cartons. Another shared their success: I’ve put my sweet peas in loo rolls for the last few years and I leave them in the greenhouse till early spring then pot them on before planting out. Works perfectly.
