As January's chill sets in, a surprising gardening tip is taking root: don't throw away your empty toilet roll tubes. Instead, these humble cardboard cylinders can be transformed into powerful tools for your winter garden, offering a cost-effective and eco-friendly boost.
From Bathroom to Garden: The Simple Switch
While the cold weather often keeps gardeners indoors, one outdoor task that demands attention involves repurposing household waste. According to green-fingered TikTok guru Ish (gardening.with.ish), January is the perfect time to start collecting and using these tubes. His viral advice, shared on 15 January 2026, highlights several straightforward applications that yield significant rewards.
The core message is simple: break the habit of binning your loo rolls and start putting them to work on crucial gardening projects. This approach not only recycles waste but also enhances your garden's health and productivity.
Three Ingenious Garden Hacks
Ish demonstrated three primary uses for cardboard toilet roll tubes in the garden. First, they are a fantastic addition to a home compost heap. You can simply chuck the tubes in and layer them with organic material. "The worms absolutely love this stuff," Ish explained. The cardboard will break down efficiently, contributing to rich, usable compost.
The second, and perhaps most popular, use is as biodegradable seedling pots. These work "absolutely fantastic," according to Ish. Because the thin cardboard will naturally decompose over a couple of months, you can start your seeds in the tubes. After the first three to four weeks of growth, instead of disturbing the delicate roots by removing the seedling, you can plant the entire tube directly into a larger pot or the ground. This method causes minimal root disturbance and gives your young plants a healthy head start.
The third clever hack is to create a natural weed membrane. By cutting the tubes open and laying them flat on the soil around your plants, you create a protective barrier that suppresses weed growth. This cardboard layer will slowly break down over several months, but while it does, it effectively blocks weeds. "Another benefit of doing it around about now is it also works as a really good thermal layer for things like frost," Ish added, providing extra protection during the colder snaps.
Why This January Tip is Spreading
Since Ish shared his video, many gardeners have confessed to using similar methods, often adding their own insights. The techniques are particularly valuable for creating new garden beds or protecting seedlings from pests like slugs and snails. The upright sides of the tubes can even help seedlings grow straight.
The overarching takeaway is clear: there are countless ways to repurpose these everyday items. By saving your toilet roll tubes this January, you can embark on a more sustainable gardening journey, enrich your soil, protect your plants, and reduce household waste—all without spending a penny.
