Gardeners are being encouraged to hold onto their empty toilet rolls this spring as the humble household item proves invaluable for outdoor spaces. With warmer weather approaching, many are turning attention to their gardens, and one everyday item often thrown away could become a secret weapon.
Why Toilet Rolls Are Garden Gold
Gardening expert Ish, who shares advice on TikTok under the handle @gardening.with.ish, insists that cardboard toilet rolls should never be discarded. In a video, he demonstrated three clever ways to use them: as seedling pots, compost material, and weed control.
Seedling Pots
Because toilet rolls are made from thin cardboard, they decompose over time, making them ideal for protecting seedlings. Simply place the rolls in a large pot or directly into the ground, and they will break down naturally while safeguarding young plants.
Compost Booster
Ish explained that toilet rolls work "absolutely fantastic" in compost piles. "Simply chuck the tubes in, and pile that down with layers of organic material. The worms absolutely love this stuff – it will break away and give you some pretty good compost," he said.
Weed Membrane
Cutting up a toilet roll and laying it flat on the ground creates a natural weed barrier. "Over the next few months, it will slowly break down, but while it's doing that, it's protecting your plants from any weeds growing up," Ish added. The rolls can also be planted under flower beds to prevent unwanted growth.
Additional Benefits
With cooler spring temperatures lingering, toilet rolls can serve as a thermal barrier to shield plants from cold snaps. Ish noted, "It seems there's really no end of possibilities when it comes to things like cardboard tubes."
Gardener Reactions
The video sparked responses from fellow gardeners sharing their own ideas. One commented, "I fill them with kitchen waste (veg, fruit, paper, egg shells etc) then dig into the garden beds when full." Another added, "I grow sweet peas in them as they like a long root run, magic." A third said, "I sow runner beans and peas in them as they don't like root disturbance when planting out."
With such creative uses, it's clear that toilet rolls deserve a second life in the garden this spring.
