Households across the UK are being encouraged to place cardboard toilet roll tubes in their gardens this month instead of throwing them away. The tubes can be used to nurture seedlings, protect plants from frost, and prepare flower beds ahead of spring, according to gardening expert Ish, known as gardening.with.ish on TikTok.
Five practical uses for cardboard tubes
October is a key transition period for outdoor spaces, with colder weather and wetter ground signalling the time to prepare for next year's blooms. Ish outlined several ways the packaging can be repurposed in the garden.
First, the tubes can be turned into sustainable seedling pots. "The first thing you can do with your cardboard tubes is make little seedling pots," Ish explained, noting the thin cardboard will "naturally decompose over the next couple of months." After starting seedlings in the tubes for three or four weeks, "you can simply put these in a bigger pot, or in the ground, and these will slowly decompose... causing very little root disturbance."
Compost and weed control benefits
Autumn clear-outs generate a large amount of wet, green waste, such as deadheaded plants and damp leaves, which can turn compost bins into slime. Ripped-up cardboard provides the dry, carbon-rich balance needed. "If you're trying to start to make your own compost, these work absolutely fantastically too, and you can simply just chuck the tubes in," Ish advised. He added: "Pile that down with layers of organic material, and the worms absolutely love this stuff. It will break away and give you some pretty good compost."
For new flower beds, Ish advised cutting the tubes and laying them flat across bare ground beneath plant beds to stop anything growing through. This, he maintained, "will create an excellent weed membrane which will slowly break down over the months ahead." The winter rain will rot the cardboard, protecting plants from weeds and leaving rich soil by planting season.
Frost protection and pest control
With October bringing the UK's first hard frosts, laying flattened cardboard over soil acts as insulation. Ish noted it "will also create a superb thermal layer to protect plants against harsh conditions such as frost," trapping lingering summer warmth to shield vulnerable roots.
Additionally, placing an intact tube over a tiny autumn-sown seedling serves as a protective collar, creating a physical barrier against slugs and snails while encouraging the young plant to grow upright. Getting these garden tasks done in October, before winter sets in, allows plant growth to enter natural dormancy and avoids treading on waterlogged lawns. By putting in the work now, gardeners can relax indoors knowing their outdoor space is prepared to burst back into life come spring.
