Gardeners are being encouraged to keep toilet roll tubes this autumn, as the cardboard items can be reused in several ways to protect plants and improve soil. With temperatures dropping, many are tidying their outdoor spaces and preparing for winter.
Gardening expert Ish, who shares tips on social media, says the tubes should not be thrown away because they serve a valuable function in gardens. In a video posted to his @gardening.with.ish account, he detailed four ways to use them.
Weed Control and Thermal Protection
Toilet roll tubes can help combat weeds. Cut up a tube and lay it flat on the ground to stop weeds from sprouting through the soil. "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 and that, over the next few months, will slowly break down," Ish explained. "But, while it's been doing that, it's protecting your plants from any weeds growing up. You can also plant this underneath your plant beds, and that will also protect anything from growing through."
Flattened toilet rolls can also act as a thermal layer to safeguard plants from frost during winter. "As a benefit of doing it around about now is that it works as a really good thermal layer for things like frost," Ish said.
Seedling Pods and Compost
For those preparing seeds, toilet rolls make excellent seedling pods. Since they are made from thin cardboard, Ish described them as "fantastic" because they break down naturally over the months. Use them for the first three or four weeks of seed growth, then place the rolls into a larger pot or directly into the ground, where they will decompose by the time the plant matures.
Toilet rolls are also useful for making compost. "Now, if you're trying to start to make your own compost, these work absolutely fantastic too. Simply just chuck the tubes in, and pile that down with layers of organic material," said Ish. "The worms absolutely love this stuff - it will break away and give you some pretty good compost."
