If you thought toilet rolls were only good for wiping, think again, as they have a whole new life in the garden. You should consider placing them outside in October
15:43, 26 Oct 2025Updated 15:45, 26 Oct 2025
There’s a reason you should put the cardboard in your garden (stock image)(Image: ozgurdonmaz via Getty Images)
Most households have toilet rolls knocking about, but you might not realise there’s a compelling reason to pop the cardboard tube straight into your garden. For those who enjoy pottering about outdoors, this tip could genuinely transform your green space.
Gardening guru Ish, who goes by gardening.with.ish on TikTok, has recently shared why these humble tubes are absolute game changers. The benefits of this everyday item might just blow your mind, as they have several uses in your garden, especially in October, as they work to protect plants and defend them against the colder weather.
Ish claims you shouldn’t bin the cardboard bits, as they can help you out in numerous ways. Hanging onto them not only cuts down on waste, but also helps your property look absolutely brilliant outside, thanks to their clever garden applications.
He explained: “The first thing you can do with your cardboard tubes is make little seedling pots, and these work absolutely fantastic, because they are a thin cardboard, they will naturally decompose over the next couple of months. So, start your seedlings off in the first three or four weeks and, once they’ve started to grow, it’s worth taking them out and potting them up.
“You can simply put these in a bigger pot, or in the ground, and these will slowly decompose in the ground, causing very little root disturbance. If you’re trying to start to make your own compost, these work absolutely fantastic too, and you can simply just chuck the tubes in.”
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He continued: “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.”
Beyond this, he explained you can also slice up the tubes and place them flat on the earth. He revealed this will provide you with an excellent weed barrier which, over the coming months, will gradually decompose.
This method prevents weeds from sprouting up around your plants, the green-fingered guru explained. He noted you can also position them beneath your flower beds to stop anything from pushing through.
Completing this task at this time of year will also form an excellent insulating layer to shield plants from hazards like frost, he said. Regarding cardboard tubes, he confessed they offer countless practical applications in the garden.
They boast more benefits than you might expect, and can genuinely help vegetation flourish. This explains why it’s wise not to discard them, particularly right now.
You might not be aware, but toilet roll cardboard can serve in the garden as a compostable seed starter, a biodegradable container, weed suppressant or a protective shield for young plants.
The cardboard decomposes naturally in the earth over time, making it an excellent method to both repurpose them and enhance your garden.
Following Ish’s video upload, several viewers confessed they employ the technique. Many were eager to share their own triumphant tales with fellow gardeners. If you’re battling with weeds, simply lay the cardboard flat on the ground to suppress them.
Over time, it will decompose and you can plant directly through it. This method is especially beneficial for setting up new garden beds.
You can also chop up the tubes and position them around seedlings to shield them from pests like slugs and snails. The upright sides can additionally aid your seedlings in growing straight. There are countless ways these can be utilised to enhance your garden.
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