A gardening expert has shared a brilliant way to use the cardboard tubes in your garden, and you should start immediately especially if you’re battling with weedsKatie-Ann Gupwell Content Editor, Ellen Jenne U35 Spare Time Writer and Sam Dimmer East Midlands Head of Brand
07:42, 29 Oct 2025
Gardening expert Ish urged people to save up their toilet rolls, as they’re a handy garden tool(Image: AnthonyRosenberg via Getty Images)
Most households have toilet rolls lying around, but you might be surprised to learn there’s a brilliant reason to keep the cardboard tubes for your garden. If you’re keen on spending time outdoors, this tip is definitely worth following, as it could transform your green space.
Gardening expert Ish, who posts under gardening.with.ish on TikTok, has recently revealed why these simple tubes are so fantastic. According to the specialist, ordinary toilet roll tubes have far more potential than most people realise.
Keeping hold of them not only cuts down on waste, but also helps your outdoor space look absolutely magnificent, thanks to their clever garden applications.
He said: “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,” reports the Express.
“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.”
He went on to say: “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.”
In addition to this, he suggested cutting up the tubes and laying them flat on the soil. This, he maintained, will provide an excellent weed membrane which will gradually decompose over the upcoming months.
According to the gardening expert, this method helps safeguard your plants from any emerging weeds.
He also recommended placing them under your plant beds to prevent anything from sprouting through. If you start right away, he disclosed it will also form a fantastic thermal layer to shield plants against conditions like frost.
On the subject of cardboard tubes, he conceded they have numerous practical uses in the garden. They offer more benefits than you might think, and can genuinely assist plants to flourish.
That’s why it’s wise not to throw them away, particularly at the moment.
For those who aren’t aware, toilet roll cardboard can be utilised in the garden as a compostable seed starter, a biodegradable pot, weed barrier or a protective collar for seedlings.
The cardboard naturally decomposes in the soil over time, making it a superb way to both recycle them and give your garden a boost. Since Ish shared the video, several people confessed they use the trick.
Some garden enthusiasts have been eager to share their own triumphs with others. If you’re grappling with weeds, just lay the cardboard flat on the ground to suppress them.
Over a few months, it will decompose, enabling you to plant through it.
This is especially beneficial when setting up new garden beds. You can also chop the tubes up and place them around seedlings to shield them from pests like slugs and snails.
The vertical sides can even assist your seedlings in growing upright. There are countless ways they can be utilised to enhance your garden.
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