A professional gardener has shared an alternative use for spare cardboard (stock image) (Image: Getty)
A gardener has shared a “clever” alternative use for cardboard packaging that would otherwise be thrown out or banished to the recycling bin.
Cardboard is often used to keep online orders safe during transportation and deliveries, leaving many people with quite the build up. However, Sunday Times bestselling author and gardening whizz Simon Akeroyd has a handy solution.
The professional gardener, with more than 25 years of experience, recommends an eco-friendly way to use up the packaging. He urges people to create biodegradable pots for their outdoor areas.
In a TikTok video, Simon provides a step by step demonstration. First, he begins by soaking the cardboard in water.
After removing the wet cardboard from the water, it’s malleable and he wraps it around empty glass jars and metal tins, before “scrunching” up the bottom, to create moulds.
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Once dry, the cardboard can is set in the shape of a little pot – and, at this stage, it can be removed from the glass jars or tins to stand freely on its own.
Text over the top of the footage reads: “You now have free biodegradable flower pots. Pop your seed into some compost and once it has germinated, you can plant your seedlings and pot directly into the soil.”
Fresh text added: “No need to disturb the roots when planting as the pot will decompose and the roots grow through it.”
Simon added: “Enjoy your free, eco-friendly flower pots.”
In the caption, he elaborated: “This is a wonderful eco-friendly way to use up excess online, or cardboard packaging. It’s also a great project to do if you run a school gardening club or a community garden.
“This is one of many gardening ideas or gardening hacks featured in my latest book, Way to Grow.”
@simonakeroydgardener
This is a wonderful eco-friendly way to use up excess online, or cardboard packaging. It’s also a great project to do if you run a school gardening club or a community garden. This is one of many gardening ideas or gardening hacks featured in my latest book Way to Grow. Way to Grow – my new gardening book! I’m so excited to share with you my new gardening book, Way to Grow! My latest gardening book features 100 of my top tips to help you save time and money and have fun while growing plants. If you like my videos and my previous book Grow Your Groceries, I’m sure you’ll love these! Whether you’re a beginner or more experienced grower, there’s something for everyone. Discover how to… * Water pots with lengths of string * Create a watering can from a milk carton * Scavenge sheep’s wool to repel slugs * Feed plants with banana skins * Plant potatoes in a tower built from chicken wire * Grow a cactus from supermarket fruit And much more! So collect your coffee grounds, save those old tights, and get creative for garden greatness. Way to Grow is out on 9th April and you can pre-order it now using the link in my bio. Thank you so much for all your support!
♬ Last Train to London – Electric Light Orchestra
One TikTok user praised the idea and said: “You’re so clever! Always thinking of new things!!!”
Simon’s new gardening book, Way to Grow, is released on April 9. In it, the experienced gardener details “100 of [his] top tips to help you save time and money and have fun while growing plants.”
It’s aimed at all people, from beginners to “more experienced growers” and covers tips like how to reuse and repurpose coffee grounds and “old tights”, as well as ideas to “water pots with lengths of string”, make a watering can out of a milk carton, and feed plants using banana skins.
People keen to ward off slugs can learn how sheep’s wool can be a natural repellent, and potato connoisseurs can plant their spuds in “a tower built from chicken wire” while plant lovers can learn how to “grow a cactus from supermarket fruit”, among other tips.
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