The most useful gardening tool is hiding in your bathroom and you're probably just throwing it away
By Rachael Gavin|
T?here is one gardening tool that has countless uses and will cost you nothing because it comes with an item you use every day and have already paid for.
It can be used to start seedlings, stop weeds, support plant growth and protect seedlings from pests, among other things.
?The item is the humble toilet paper roll tube, which most people throw away.
So if you're a gardener it can be worth collecting these unassuming tubes because they not only work well, they will save you plenty of cash.
Seed starting pots?
The most common way to use toilet paper rolls in the garden is as a seed starting pot.
There are a few ways to do this with the first just simply putting seed starting mix inside and adding your seeds.
If you're not adding multiple tubes to a plant pot and then putting the toilet paper rolls in, it's best to seal up one end so you don't lose a heap of soil.
This is done by cutting four slits so you have four flaps that you can then fold in to create a base.
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Toilet paper tubes can also be cut in half before doing this to make smaller pots?. But for something like sweet peas, the longer tube can be useful to train the roots downwards.
Once your seedlings are ready to plant on you don't need to remove the seedling at all, just put the entire toilet paper tube with seedling into the ground or a pot. This makes it a lot easier for gardeners and gentler on plants that don't like their roots bothered.
"?Because they are a thin cardboard they will naturally decompose over the next couple of months," gardener Ish explained in a TikTok video.
Weed suppressor
Another option for reusing toilet paper rolls in the garden is as a weed suppressor, which means no more weed mats or other gadgets.
Like with any sort of cardboard, toilet paper rolls can be placed in layers on soil to prevent weeds from growing in your garden.
To use toilet paper rolls this way simply cut a slit down them lengthways and lay flat on the soil.
Then cover with mulch and the cardboard will eventually break down.
Plant protector
For seedlings grown in the ground, a toilet paper roll can act as a protector against pests like slugs.
?Simply cut the roll into smaller sections of about 5cm or use the whole roll if needed, then place over the plant and push a centimetre or two into the soil.
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Compost
Adding toilet paper tubes to compost will make the worms extra happy because they love cardboard.
Just make sure to layer it with other organic material rather than dumping all your old toilet paper rolls at once.
If you don't have compost, toilet paper rolls can also be buried into garden beds for worms to chew on, which will also benefit your soil.?
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