A gardening expert has encouraged his followers to save their cardboard boxes next time they have a delivery – putting them to good use outdoors rather than simply wasting them.
Joe Clark regularly shares his horticultural wisdom on TikTok, and in his latest video has explained how cardboard is a vital ingredient in compost, as well as providing other benefits outdoors. « Today I am showing you one of my favourite ways to use up all that extra left over cardboard from deliveries, » he began.
« I’m sure most of you like me, from time to time order something which arrives in a cardboard box. Well instead of throwing them away, they are actually very useful around the garden. »
The gardening expert continued in his clip, advising the removal of any plastics from the box such as tape, before soaking the cardboard in fresh water for around 10 minutes. « Once soaked, remove the damp carboard and trim into strips like this [20cm wide approx.] and wrap it around jars or tins. »
Making sure to push the bottom down hard, next Joe suggested wrapping an eleastic band around the vessels, before leaving them somewhere warm to dry. « After a few hours you’ll have perfect little eco-friendly pots, which can be used to start seed and planted out whole to avoid root disturbance, » he said.
Joe added to his tip in an accompanying caption, saying: « There are two more main ways to use cardboard around the garden which I haven’t shown here, but I will quickly mention them. Cardboard is a vital ingredient in compost, so I like to keep a load next to my compost areas, so when a bit of green waste goes in I can top it up with cardboard. It also acts as a brilliant weed membrane for no dig beds too. »
He continued: « However, this is my favourite way to use it up and it’s also one which saves me a lot of money each year. Cardboard can be turned into pots which are ideal for seeds and seedlings as they are free, but can also be transplanted whole once the seedling is big enough. This helps avoid root disturbance and makes your life a little bit easier too. »
And Joe closed by pointing out the pots you create will be « surprisingly sturdy », but to avoid overwatering them as this can be damaging for the plant as well as ruining the cardboard.
Writing in response to Joe’s advice, one TikTok user commented: « We’ve been doing a very similar thing only using newspaper. We’ll have to try it with the cardboard as well. »
A second person suggested: « You can also use cardboard tube out of toilet paper. » A third concurred: « Good idea, normally use the toilet roll cardboard/ kitchen towel. »
Whilst a fourth TikTok user shared: « I wasn’t sure where this was going, but I’m glad I watched it through. Gonna try that out thanks. » And a fifth said: « As long as the cardboard is not glossy, or printed and the tape is removed this seems to check out. »
