Next time you get a delivery, you might want to think twice before throwing away the cardboard box. A gardening expert has revealed how you can recycle the packaging by using it to create a zero-waste plant pot.
The helpful tip was shared by blogger @Joesgarden, who has over one million followers on TikTok. “Today we are back and I am showing you one of my favourite ways to use up all that extra left over cardboard from deliveries.
“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 expert revealed in a viral post.
In his TikTok video, he demonstrated how you can easily repurpose the box for your garden. Joe said: “Remove any of the plastic packaging and soak in some fresh water for about ten minutes. Once soaked, remove the damp cardboard and trim into strips.”
“While the cardboard is still nice and damp, wrap it around a jar or a tin, making sure to push the bottom down hard,” he instructed.
“Pop over an elastic band and leave these somewhere nice and warm to dry. After a few hours, you’ll have these perfect little eco-friendly pots, which can be used to start seed and planted out whole to avoid root disturbance.”
The video received over 180,000 views, and commenters loved the idea. Someone replied: “Wonderful idea!!!” Another wrote: “Wow… brilliant!” Someone agreed: “Genius! Thank you!” A similar response read: “Thank you for a great idea.”
Someone else commented: “Good idea, normally use the toilet roll cardboard/ kitchen towel.” A social media user shared: “You can also use cardboard tube out of toilet paper.”
Another response read: “Nice. Too bad I never have a free cardboard box.” A commenter added: “A lot of my packages are just plastic pouches instead of boxes.”
You can also use cardboard in your garden to stop light from reaching weeds and prevent them from breaking through the soil. This is ideal if you’re hoping to establish a new garden bed.
Aaron Steil, a horticulture extension specialist, told the Martha Stewart website: “Cardboard is great for killing existing vegetation to create a garden bed.” While you can leave the cardboard as it is, you may wish to cover it with mulch to prevent it from becoming an eyesore.
The tip is simple to follow. First, you need to lay down a layer of corrugated cardboard where you want your garden bed to go. Then, you water the cardboard, add a layer of compost, and water it again. However, it’s worth noting that this tip could cause the cardboard to break down faster.