Don't throw away carboard boxes, they have clever use in spring

If you've got cardboard boxes from recent online deliveries that you're thinking of putting in your recycling bin, gardening experts have urged you to hold onto them for an important garden project.

Millions of us receive cardboard boxes in the post every single day when we have packages from places like Amazon delivered to our doors. Normally, the protocol is to take your items out of the box, then flatten the cardboard down and stick it in your recycling bin to be taken away by the binmen.

But gardening experts have said your cardboard boxes could actually have an important second use in the garden this spring, and you can easily repurpose them into something that helps your garden flowers flourish.

Spring is the time of year most gardeners will get new plants into the ground so that they have time to grow before bursting into colourful flowers in the summer. And if you're planning on planting things in your flowerbeds and pots this week, then you might want to keep this cardboard trick in mind, too.

Jeff and Lauren, a couple who regularly share home hacks online, recently posted a TikTok video in which they shared a number of gardening tips, including what to do with any leftover cardboard boxes.

Instead of throwing them away, the couple recommended repurposing them in the garden. They began by cutting or ripping the boxes into strips and then submerging them in water to make them soft. Then, they took an empty tin can and wrapped a strip of wet cardboard around it so that it moulded to the shape of the can.

After folding in the bottom so that it was sealed, the tin-shaped pieces of cardboard were then left to dry. Once dry, they can then be filled with soil, and seeds can be planted in them.

When these seeds have germinated, you can then place the cardboard pots directly into outdoor soil in a pot or flowerbed, and the cardboard will naturally decompose.

The trick works best with plants grown from seed, such as vegetables and herbs, or with plug plants and seedlings that are delicate and cannot be planted directly into your garden without being nurtured in a greenhouse or on a windowsill first.

You should ensure the cardboard you're using for this trick is plain and unwaxed, and you must remove all tape from the strips before you use them, as this is not biodegradable. Brown packing cardboard is the best material to use for this, which is what most cardboard boxes used for deliveries are made of.

Using cardboard in the garden

Cardboard has more uses in the garden than just making small plant pots. It is one of the most useful "free" materials that gardeners can get hold of and repurpose for a variety of uses, from suppressing weeds to improving soil structure.

1. Weed suppression

How it works: Cardboard blocks sunlight, so weed seeds can't germinate, and existing weeds weaken and die back. Over time, it breaks down and is pulled into the soil by worms and microbes.

• Remove thick stems and seed heads first if you can
• Lay cardboard so it overlaps (no gaps for weeds to poke through)
• Wet it thoroughly, then cover with compost/woodchip/straw to keep it in place

2. No-dig bed building

Cardboard is a cornerstone of no-dig gardening because it lets you start a bed without turning over the soil.

• Mow or strim the area low
• Lay overlapping cardboard
• Add 5–10cm of compost on top (more if you can)
• Plant directly into the compost layer

3. Composting

Plain cardboard is a valuable carbon-rich ingredient for compost heaps. Use it for:

• Balancing wet kitchen scraps or grass clippings
• Improving airflow and reducing smell