Most people keep paper towels in the kitchen, but did you know they can be used in the garden, too? In fact, they're one of those common household items worth using in the garden to streamline the planting and growing process. While they won't clean up after themselves like they do in the kitchen, they have a multitude of useful outdoor uses. From germinating seeds and improving compost to protecting plants from sneaky garden pests, these paper towel hacks will become your essential gardening tools.

Reusing items like paper towels and their rolls in the garden is a great way to save money on new garden tools. They say time is money, so avoiding a trip to the local garden center is an added bonus. The best part, though, is that it's also good for the environment. The more you can keep waste out of landfills, the better. Of course, you can simply throw old paper towels in the trash, but since they're biodegradable, it's better to put them to good use in your garden, knowing they'll decompose and benefit your garden.

Germinating Seeds

The paper towel method for seed sprouting

One way to germinate seeds is with the paper towel method. This simple paper towel trick makes it easy to test seeds for germination. Start by dampening a paper towel and laying it out on a flat surface. Place the seeds on half of the paper towel, leaving a small space between them. Cover the seeds with the other half of the towel and place the entire thing in a plastic bag or small container. Place it in a bright, warm place. In a few days, you'll see the seeds sprout, and you're ready to plant them.

Seed Starters

Using paper towel rolls to start seeds

Making your own containers from paper towel rolls is a life hack that will make starting seeds for your garden even easier. Once all the paper towels are used, cut the cardboard roll into rings and place them on a tray. Fill them with soil or seed starting mix, moisten with water, and plant the seeds according to the instructions on the seed packets. Paper towel rolls are compostable and will decompose naturally in the garden, so you can plant them in the ground as soon as the seeds germinate without disturbing the roots.

Garden Spacers

Paper towel rolls as natural plant dividers

Paper towel rolls are great as garden dividers, whether you're sowing seeds directly into the ground or planting young seedlings. Cut the roll to size and place them vertically in the soil, spacing them according to the size of the seeds. Fill them with soil and plant the seeds or seedlings, then water. These will maintain proper spacing between plants, and over time, the roll will decompose as it's biodegradable. They will also serve as a protective barrier for new shoots.

Increase Your Garden Worm Population

Encouraging worms for healthier soil

Earthworms are very beneficial to the garden. By creating tunnels, they improve soil aeration and make nutrients more available to plants. And, as it turns out, worms love cardboard. One way to make their life in the garden more comfortable is to place a cardboard roll directly into the soil. You can cut it into smaller pieces and bury it in areas you want to attract worms. As you water the garden, any pieces that aren't eaten by worms will eventually decompose into the soil.

Garden Compost

Turning paper towel rolls into compost material

Compost is a great addition to the garden because it improves the soil by aerating it and increasing the concentration of nutrients. Fortunately, compost is easy to make yourself, saving you time and money on trips to the garden center and improving the growth of your plants. Paper towel rolls are great for a compost bin because, as mentioned, they decompose naturally. Cut or tear them into smaller pieces and place them directly into the compost bin. The resulting compost can be used in the garden by mixing it with soil.

Plant Supports

Providing stability for young plants

Whenever you have young plants in your garden that need extra support, you can use paper towel rolls by placing them under the stems. Cut the roll vertically on one side and wrap it around the base of the stem. Carefully close the seams, adding soil to the bottom if necessary to prevent the seams from collapsing. This will help the plant stand upright and prevent insects from eating the stems before they are fully established.

Square Foot Gardening

Teaching spacing with paper towel grids

The square foot gardening method is designed to optimize the spacing between plants. A great way to teach children how to grow in a square foot is to use paper towels. Take one paper towel and make a net out of it that you can place underneath it (see the seed packet for spacing instructions). Apply non-toxic glue to each mesh and place one seed in each mesh. Lay the paper towels with the seeds in the garden bed, water them, and cover with a thin layer of soil. The paper towel and glue will separate and the perfectly placed seeds will germinate.