FROM POST TO PLANTING: RECYCLING POSTAGE MATERIALS TO GROW YOUR GARDEN!

From Post to Planting: Reusing Postage Materials to Grow Your Garden!

In our ever-increasing effort to reduce waste and tread lightly on the planet, gardeners are always on the lookout for ways to reuse what we already have at hand. If you’ve ever received a package in the post and wondered if all that packaging could serve a better purpose than going straight into the bin—good news: it can!

With a bit of creativity, common postage materials like envelopes, padded bags, ziplock bags and cardboard boxes can become useful tools in your garden, especially for germinating seeds. Not only does this reduce waste, but it also saves money and adds a touch of sustainability to your gardening routine.

Using Postage Materials for Seed Starting

1. Paper Envelopes

Old envelopes—especially those made from plain paper—can be used in a few clever ways:

Seed sorting and labelling: Use them to store and label your seeds.
Make Biodegradable pots: Fold and tuck envelopes into small square or cylindrical pots. Fill with seed-raising mix and plant directly into the garden once the seedlings are ready—the paper will break down naturally.

Avoid using envelopes with plastic windows, staples or heavy dyes, as these may not break down safely.

2. Padded Mail Bags

These can be repurposed as insulation for tender seedlings:

Line seedling trays with padded bags to help regulate temperature and protect roots during cold snaps.
The foil-lined or plastic-padded types aren’t biodegradable, but they can be reused for several seasons as insulating wraps or frost /cold guards.

3. Ziplock Bags

Ziplock bags are perfect for a propagation method called the “baggy method”:

Place seeds on a damp paper towel, fold it over, pop it in a ziplock bag, and seal.
Leave in a warm, bright (but not sunny) spot and check daily for sprouting.
This method works wonders for hard-to-germinate seeds or those that need humidity.

Once seedlings sprout, they can be transferred to pots or garden beds.

4. Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard is a garden favourite:

Use boxes to suppress weeds by laying flattened cardboard over the soil and topping with mulch. Great for no-dig gardens!
Shred clean cardboard (removing any tape or glossy labels) to use in compost, worm farms or as a mulch.
They also make fantastic biodegradable seed trays or nursery boxes.
Cut circles from larger boxes and pop them around your houseplants to stop cats and dogs digging them out! You can also do this outside but you might need some small stones to prevent them flying away!

What Paper Can and Can’t Be Composted

Not all paper is created equal when it comes to composting. Here’s what to look for:

Safe to Compost:

Plain brown paper
Non-glossy cardboard
Newspaper (black-and-white print)
Paper towels and napkins (if free of chemicals)
Office paper (without heavy ink or coatings)

Avoid Composting:

Glossy magazines and flyers
Coloured paper with heavy dyes
Envelopes with plastic windows
Waxed or foil-lined paper
Thermal paper (like receipts)
Any paper with glitter or synthetic finishes

Always remove sticky tape, plastic labels, and staples before composting.

Benefits of Paper in the Garden

Paper is more than just filler—it can actively benefit your soil:

Improves soil structure: Shredded paper helps aerate heavy soils and holds moisture in sandy soils.
Carbon-rich compost material: Paper adds carbon (“browns”) to balance nitrogen-rich food scraps and grass clippings (“greens”).
Feeds worms: Worms love paper, and incorporating it into worm farms or compost heaps boosts their activity and reproduction.
Suppresses weeds: Layers of paper beneath mulch prevent light from reaching weed seeds, reducing competition for your plants.

A Final Thought

Next time you open a delivery, think twice before tossing the packaging. With a little ingenuity, your humble postage materials can enjoy a second life in your garden—starting seeds, supporting soil health, and closing the loop on household waste.

Cheers! Wendy XXX