How To Use Those Leftover Takeout Chopsticks As The Ultimate Gardening Tool

When a delicious takeout meal is over, think twice about throwing wooden chopsticks in the garbage. Instead, clean them and put them to good use as a gardening tool to help your plants thrive.

Sometimes, whether they're decorative ferns in your home or aromatic herbs to attract hummingbirds to your garden, plants tip over and start leaning to one side. When that happens, you can use a pair of chopsticks as stakes to support your plants — helping them grow straight and tall while you address the underlying issue. Simply stick a pair into your plant's soil and lean part of the steam or leaves between them in order to prop it up.

Plants can lean to one side for many different reasons. The pot it's in may be too small, for example, or it may not be getting sufficient sunlight, which chopsticks can't fix on their own. However, they can help support the plant while you fix the issue so that they can grow better and stay healthy. Additionally, plants sometimes lean only because they are top heavy and need more support, which a pair of chopsticks can easily provide.

And don't think it stops there. Chopsticks are a very versatile tool with many different uses in your garden. For example, they make a great dibber (a small pointed tool used to make holes in the soil for planting seeds or sprouts). Wooden chopsticks are perfect for this purpose since they're sturdy, disposable, and easy to use. Simply mark one end at the depth your seeds need to be and follow that mark for each hole.

You can also use chopsticks to clean your garden tools and boots. Use them lengthwise to scrape dirt off, or the ends to scrape away soil stuck in hard to reach places. The ends are also great for getting into the grooves of your work boots and removing stubborn dirt, leaving them looking as good as new. (Pro tip: Reuse mesh produce bags in your shed to store your garden tools after use to help keep them dry and prevent rust forming.)

Finally, chopsticks make excellent markers for planting. As you plant seeds, attach the seed packet to a chopstick using a fastener like staples, tape, or glue, and stick it in the dirt next to the seed. This is a great way to keep track of what plants you've planted and where, so you can avoid mishaps like mistaking a high-maintenance plant for an easy-to-grow vegetable like cucumbers and giving both the incorrect care.