How to Make Biodegradable Pots for Tree Saplings

Tree saplings thrive best when planted in individual pots. The saplings typically start as seeds in the pots and remain potted until they are large enough to plant in the ground during the spring. While plastic garden pots are common planting containers, they are not very environmentally friendly. Instead of buying a pot, make your own biodegradable pot out of newspapers. When the saplings are large enough to plant, you may place the entire pot into the ground.

Newspaper
2-liter soda bottle
Masking tape

Instructions

- 1
  Lay a single piece of newspaper on a table and fold it in half along the natural center crease. Turn the paper so it is horizontal, with the top and bottom pointing out to the sides. Place another identical piece of newspaper on top of it for added durability.
- 2
  Grasp the bottom edge of both pieces and fold them up halfway. Press down on the crease, using your fingers.
- 3
  Grasp the bottom creased edge with both hands and fold it up by 2 to 3 inches; press down on the bottom to create another crease.
- 4
  Place a 2-liter empty soda bottle at one end of the newspaper strip and roll it along the newspaper strip, rolling the newspaper up as you do so. Continue until you reach the end of the strip and the newspaper overlaps itself.
- 5
  Place 1 or 2 pieces of masking tape on the free edge of the paper, and then gently pull the bottle out of the roll by 2 inches.
- 6
  Press the newspaper edges down over the bottom of the soda bottle, firmly, until they form the bottom of the pot. Turn the bottle upright, with the newspaper still attached, and press it down firmly on the table to further compress the paper pot bottom.
- 7
  Hold the pot with one hand and pull the soda bottle out of the top with the other hand.

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