How to Make Seed Tape

Save time and seeds by sowing seeds right where you want them. Easily biodegradable paper, a little glue and tweezers are all you need.

By Spike Gillespie
Filed under: Gardening

You and your kids will enjoy doing this project together. Creating seed tape — or seed mats — enables you to plant seeds right where you want them, so you waste fewer seeds and don't have to spend a lot of time thinning out young plants later. It's an especially handy way of planting tiny seeds that are hard to sow one at a time. Plus, it's also good for seeding an "arrangement" in a container garden.

Materials Needed:

toilet paper (paper towels and napkins also work)
ruler
marker
all-purpose glue

tweezers (optional)
seeds
toilet-paper or paper-towel tube

Get the Tape Ready for Seeding

Measure out a length of toilet paper (Image 1). If the planting row will be narrow and straight, cut the toilet paper in half lengthwise (Image 2).

Mark Seed Spacing

Consult the packet of seeds to find out how far apart the seeds should be planted. Using a marker, put a mark at each spot on the towel where a seed will go.