How To Construct A Cardboard Garden Bed?

No dig gardening using cardboard is an eco-friendly and low-effort way to set up new beds or revitalize old ones. Cardboard sheets suppress weeds and grass, allowing plants to plant directly into compost placed in the bed. The wooden edges are great for containing the compost inside, and the raised garden bed can be made without digging. This method helps eliminate weeds, stimulate organic matter decay, and supplies nutrients into the soil.

The cardboard method is illustrated in a TikTok video from Brandon Gentry (@brandontgentry), which explains how to make raised garden beds using cardboard boxes of multiple sizes. This method is cost-effective and easy to DIY. Another option is to build a raised bed without a frame, mound the soil 6 to 8 inches high, and flatten the top without additional materials.

Plain brown cardboard is best, but avoid heavily printed or coated cardboard. Strip away any tape or labels, soak the cardboard well, and add ground staples if needed. Layer newspaper thickly or spread flattened corrugated cardboard as the weed-smothering underlayment. Moisten the paper and pin it down with glue.

Expert advice on using cardboard to prepare planting beds, protect plants, and trap pests includes line the bed with plain cardboard, dampen it, add 6-inches of good quality soil, compost, or other organic mulch, and place a thick layer of newsprint or flattened cardboard over freshly weeded soil or turf.

Can you put soil on top of cardboard?

To create a garden plot, lay large cardboard pieces flat, overlapped sides, and weigh down with potting soil bags. Cut the cardboard into curved or smaller pieces at the plot’s edges, ensuring sharp, differentiated edges from lawns. Water the cardboard thoroughly, ensuring it is saturated. Pour potting soil from bags over the cardboard, using a rake if necessary, to create an even layer. Finally, spread mulch on top of the potting soil, ensuring an even layer is achieved. This process ensures the garden plot is well-draining and prevents weeds and grass from growing.

What do you fill the bottom of a raised bed with?

One of the advantages of gardening with a raised bed is you’re in control of the soil. It’s a significant benefit for homeowners with yards of clay or hardpacked soil, tree root issues, or concerns about pollutants in the ground. Soil is the foundation of your garden, and you want it to be healthy so you can set your plants up for success! We recommend buying high-quality, nutrient-rich soil in bulk. Or, you can make a soil mix with equal parts topsoil, organic materials (leaves, composted manure, ground bark), and coarse sand.

You can build your raised garden bed however you see fit. Feel free to get creative or stick to a simple design; it’s your choice! Below are some raised garden bed ideas you can use for inspiration.

Built-in raised beds: You can build a raised bed with brick or wood and put it in the best place for sun or shade (depending on the plants and flowers you choose). If you select a wood design, ensure it’s intended for outdoor use and holds up well to the elements (sun and rain). If not, you’ll find yourself replacing it every year.

How long does it take for cardboard to decompose in the garden?

Cardboard takes around 2 months to decompose, but it can be recycled or composted instead. Iron-based objects oxidize and form rust over time, while tin and aluminum cans can take 50 to 100 years to completely break down in landfills. Aluminum is infinitely recyclable, making it a valuable material. Fast fashion contributes to 92 billion tons of clothing being sent to landfills annually. Cotton t-shirts can take up to 6 months to decompose in a well-lit and oxygenated environment, while wool socks take 1-5 years.

Leather and nylon fabrics can take up to 40 years. Polyester clothing, made from the same materials as single-use water bottles, will never truly decompose. The various types of clothing materials significantly affect the decomposition time. By recycling and composting, we can reduce our environmental impact and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future.

What kind of cardboard can I use in my garden?

To use cardboard boxes in your garden, use uncoated, plain brown boxes, as large as possible, with the packaging tape removed. Avoid shiny, plastic-coated, waxy coated, bleached, printed, or colorful cardboard as they may contain harmful chemicals. Leave cardboard boxes out in the rain or gently hose them down to remove plastic packaging tape. Before spreading cardboard on the ground, cut back weedy growth to ground level with a scythe or strimmer. However, cardboard won’t suppress the growth of established woody plants, so dig out their root systems first.

Is cardboard good for raised garden beds?

Raised garden beds can be lined with cardboard and newspaper to block out weeds and act as a barrier against invasive plants. However, concerns about chemicals and glue compounds in low-quality cardboard can be alleviated by using dye-free or recyclable cardboard. Organic stamps indicate the cardboard’s safety. Plain cardboard with minimal markings is best, and glossy coatings or inks should be avoided.

Most cardboard found around the house is safe to use. Cardboard can also be used to line walkways, flower beds, and other areas with thick grass or weeds. Soil or mulch can be placed on top of the cardboard without the need for tilling or weed control.

How to make a garden bed out of cardboard?

This DIY guide on Native Plant Gardens teaches how to create a garden bed using a hose and cardboard. The guide outlines the process, starting with positioning the tree and digging a planting hole. The bed is then laid out using a hose, and the height of plants is considered. The author advises that if digging is necessary, it is best to do so after a soaking rain, as the ground is softer and easier to dig, especially for clay soils. The guide emphasizes the importance of planning and planning to create a unique and functional garden bed.

How much compost do I put on top of cardboard?

To optimize water conservation and weed control, add compost and mulch to cardboard. Spread compost directly over the cardboard and cover it with bulky materials like wood chips. The top layer should mimic the fallen organic matter of a forest, using materials like chipped plant debris, tree prunings, leaves, or straw. Use a materials calculator to determine the required amount of mulch and/or compost. Cover wet cardboard with compost and use it as a pathway to the middle of the bed to avoid ripping holes through it.

Is cardboard bad for the soil?

For nearly a quarter-century, it has been recommended that arborist wood chips be the best mulch for treed landscapes. Arborist chip mulches have been proven to be effective in controlling weeds, enhancing plant growth and establishing a functional soil ecosystem. Sheet mulches like plastic, weed fabric, and cardboard have shown negative impacts on the long-term health of landscape soils. Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, an ISA certified arborist and ASCA consulting arborist, is a professor in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University and holds two affiliate associate professor positions at the University of Washington.

She conducts research in applied plant and soil sciences and has published results in scientific articles and university Extension fact sheets. Chalker-Scott is also an award-winning author of five books, including The Informed Gardener, Sustainable Landscapes and Gardens: Good Science – Practical Application, and How Plants Work: The Science Behind the Amazing Things Plants Do. She was featured in a video series titled The Science of Gardening produced by The Great Courses in 2018. Chalker-Scott is part of the Garden Professors group, which educates and entertains gardeners through their blog and Facebook pages.

How to know if cardboard is safe for the garden?

Organic farmer Jenna Rich discusses the use of compostable and safe cardboard as a weed barrier in gardens. The cardboard is made from plant-based ink and has no remaining packing tape, making it safe to use. It can be used as mulch or suppressed weeds, but it is important to remove the tape before using it. The cardboard can also help open up new garden plots, keep pathways clear of weeds, and smother weeds around newly transplanted perennials. This eco-friendly weed barrier is a great solution for those with persistent weeds or creeping grass.

What should you not put in a raised bed?

Raised beds are ideal for growing a wide variety of edible plants, but not all plants can or should be grown in them. Some plants grow too large for raised beds, such as potatoes, asparagus, artichokes, rhubarb, corn, wheat, rice, and winter squash. Raised beds can be challenging to maintain due to the need for ladders, which can be dangerous for harvesting plants. It is essential to consider the specific needs of each plant when choosing a raised bed, as not all plants can thrive in raised beds. Therefore, it is essential to carefully consider the type of plant and the space available for each plant to ensure the best growth and care.

What to put down under raised beds?

Wide-mesh hardware cloth, stainless steel mesh, landscape fabric, burlap sack, or newspaper/cardboard can be used to line the bottom of raised garden beds. These materials keep weeds and burrowing animals out, but allow earthworms to pass through. Earthworms are nature’s gardeners, aerating and enriching soil for plants. Staple the cloth to the bed frame during construction and ensure it remains in place for years to come. This durable material is designed to prevent burrowing animals from affecting the bed frame’s functionality.