If you don’t have the budget for weed barrier cloth, consider adding several layers of cardboard to the bottom of your raised bed before filling it with soil. The cardboard will decompose in about 4 to 6 months, making it an effective and long-lasting deterrent. However, avoid using glossy print cardboard and remove all tape first. Cardboard with no dyes or printing on it can contain chemicals that may leach into the soil.
Banana peels are a great source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. To use cardboard under your raised bed, remove staples and tape from the cardboard and lay down at least two layers over the bottom of the bed. Place a few layers of newspaper or cardboard sheets, landscape fabric, or leaves on the bottom of your raised beds. Avoid lining the bed with rocks and use materials that allow proper drainage.
Cardboard can be used to block out weeds or act as a weed barrier. Lay them on the ground, set up your garden bed on top of them, and then pile soil and other amendments on top. It will decompose and become part of the soil after a year or two, so it won’t stop plants from digging deeper if they want to.
Unlike silage tarps, cardboard decomposes into the soil after a year or two, making it the perfect element to use in the no-till method. Repurpose spare cardboard to line the bottom of your raised garden beds.
In spring, you can lift the cardboard to create a good bottom for a raised bed with a thick enough layer of soil. This method is particularly effective for preventing weed growth from below your garden beds.
📹 CARDBOARD in the Garden | PROS and CONS
Cardboard in the garden? What’s the truth? In this video we discuss the pros and cons of cardboard in the garden. Is cardboard …
Can you put cardboard at the bottom of a planter?
It is recommended that old newspapers and cardboard be used to fill the bottom of large planters with crushed materials, which will break down over time and are best suited for regular repotting. Our extensive range of high-quality, durable outdoor planters is available in a variety of materials, finishes, and colors. Additionally, we offer a wholesale planter program, which provides significant discounts on large planters.
Should I put cardboard at the bottom of my garden bed?
Cardboard can be used at the bottom of raised beds to prevent weeds, but it should not be used with glossy print and tape removed first. Wood chips should not be placed at the bottom of raised garden beds as they can draw nitrogen from the soil, make the soil unsuitable for vegetable plants, break down quickly, and cause uneven soil levels and increased temperature. It is best to avoid mixing wood chips into the soil when planting, as they can cause uneven soil levels and increased temperature.
What do you put on the bottom of a raised garden bed?
Cardboard or newspaper can be used to line the bottom of raised garden beds to deter pests and weeds on a budget. Choose cardboard with minimal markings and no tape for a safer option. Stainless steel gopher nets can be used for extra protection, as seen in Vego Garden’s modular cover system. Landscaping fabric can prevent soil erosion, promote water retention, and keep out invasive grasses. While it doesn’t break down over time like cardboard, it limits shallow-rooted plant growth, earthworm movement, and soil mixing. Deeper beds may not need it unless a weed problem is present.
Does cardboard break down in soil?
Sheet mulching, also known as lasagna composting, is a method of composting where a layer of cardboard or newspaper is placed on the soil with mulch on top. This helps to smother existing weeds and seeds in the soil. The cardboard layer breaks down over time, and the mulch decomposes through contact with the soil. Sheet mulching is an easy and uncomplicated method that can be done on a small or large scale, improve soil, or add to existing beds and borders. However, it creates an interface that limits water and air flow into the soil.
Is cardboard OK for the garden?
Cardboard is a versatile material that can be used in various ways in your landscape, including planters, garden paths, mulching, and starting new beds. It is important to choose a clean, unwaxed, and plain brown cardboard, as some tapes may break. For layered or lasagna gardens, it is recommended to moisten the cardboard before adding organic material or mulch. Cardboard gardening ideas are endless, and it is possible to repurpose refuse into useful items. By using basic cardboard, you can avoid pulling tape and plastic finish out of new areas. Garden upcycling with cardboard not only repurposes refuse but also offers numerous benefits.
What not to fill a raised garden bed with?
Raised beds, particularly small and shallow ones under 12 inches deep, should be filled with soil to avoid interference with plant root growth and water drainage. Bagged raised bed potting mix is commonly used in small raised beds, but can be purchased in bulk from local landscape companies or made by blending topsoil, compost, and sand. Alternatively, the Lasagna Garden Method can be used to fill large raised beds with other materials, such as in-ground gardens or raised beds, to create a more cost-effective and efficient gardening solution. Both methods can help maintain the soil and water balance in the soil, ensuring optimal plant growth and drainage.
What is the best thing to put in the bottom of planters?
To line the bottom of a planter for drainage, use broken pieces of pot, old newspaper, or a plastic liner. This prevents compost loss and blockage in the drainage holes. For small planters, old newspaper allows excess water to drain freely while preventing compost flushing out. For outdoor planters, use a plastic liner or pond liners, which can be cut into the base and filled with compost. Trim any excess liner from the top.
To improve potting soil, add soil amendments like perlite, mulch, and sand to prevent the compacting of compost and fertiliser inside the planters. This will prevent the soil from becoming too compacted and promote better drainage. Using handheld gardening tools can also be helpful in filling the planter with compost.
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.
How long does it take for cardboard to decompose underground?
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.
Is cardboard safe in the garden?
Cardboard can be a safe and eco-friendly alternative to traditional garden boxes. However, it’s important to consider factors like the source of the box, its purpose, and potential disadvantages. Repurposing cardboard on farms and gardens is a popular method for no-till growers, and it’s an eco-friendly way to repurpose delivery boxes. Before using cardboard in your garden, it’s essential to know the DOs and DON’Ts, its advantages and disadvantages, and consider creative ways to use it. By following these guidelines, you can create a successful and sustainable garden solution.
What is the best base for a garden bed?
Line the bottom of a raised garden bed to prevent weeds, pests, and maintain a healthy environment. Use wide-mesh hardware cloth, stainless steel gopher or rat mesh, landscape fabric, burlap sack, newspaper or cardboard, or a combination of both. This will help reduce the presence of weeds, discourage pests like voles, moles, or gophers, make the bed more durable, and maintain a consistent temperature. Lined beds can also prevent chemical leaching to plant roots, as they are made from rotting plant debris and logs.
While mounded beds or in-soil gardens can be lined, it is not required for success. Lined beds can also help reduce the presence of weeds, discourage pests, make the bed more durable, and maintain a consistent temperature.
📹 The TRUTH About Using Cardboard in your Landscape
Ever wondered if cardboard can be a helpful tool in your garden? This video explores both the pros and cons of using cardboard …
I start my plants indoors from seed — I use cardboard boxes as garden beds. When they are able to be moved outdoors, I place the entire box on the ground whether there is grass or bare dirt, use a pitchfork to poke holes in the bottom if needed and just let it go. Has saved my back and knees for years! 😁
I made a garden bed using cardboard directly on the grass & weeds, the 6 inches of compost manure blend on top. I am in central SC and weeds and grass are issues with the amount of rain we get. I planted right in it and had no issues. Every year or two, it’s best to add and inch or so of much, but i was a bit lazy. I pull out the few random weeds that come up but other than that, it worked perfect. The cardboard broke down in about 6 to 9 months. The flower bed is still goinf strong and beautiful and packed with flowers years later!
I use cardboard covered with wood chips to define the pathways in my garden. Some weeds get through, but not so many that I can’t keep up with them. I do remove plastic tape, labels and even the paper tape that Amazon uses, because it does have nylon threads which won’t break down. I also shred cardboard as bedding for my worms and I plan to use it in my compost as a carbon source.
I’m in temperate Zone 9, with around 60″ of rain annually (NW England, UK). I’ve been using cardboard covered with 4″ of my own compost for initial weed suppression for over a decade with excellent results. Cardboard is completely decomposed in 6-8 months. I also use shredded cardboard for carbon, especially grass clippings, as it’s easy to mix the two together. I also use all the sawdust & shavings from my woodworking projects. I’ve been ‘no till’ for 7 years.
I used cardboard before I knew it was “a thing”. My elderly neighbor hipped me to it. I place compost on top of the grass/weeds, cardboard, followed by a 4″ – 6″ layer of mulch. As for termites, I wouldn’t sheet mulch if a bed is against my house. Termites got into a bed that was out by the road. They actually helped break down the cardboard faster! I thanked them! 😅😅😅
Three years ago we converted a large sprinkler-irrigated grass area along our driveway into a mulched area with drip-irrigated plants. First the grass was covered in chicken manure. Then, instead of cardboard, we used 4 rolls of that 3′-wide brown paper sold at the big box stores for protection from indoor remodeling and painting. It was much easier to apply, and more even, than cardboard would have been, especially at curved edges where it could be folded under to fit. Finally 4″ of mulch covered the paper. Now we have beautiful dripped plants, and no weeds or grass have appeared.
Excellent article! Have considered trying cardboard for a while, so I’ve got a bank of boxes stored up to test with in an herb garden I have in mind for my farm here. 16 acres of row crops and peach, pear and plum orchards. I wore a halo for 8 months before I graduated to a boot. An amazing journey. . . Bless you Brother.
Two years ago I had my garage taken down and the concrete floor broken up. I have been using a layer of cardboard then a layer of weed cloth topped with the concrete. This area is near my raised garden beds and will keep that area weed and work free, (that is my hope). I have been saving all my boxes for two years. So far this is really looking good. I will use sand and maybe a little soil between the concrete shapes to plant Hen and Chicks and creeping Thyme for fragrance as I walk. I always try to use everything that I cut down or take down, somewhere else on my property. Each tree that came down over the years, ground up and used as mulch. So everything that was here 47.5 years ago, is still here, in one form or another.
(Zone 6A SE PA). I am converting a 15′ x 125′ strip of grass to a perennial bed over the course of three years. I am in year two. This was a long-term project that has yielded favorable results. To do this I cut lawn at the closest setting. Before I laid the cardboard down I spent a significant amount of time removing any packing tape. Tape does not decompose well (polypropylene or polyethylene plastic), and I saw no reason to add it. Those pieces I did miss are intact after a year. I usually did an area of 15 x 20 feet at a time. That’s a lot of cardboard and I was limited by how much I could collect from donations from friends and what I could scrounge from worksites. I laid it down overlapping the cardboard by several inches. I used hardwood mulch that was not dyed. I added about a 4-6 inch layer. Last year I completed an area about 15 x 100. I finished that by about July and let it sit undisturbed until this spring when I began planting transplants. The cardboard had not rotted away but was sufficiently rotted to cut through with a trowel. The remainder of the 15 x 50 I finished off by July and it will also sit until next spring before planting. Take aways: Very satisfied. Be patient. I have experienced no grass coming through. A few weeds will germinate within the mulch but are easy to pull.
I’ve used cardboard in the garden for decades. Works very well, better on sandy soil than on heavy clay but worked well in both southern Ontario and Nova Scotia where it rains every few days. Breaks down in about a year in Nova Scotia because of the amount of rain. Hasn’t seemed to affect plant/shrub/tree health in any garden location. Place stones over cardboard as mulch because the constant strong winds here in Nova Scotia blow mulch away. Effective at reducing weeds which are plentiful here because of the winds and people don’t maintain their properties well at all.
I like the idea of cardboard covered with wood chips in the walk lanes. I may give it a try this fall if I have the time. Weeds in the walk lanes not that big an issue this year, but oh well. I’ve used cardboard in the perimeter flower bed that surrounds the main garden. Perimeter @ 88 feet, a work in progress due to crab grass intrusion. Any way, have used cardboard over grass to start off new beds. Works okay if you pile enough compost and soil on top of it. Saves from having to dig up the grass that’s firmly rooted in place and keeps the soil profile undisturbed.
I had saved cardboard to put in my vegetable paths and cover with wood chips to deter weeds. But then I remembered that when I set anything down, a board; a mat at the entrance of my garden; anything, I end up with thatching ants using that cover for their nests. I don’t know if I can try it or not. My garden is surrounded on 2 sides with forest about 15 feet back from the first rows. I decided to avoid the cardboard. Your comment about termites, has confirmed that thatching ants would be similar. I obtained an old round bale of hay and hosed it down and covered it for the winter under the snow. In the spring, the centre of it was an ant nest.
Zone 6a in Northwest Indiana. I neglected a back garden for years. This Summer I cleared all the top-growth down to bare dirt. I am eager to put down shredded wood mulch, but I still have too many stumps to dig out from volunteer trees. Plus I have long ropes of inch thick wisteria root that is sprawling across the surface of the ground. Without a doubt there is a multitude of seed and root from all the weeds still lurking in the soil. I expect the weeds will soon return with a vengeance. Based on this article and the comments, it seems my next wisest move would be a layer of cardboard on as much soil as possible. That will discourage the resurgence of weed while I’m digging out the larger root systems. Shifting cardboard about will be easier than dealing with mulch when I need to grade the soil after all the excavations. When all the soil finally is prepared for mulch, I intend to use cardboard at least along the pathways. I scavenged a large roll of landscape fabric I can use in the planting beds. I would like to add that my best friend in all this toil is my reciprocating saw. It has a pruning blade that can cut through a 4 inch trunk without breaking a sweat. Best of all, that long sawblade can be used to cut through root growth without damage to the saw. You can’t do that with a chain saw without ruining the saw blades. The only downside is that a reciprocating saw vibrates so holding it steady becomes tiring for an age 70 woman who does not have much muscle. That is a minor disadvantage in light of the benefits.
June of 2023 I took out a corner of my property about 35 feet both directions from the corner. It took a lot of cardboard. I topped with compost, planted a bunch of plants by digging circles in the cardboard etc. then topped with mulch. A year later, the cardboard is gone and everything I planted this past spring 2024 is sitting in fabulous weed free soil. I did the same thing with two 4 x 16 beds by the porch. I do rip all the tape off and try to get my cardboard from he furniture stores so the pieces are big. The only grass I pull up is the edge where I begin the beds which also creates a good border. I do get weeds that I am assuming comes in with the wind or bird drippings, but using the cardboard instead of cutting out all that grass is a no brainer. Yesterday I dug another bed to take out a corner and make it easier for mowing but I am a firm believer in cardboard in case you couldn’t tell!
Cardboard has been a great weed suppressant for me. It’s easy to mulch on top of, and not get bits of greenery growing back up through the mulch. It’s a descent brown to go in the compost with my greens. When I put grass clippings in the compost there’s lots and lots of green, and we always have lots and lots of cardboard to go along with it!
I use cardboard in multiple usage places. I have 3 types of compost piles that I turn about once a month. One with cardboard, mulched leaves and pinestraw placed on top of a hard layer of plastic. No watering except for nature. This has become my worm compost and makes great soil replenishment. The other 2 piles are of just leaves and grass clippings with soil that has no composition (came from holes I dug for burn pits 6 feet deep) the third is my “wet” compost from the yardwaste and kitchen scraps along with the coffee grounds. This is my amendment soil at the beginning of each year (I pick out the worms). Another use for cardboard is between the rows of my corn bed for weed suppression, this works great as long as I leave an 18 inch diameter of soil clear for the roots. I cover with just raked leaf mulch and water every 2 days. At the end of season I pick up cardboard and leave mulch. Cover with a tarp for the winter. I then take the rather worn down cardboard and place it in “Pile 1”. I find many worms underneath and suspect that is where my worms come to “PIle 1”. The last place I use cardboard is the walkways between my raised beds which i then also cover with weed cloth barrier and pin it down. About every 2 years I have to replace the cardboard but the weeds in my beds are absolutely only windborne and easy to maintain. Beds are 24 inches high.
In Idaho zone 7b I have used cardboard for the last three years. This past week my husband and I put cardboard over existing weeds. Then we brought in 8 inches of compost. In the walkways we put down thick wood chips that were dropped off by an arborist. This is how I’ve built all my vegetables beds. It’s cheap and very effective. While you still need to be vigilant regarding weeds it is a far cry from what a person normally deals with.
Great explanation ., Thank you for educating. So, i use lot of the empty CardBoards to fill my ladscape, Simply because the developer of the property stamped lot of construction debri into the soil .I just dont like to grow plants in that soil, so For the past few yrs i dug out about 2 foot down and cleared the soil and use CARDBOARDS, & tree clippings to fill it up., Its lot of work but from what i see it is reviving the soil and I see my plants are thriving, though it takes long time to fill up the space. But its a good alternative I thought. I dont want to bring in external soil, i just want to have a NATURAL soil in my yard ..
I don’t compost grass if its seedings. I did that once, had grass coming up in my compost and wherever I use my compost. Thing with some cardboard I found out that some won’t completely compost down into soil. The cardboard that didn’t compost completely became hard and nonbendable. I had to remove its from my compost container. None of the bug,worm, and organisms didn’t want to touch it. Like pizza boxes that I compost ones. Composted completely down into soil in no time. Toilets paper rolls take longer to compost down,
Prior to moving into our current home, the landscape fabric has grass/weeds growing through it. Surrounding our bushes/trees is river rock on top. My question is do you recommend opening a cardboard box up allowing it to be double layered or is one layer (box fully open) sufficient as well. I’d like to cover up the grass/weeds with cardboard and add newer rock on top of the existing rock. The grass/weeds just make the landscape river rock look terrible. Also we also live in South Alabama. Thanks.
I pull all tape off before putting down cardboard. I live in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I have soil that tends to have some clay to some areas where there is lots of clay. I have created three beds so far using this method with great success. Two beds are three years old. Inexpensive bed a year old. All doing great. I try to plant ground covers to help with weed growth. I do not get grass coming up from below. Which amazes me because sure I have Bermuda. I do get weeds here and there that grown on top and are very easy to pull out. I am currently getting ready to create two more beds using the same method. This method changed my life. Made it possible to create a beautiful garden.
I just used cardboard today. We dug up sod/grass and then laid down cardboard. Added river rock on top of cardboard to hold it in place. We have 3 new bushes planted (2 years old) in the midst of this and left about one foot perimeter around each. It was hard to get around to mow so we are trying this. I hope it keeps the grass/weeds out of this area. Normally I use large black lawn bags but thought this was a cheaper method.
I wanted to use cardboard around my fire pit and leave the decorative rocks on top instead of soil or mulch. Is this better? Would the card board last longer? I live in Tampa, fl. Soil is dry like sand. Weeds especially these last couple of weeks of rain have gotten out of control. Weed killer that I have used in the past doesn’t do the job. I have expensive thicker weed barrier there now with rocks on top. Drowning in weeds😁 Thank you!
Here comes my funny story 😁 I´m new to gardening and try my best to learn. So I live in pour soil conditions on top of a bare hill. Great view, wind and weeds 😀 I wanted to improve my soil and put some small mulch to desolve faster. Under it I put cardboard to supress the weeds. The wind blew away my mulch and the ugly cardboard appeared under. 😂 Now I´m taking it of and will put some heavy big piece mulch on top. Just a newbie problems…
Well, dang. This year’s vegetable garden, first time ever with limited use of cardboard. I did create lots of fine perforations with a pitchfork and then covered with grass clippings. We’ll see how it goes but even this month’s issue of Mother Earth News has some warning about forever chemicals in some cardboard. Like I already said….DANG.
I am curious why you only mentioned termites as bugs that are attracted to the cool wet environment created by the cardboard. The cardboard will take a long time to degrade alone but a lot of composting bugs will eat it such as worms, pillbugs, and earwigs. It’s a 2 for 1 benefit because if they eat the cardboard they will be less likely to eat your plants. I have a worm bin and I add a big square piece occasionally to the top to help retain moisture and insulate it when the temps are high and the worms will always climb up to the top and surround it top and bottom to munch on it, it doesn’t take them very long to work through it.
Hi! I am renting a place with a small front yard. It is full of weeds and the grass is on its last leg. It takes a considerable amount of water to keep the little grass that’s left green. Oh, and there is no sprinkler system! I am considering mulching the yard and strategically using a few drought-resistant plants to make it pretty (maybe some stepping stones too). I live in the central Utah desert. It is HOT, but we also get snow in the winter. Would you recommend using cardboard under the mulch as a solution for the next 2 years, or would you recommend I use the weed fabric instead? Thanks! Glad I found your website! @Dr.Warren
I am in Zone 7 and in a Master Gardener Program. Our program `build a good size gardening area about 100′ x 100″ and covered it was cardboard, then wood chips. We then built raised beds. The ground was covered with wire grass. It took about a year before the cardboard decomposed and once again the wire grass started growing. Some of the cardboard was corrugated and I was concerned about the glue. After doing some research I found that the glue, like the ink is safe. White paper such as print paper, coffee filters toilet paper, tissue paper etc. contains dioxin which is classified as a carcinogen by the FDA yet who also says it contains small amounts in coffee filters, is safe and decomposes. Can you trust the FDA? I’ll let you decide.
Cardboard where I live rots down in a couple of weeks ( UK). I use a lot in my compost bin and after prepping raised beds ready for winter crops in late summer cover the beds for a few weeks to encourage worms up. Inevitability when I come to remove it it’s mostly rotted underneath and full of worms. So I don’t understand why all this negativity about using it. Another way to use it if you have lawns and make your own compost is tear it up and throw it all over your lawn before cutting it, this mixes it up really well.
We use the cardboard to kill the plants underneath (usually to expand the garden or create a path), to deter weeds, and to retain moisture. It works great for all these. For gardening, we normally put old straw on top of it; some plants get planted directly in the straw and for others we will cut a hole in the cardboard to be able to place the plant in the ground. One year I planted directly in cardboard boxes…the only issue I had with that was I had the boxes in places I didn’t want the soil to be; by the time I went to move the boxes, the bottoms had decomposed so I had quite a bit of work to dig out the soil; however, the plants themselves did fine. Come to think of it, this may be a great way to try growing potatoes next year. Oh, I have also used cardboard to line open IBC container frames to keep in sticks, leaves, and straw. It works but didn’t retain water as well as I wanted because the cardboard was only on the sides, not the bottom, of the container.
For 15-25$ you can get contract paper made from recycled paper. it can be used in the garden too. I find it easier to use because if you have curves, its easy to cut to bed shape. it does the same as cardboard and is very cheap. most are 3×100 or 3×150 or more in length. I tried cardboard in the vegetable garden which does good but trying to overlap them so weeds/grass don’t get though takes a lot of boxes. I get small amazon boxes not enough big ones. contract paper can easily overlap. Also I dont know what other business sprayed on the box.
The hydrophobic properties of dry cardboard isn’t an issue. The water will run off the side of the cardboard and soak into the ground. The cardboard then prevents that water from evaporating away. Noone has ever claimed that cardboard has an NPK value. It’s the best thing for your soil because it’s 90% carbon. When carbon is colonized by fungi and bacteria it’s broken down into humus. Soil thats high in carbon has a high cation exchange capacity, which means that the chemical charge of the soil prevents nutrients from washing away. The feedback, between these properties becomes a virtuous cycle. More nutrients, more growth, more soil microbes etc.
I have used a row of pavers to remove turf. Cardboard would have been unsightly in locations where curb appeal matters. Place the row on top of the grass along one edge of your intended planting bed. When that turf is dead, move the pavers to kill off the adjacent strip of lawn. Add mulch to the exposed dirt as your planting bed continues to expand.
What’s the most inexpensive “mulch” to use for a large area. My son is lazy…his front yard is full of weeds. My husband goes over and whacks it down and tries weed killer but I’m embarrassed to have anyone see me walk into his house! I suggested he at least do this – cardboard and mulch – but he complains the mulch is too expensive (it would take a lot and ya, bags of mulch are not cheap). Any other ideas?
I remove all plastic from the cardboard, tape, labels, nylon filaments etc. And use only plain cardboard, no shiny coatings and very minimal coloration. Our potter’s clay soil has improved in texture where cardboard is used with an overlayment of pine straw or pine shaving horse bedding. Areas are periodically allowed to go fallow with native ‘weeds’ like dandelions, asters etc. and rye and clovers.
You give info on cardboard decomposition in SW & SE USA. What about states and land area along the USA-Canada border such as Minnesota & N. Dakota. Basically in areas with winter temperatures that drop to -30 F. & have snowfall as high as 3-4 ft which last for at least 3-4 months, with shorter days of sunshine, as little as 4 hrs in January. How long would decomposition take there?
Ink these days is Soy ink. You could eat it. I do suggest stripping off plastic tape, it will end up littering your garden and environment. I used a triple layer of cardboard topped with leaf litter and a thick layer grass clippings. It suppressed the grass but did not kill it. It eventually grew on top of the damp layer of cardboard. It was.a large area and took a lot of work to put down and looked unsightly for a while until I could cover it. I am going to hit it again with a thick layer of coarse forest litter. It’s a constant fight. I also line my raised garden beds with cardboard lapped up the insides of the beds. Keeps the bed a bit cooler, wetter, nutrients in and stops at least some of the invasive roots of trees and grass.
I used cardboard as a weed block under woodchip mulch in the aisles around my raised bed. FAIL! Clover and other weeds grew anyway. I also used it as a weed barrier in a small flower bed. Didn’t bother the alyssum or carpathian harebells, but didn’t stop the clover here either. FAIL. By the way we have red clay soil here in NJ 7a.
I wish my cardboard lasted 6 months…..if i put it down in the late fall when we are beyond our rainy season i might get 6 months, but if i put it down in the spring or summer, if i disturb it to plant something it disintegrates into nothing then all the weeds pop through within a week. I love it for starting a bed but the weeds are coming through it sooner than later in sw florida.
Coastal California here. I’m on a sand dune, but still, we’ve had drought of near drought for more than a decade. About decomposition then? Without rain, 8 or 9 months out of the year, the cardboard may take up to three years to fully decompose. I certainly don’t turn the hose on the cardboard. Water’s very expensive and precious. The problem then, when it is half decomposed, it’s very unsightly. You either want to take it up and dispose of it somehow, or you will want to put down fresh. Also not a whole lot of fun. On the whole, I use it liberally because we have some very invasive weeds here, coming from all over the world. The biggest problem is Veldt Grass, coming from S. Africa. You don’t want to know how prodigious this grass is. I don’t use straw over the cardboard because I just don’t like the look of it or the ecosystem it creates. If I have leaves, I’ll use those.
I tried to find out what chemicals were in cardboard and didn’t find any information. Sites stated that it’s cardboard and it is safe. ok How about the paper that makes up the cardboard and the glue, maybe a water repellent? Yup, chemicals for making the paper, but no information on what they are. I decided not to use.