If you have recently moved, there is something fun you can do with all those cardboard boxes besides fill up your recycle bin. Reusing cardboard for the garden provides compostable material, kills pesky weeds and develops a bumper crop of earthworms.
Cardboard in the garden will also kill lawn grass and help you get a new bed ready for veggies, ornamentals or whatever you want to grow. Continue reading for more cardboard garden ideas.
Reusing Cardboard for the Garden
When you think about it, cardboard is just a form of paper and comes from a natural source, trees. As a natural source, it will break down and release carbon into the soil. Garden upcycling with cardboard has many more benefits, however.
You can use it as planters, to start a garden path, mulch a prepared bed, start a new bed and much more. It is important what type of cardboard you use in your landscape.
Any cardboard that is not heavily printed, has no tape, no shiny finish, is unwaxed and plain brown is considered clean and okay to use. Some tapes will breakdown, such as the brown paper tape with strings through it.
Otherwise, keep it simple and only use the basic type of cardboard or you will be pulling tape and plastic finish out of your new areas. If you are doing a layered or lasagna garden, make sure to moisten the cardboard first before topping it with organic material or mulch. There will be more rapid breakdown when using cardboard in the garden in this manner.
Cardboard Gardening Ideas
If you can think it, it can probably be done. Garden upcycling with cardboard not only repurposes refuse but is useful in many ways.
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The most common of the cardboard garden ideas is to use it to start a new bed, called sheet mulching. It doesn't matter if the area has weeds or grass but do remove large rocks and other items you wouldn't want in a planting space. Lay the cardboard down on top of the area and moisten well. Use those rocks or any other heavy items to hold the cardboard down to the ground. Keep the area moist. A good time to do this is in fall. By spring you will have killed the weeds and the grass, and the area will be ready to till.
Layered beds will become super rich and nutrient dense if you use cardboard. It is similar to the method above, only you cover the cardboard with mulch or compost. In spring, simply till the area and you will be ready to plant.
Or, perhaps, you are an antsy gardener who wants to get going immediately once temperatures are warmed. Prepare your vegetable beds in fall and then cover them with cardboard to keep weeds from filling the areas.
Other Ways to Use Cardboard in the Garden
Lay cardboard down where you want a path and cover with pavers. Over time, the cardboard will melt into the soil but it will kill any undesirables under the pavers in the meantime. Shred the cardboard and add it as an important carbon source to your compost bin.
Another idea for reusing cardboard for the garden is to place pieces of it around plants in areas that are prone to weeds. It will reduce weeds drastically and eventually compost into the soil.
For a cute gift idea, have the kids paint smaller cardboard boxes and fill them with soil and colorful flowers. It would make a special gift for grandma or even their teacher.
FAQs
You can reuse cardboard in your garden as mulch, to suppress weeds but also in your compost or worm farm 💚 Make sure you choose cardboard without ink, tapes, labels & wax coating. You can also check a stamp on the cardboard indicating you 100% compostable.
How to use cardboard for gardening? ›
Shred the cardboard and add it as an important carbon source to your compost bin. Another idea for reusing cardboard for the garden is to place pieces of it around plants in areas that are prone to weeds. It will reduce weeds drastically and eventually compost into the soil.
Why put cardboard at the bottom of a garden bed? ›
It acts as a physical barrier to block out pernicious weeds. Usually, 2 – 3 layers of cardboard will suffice, though you may want layers in more weed-prone areas. The damp environment created by the cardboard is conducive to earthworms and other beneficial soil microorganisms.
What are the cons of cardboard in the garden? ›
A: In addition to interfering with water and gas movement into the soil environment, corrugated cardboard has chemical contaminants that you really don't want in your soil or even your compost pile.
Can you put soil on top of cardboard? ›
Once the cardboard is cut and placed, water the cardboard using a garden hose. It should be pretty saturated so that it can properly dissolve into the earth. Now, tear open the potting soil bags and pour the soil out over the wet cardboard.
Does cardboard in garden attract bugs? ›
Termites LOVE cardboard. Did you know that termite researchers use cardboard feeding stations to lure termites? And cardboard is often used as the “control” in feeding studies, because termites will always eat it? People seem to think that wood chips are termite magnets.
Does cardboard in garden beds attract termites? ›
It's worth noting that cardboard is composed of cellulose. Thus, as with any other wood based product, it can serve as a food source for termites.
How long does cardboard last in garden? ›
Cardboard takes approximately 2 months to decompose. However, instead of sending your boxes to the landfill consider adding them to your recycling or your compost pile. Cardboard breaks down fairly quickly when exposed to the elements, but stacks of cardboard can take years to decompose.
Is cardboard better than landscape fabric? ›
Cardboard weed barriers are a better option for vegetable gardens where crop rotation necessitates that the plants in the plot be moved around regularly to combat plant pathogens in the soil. Many larger vegetable plants also have deep roots that you would have to cut a landscaping fabric to allow for.
Does cardboard in garden attract worms? ›
Our experience is that the use of plain brown corrugated cardboard (the hide glue used is high in protein which also attracts the worms) promotes incredible life in the soil.
Yes, roots can grow through cardboard, but only in certain conditions. 'Firstly, the cardboard must be moist enough to allow the roots to penetrate it. Second, the cardboard should be placed in a place where there is no light or air circulation,' Melody says.
Will roots grow through cardboard? ›
Will roots grow through cardboard? Yes! Unlike silage tarps, cardboard decomposes into the soil making it the perfect element to use in the no-till method.
Why lay cardboard in a garden? ›
Cardboard can effectively prevent weeds from growing. It blocks the sun from reaching the leaves of the plants underneath, hindering photosynthesis and the plants' ability to grow. It's also difficult for seeds to germinate on the cardboard. However, if organic mulch is added, they may still germinate.
Can I use cardboard instead of mulch? ›
According to the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources (UCIPM), 'sheet mulching with cardboard or the heavy paper is sometimes applied as mulch and can be inexpensive and relatively easy to apply.
Does cardboard help grass grow? ›
The layers of newspaper/cardboard & compost, etc. eliminate light from reaching the grass. The lack of light stops the process of photosynthesis which helps the smothered grass die back.
How long does it take cardboard to decompose in a garden? ›
Cardboard takes approximately 2 months to decompose. However, instead of sending your boxes to the landfill consider adding them to your recycling or your compost pile. Cardboard breaks down fairly quickly when exposed to the elements, but stacks of cardboard can take years to decompose.
How do you use cardboard to prevent weeds? ›
Completely cover the ground with the cardboard except where there are plants that you plan to keep. Wet down the cardboard as you go to keep it in place and to shape it around obstacles. Add a weed barrier that is permeable to water and air, cardboard boxes are ideal.
Will plant roots grow through cardboard? ›
Yes, roots can grow through cardboard, but only in certain conditions. 'Firstly, the cardboard must be moist enough to allow the roots to penetrate it. Second, the cardboard should be placed in a place where there is no light or air circulation,' Melody says.
