How to prep your garden with cardboard (2024)

FAQs

How to prep your garden with cardboard? ›

Steps for Preparing a Garden Bed with Cardboard

Directions. Start by laying your biggest pieces of cardboard down flat in your garden plot. Overlap the sides of the cardboard so that there are not any gaps for weeds or grass to grow into. If it's windy, use the bags of potting soil to weigh down the cardboard.

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.

Step 2: Use Cardboard to Create a Lazy Garden Bed

Pick a spot that you want to have your garden. Put down cardboard to block out weeds and grass and then Cover the cardboard with soil or compost. And then cover that soil with some mulch.

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.

🍂 Start your compost pile or compost bin with a 4-inch layer of soaked and/or shredded cardboard and paper. Place these alongside other high-carbon materials (which in composting circles are known as "browns"); such as dead leaves, ash or straw. 🍂 Sprinkle with water to make these "brown" materials damp.

The ideal time for preparing a garden bed is at least 6-8 weeks before planting. However, the longer the cardboard, compost, and mulch have the opportunity to break down, the better results you will have. It is for this reason that this process is ideal to begin right after the fall harvest.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Termites are attracted to paper and cardboard because of their high cellulose content. Unused boxes, stacks of paper, or even wallpaper can draw termites. It's best to store paper and cardboard items in sealed plastic containers and minimize clutter to avoid attracting these pests.

Water again until the paper/cardboard is soggy all the way through 5. Add 4 - 6” of soil or compost or mulch on top of newspaper/cardboard layers 6. Allow 6 - 8 weeks for the grass under the paper/cardboard & compost layers to die back.

Most weeds or grasses are unable to pass up through the cardboard. By adding wood mulch on top, you can effectively smother these unwanted plants, making way for new plantings. It's a great way to reclaim the bed and get a fresh start. Meanwhile, that cardboard breaks down and is eaten up by earthworms.

However, if you're in a pinch, you can swap out traditional gardening mulch for this cool hack using just cardboard to cover the area around your tomato plants. Tomatoes need a lot of extra care to prevent them from falling prey to weeds. They also need a lot of moisture and well-drained soil.

Corrugated cardboard contains environmental contaminants including dioxin and PFAs or “forever chemicals.” No gardener should want to introduce more of these widespread contaminants into their landscape or garden soils.

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.