Cardboard then Mulch, ever done it? (landscaping, growing, fertilizer, 2009)

[QwertyFarmer]

Hello All

I was wondering if anyone has ever put cardboard down and then mulch as a weed barrier in your garden. We have land that was CRP for over 20 years and this year was the first till and planting of our huge attempt at a garden, about 100ftx300ft. We are first year rural gardeners ourselves. Prior gardening was restricted to retaining walls behind previous apartment, small patches along side walks, pots, balconies, and early childhood gardening in Texas.

All of what we have planted are growing, and quickly, but to cut down on weeds and to provide raw material for next years garden we have begun taking clean cardboard, no glossy or tape, and put it down before rough mulch. Our thoughts are by next year we will have a much more nutrient rich garden. What do you think or have you done this yourself?

I will post photos

[no kudzu]

It's called No Dig Gardening. I saw an article about it recently. You are supposed to put down fertilizer first then newspaper and cardboard. I didn't have any fertilizer but just put down newspaper and cardboard and try to keep it damp. oh yes I put mulch over it all so I didn'[t have to look at cardboard in my back yard. It is supposed to take at least 2 -3 months. I may have piled on too muxch cardboard but it surely has kept down the weeds. Come fall it should be ready.

[QwertyFarmer]

[QwertyFarmer]

[Shagbark Hickory]

Seems like a time consuming, if not expensive alternative to pre-emergence herbicides. Are you trying to keep this an all organic garden? What are the soil temps in your area, with cardboard and without?

[boernomore]

hey good day, i too used cardboard as a base to keep down weeds, i was way up north in nova scotia, and alas it still worked, i also got coffee grinds from local coffee shop and layered on the cardboard for slow release nitrogen during breakdown of cardboard, starbucks or local shops will give them for free, remember the coffee grinds can burn delicate plants so lay in between beds for best results, oh yeah the decomposing cardboard and grinds may bring some critters, but that is part of the great outdoors. good luck the gardens look great, congrats

[QwertyFarmer]

Originally Posted by Shagbark Hickory

Seems like a time consuming, if not expensive alternative to pre-emergence herbicides. Are you trying to keep this an all organic garden? What are the soil temps in your area, with cardboard and without?

We will NEVER use any chemicals on our land, we have this produce garden, a young fruit tree orchard, and berry & grape vine rows. One of our neighbors is an organic dairy farmer, he hays and grows corn on the land we do not use yet, including between the trees and berries. This land was untouched until last year when the house was built.

We feel very strongly about the negative effects of chemicals in and around our land. I do not even let contractors smoke on our property, they must sit in their own car and put the butt somewhere in their car.

Our soil temps are on the cooler side, with bouts of hot temps. We will be starting plants in cold frames next year. I also expect critters and will address them as they come. Will ask for advice when needed.

[mi~mi]

While I have never used cardboard, I have always done the 2-layer newspaper and then grass clippings loaded on the top. I put little bits of fertilizer right next to the plants and have had amazing luck.

The best part is it all just tillls back end at the end of the growing season!

[Apples&Oranges]

We use straw in our veggie garden. In our general landscaping we use newspaper covered with large wood chips or redwood bark. Works really well!

The landscape fabric only works for a couple of years, then you have the hassle of trying to remove it. Yuk.

[GarlicGuy]

beautiful farm land there