Comments on: make a bed (with cardboard) http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch Gardening information and inspiration from Margaret Roach Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:45:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: fern http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/comment-page-1#comment-14930 fern Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:14:20 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/#comment-14930 I'm surprised no one has brought up the problem of slugs. Cardboard in the garden seems to be a slug magnet, especially once it gets wet. Any comments? I’m surprised no one has brought up the problem of slugs. Cardboard in the garden seems to be a slug magnet, especially once it gets wet. Any comments?

]]> By: Margaret http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/comment-page-1#comment-14780 Margaret Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:20:41 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/#comment-14780 Welcome, Tom. Where the bed meets the lawn (rubber meets the road?) is the tricky part. I confess I mow right over it in the name of time, as I have a lot of mowing here, but better would be to trim the edges separately (mow near to them then clip or whack the edges on another pass). I do that careful version before garden tours and a few times a season, but cannot do it every week. A mowing strip of sunken pavers (or even landscape timbers) can be installed (even with ground level, on a bed of gravel) and you just mow over it -- the inner wheel of the machine rides on the strip, instead of the bed. But my ground here is uneven, and also that is expensive to install (lots of pavers or bricks). Search on Google and you will find examples (including images). As for the cardboard, too many layers will just make runoff -- rain won't permeate the soil and you'll just suffocate things or deprive them of moisture, I think. I would use a layer at a time. The idea is to create a barrier to smother weeds but not a barrier to moisture and so on. I agree, the staples would be a big help (with thick layers of newspaper I just moisten it a bit once it's in place and it stays). Welcome, Tom. Where the bed meets the lawn (rubber meets the road?) is the tricky part. I confess I mow right over it in the name of time, as I have a lot of mowing here, but better would be to trim the edges separately (mow near to them then clip or whack the edges on another pass). I do that careful version before garden tours and a few times a season, but cannot do it every week.

A mowing strip of sunken pavers (or even landscape timbers) can be installed (even with ground level, on a bed of gravel) and you just mow over it — the inner wheel of the machine rides on the strip, instead of the bed. But my ground here is uneven, and also that is expensive to install (lots of pavers or bricks). Search on Google and you will find examples (including images).

As for the cardboard, too many layers will just make runoff — rain won’t permeate the soil and you’ll just suffocate things or deprive them of moisture, I think. I would use a layer at a time. The idea is to create a barrier to smother weeds but not a barrier to moisture and so on. I agree, the staples would be a big help (with thick layers of newspaper I just moisten it a bit once it’s in place and it stays).

]]> By: Tom http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/comment-page-1#comment-14771 Tom Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:17:10 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/#comment-14771 If I am creating a new bed in my lawn (blue grass) how do I address the edge of the bed that comes in contact with my lawn mower? Should I dig out a natural border? I'm looking for an easy (read lazy) way to do this. Also how many layers of cardboard? If this stuff just amends the soil why not use multiple layers. Have you ever used 2-3, or 5-10 layers? We are just essentially composting right on top of the ground. I wouldn't even cut grass down under the cardboard only objects that push up the cardboard. I think it may be helpful to use landscape staples to hold the cardboard down. You know multiple layers creates multiple air spaces. This is probably essential to decomposition. If I am creating a new bed in my lawn (blue grass) how do I address the edge of the bed that comes in contact with my lawn mower? Should I dig out a natural border? I’m looking for an easy (read lazy) way to do this. Also how many layers of cardboard? If this stuff just amends the soil why not use multiple layers. Have you ever used 2-3, or 5-10 layers? We are just essentially composting right on top of the ground. I wouldn’t even cut grass down under the cardboard only objects that push up the cardboard. I think it may be helpful to use landscape staples to hold the cardboard down. You know multiple layers creates multiple air spaces. This is probably essential to decomposition.

]]> By: Margaret http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/comment-page-1#comment-14097 Margaret Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:33:18 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/#comment-14097 Welcome, Lucinda. Yes, the most tenacious weeds will try to find opportunities, you are right, but you can top up the openings with hay or straw (like in <a href="http://awaytogarden.com/2010-resolution-a-no-work-garden" rel="nofollow">this post about Ruth Stout and her deep mulch method)</a> and at least fare better that you would in any other manner, if you must use the bed now. I have to say with my worst weeds here, we sometimes dig them out first and then do the cardboard, unless the area is just too large. The other tactic is to "solarize" the soil and kill off weeds before using the beds again, with two or three months of clear plastic covering and the heat of warm-season sunshine. You sort of cook them to death under the plastic; <a href="http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=172&storyType=garde" rel="nofollow">details on soil solarization</a> in this university bulletin (among other places). Hope to see you soon again. Welcome, Lucinda. Yes, the most tenacious weeds will try to find opportunities, you are right, but you can top up the openings with hay or straw (like in this post about Ruth Stout and her deep mulch method) and at least fare better that you would in any other manner, if you must use the bed now. I have to say with my worst weeds here, we sometimes dig them out first and then do the cardboard, unless the area is just too large.

The other tactic is to “solarize” the soil and kill off weeds before using the beds again, with two or three months of clear plastic covering and the heat of warm-season sunshine. You sort of cook them to death under the plastic; details on soil solarization in this university bulletin (among other places).

Hope to see you soon again.

]]> By: Lucinda http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/comment-page-1#comment-14090 Lucinda Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:47:52 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/#comment-14090 Hi Margaret, I live in Melbourne Australia. I have a vegie patch that has not been used for a few years that is overrun with the very invasive cooch grass (I think it may be called couch grass in America). The cardboard method sounds like a good way for me to tackle this bed and get it ready for planting. However given that the cooch grass has runners I'm concerned that it will just seek out any holes I may have created in the cardboard for planting and will continue to be a menace in my vegie patch. Just wondering what your thoughts would be on this? Thanks heaps. Hi Margaret, I live in Melbourne Australia. I have a vegie patch that has not been used for a few years that is overrun with the very invasive cooch grass (I think it may be called couch grass in America). The cardboard method sounds like a good way for me to tackle this bed and get it ready for planting. However given that the cooch grass has runners I’m concerned that it will just seek out any holes I may have created in the cardboard for planting and will continue to be a menace in my vegie patch. Just wondering what your thoughts would be on this? Thanks heaps.

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