Comments on: make a bed (with cardboard) http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch Organic gardening inspiration from Margaret Roach Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:46:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Margaret http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/comment-page-1#comment-284747 Margaret Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:39:40 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/#comment-284747 Hi, Tree. You can start the smothering anytime...EXCEPT for the fact of all that water you describe. Not only will it be hard to prep now with water there, but a spot that has standing water in one season or another is only going to be appropriate for plants that can handle those conditions (wet-meadow plants, for instance; shrubs like buttonbush or winterberry holly and so on). "Wet feet" in winter is hard on many garden plants. As for a mulch material, my faq page on what makes a good mulch <a href="http://awaytogarden.com/mulch-faqs" rel="nofollow">is here</a>. Hi, Tree. You can start the smothering anytime…EXCEPT for the fact of all that water you describe. Not only will it be hard to prep now with water there, but a spot that has standing water in one season or another is only going to be appropriate for plants that can handle those conditions (wet-meadow plants, for instance; shrubs like buttonbush or winterberry holly and so on). “Wet feet” in winter is hard on many garden plants.

As for a mulch material, my faq page on what makes a good mulch is here.

]]> By: Tree http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/comment-page-1#comment-281845 Tree Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:18:38 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/#comment-281845 Margaret, I live in the Pacific NW and want to start a new garden spot in a grassy pasture area. I am wondering if right now (during the rainy time of year) would be an appropriate time to use the cardboard method for clearing out the existing grasses before spring planting? There is currently some standing water in this area, due to all the rain and a somewhat clayey soil. I am also wondering what is the best material to place over the top of cardboard, for a no-till planting in the spring? Thanks, Tree Margaret,
I live in the Pacific NW and want to start a new garden spot in a grassy pasture area. I am wondering if right now (during the rainy time of year) would be an appropriate time to use the cardboard method for clearing out the existing grasses before spring planting? There is currently some standing water in this area, due to all the rain and a somewhat clayey soil.

I am also wondering what is the best material to place over the top of cardboard, for a no-till planting in the spring?
Thanks,
Tree

]]> By: Margaret http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/comment-page-1#comment-84542 Margaret Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:16:11 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/cardboard-as-mulch/#comment-84542 Hi, Leicester. You could do a full analysis and see if there are concentrations of metals (inks can have some metals in them sometimes). I get my soil test "kits" (a mailed and instructions) from my county or state cooperative extension by mail. Hi, Leicester. You could do a full analysis and see if there are concentrations of metals (inks can have some metals in them sometimes). I get my soil test “kits” (a mailed and instructions) from my county or state cooperative extension by mail.

]]>