When fall comes and the zinnias die off, put paint sticks in the ground over the winter. Then in the spring, you will know where the holes are in the cardboard to plant new annuals.
I put down cardboard every spring. I live in the south and the weeds are vigorous. I let it get rained on first -- it's a lot easier to cut the boxes that way. I get free cardboard from the grocery store and Walmart, in addition to saving my Amazon and Chewy boxes.
I knew I should have done this when I first started my planter its so hard to manage but now that we are gonna clean it up today I am doing THIS THANK you so much for your knowledge and tools !
This comment mostly applies to using cardboard without mulch as I do in my garden but another reason to spray down the cardboard after laying it out is that the dry cardboard initially absorbs a fair bit of moisture and new cardboard doesn't let water pass through it very well. It tends to shed a lot of water at first. This lasts for at least a couple weeks then as the cardboard breaks down it becomes more permeable. Then it actually helps retain moisture in the soil and keeps it cool. You want to try and keep the cardboard damp for the first week or two to help the cardboard "break in" if you will. Also when it dries out in the sun it can start to act like a wick and rob moisture from the soil below. Young plants that were planted at the same time you put down the cardboard, may need extra watering in hot weather to combat this. If you're mulching on top of it putting a layer of soil on the cardboard under your mulch is also beneficial as a good soil has much more organic matter and microorganisms than mulch alone that speed up the decomposition. This won’t ruin the weed barrier element but will allow water to better flow through into your soil. Don’t be afraid to spray everything down a few times a week for the first month or two to keep the cardboard moist as dry cardboard won’t biodegrade either. Cut the hole in the cardboard for your plant at least as wide as the canopy of the plant. All that said cardboard is THE best weed barrier for gardens and mulch beds. Its free, biodegradable, and organic matter to the soil!
Came out great! I've been using the cardboard and mulch combo in my yard for years. We have really aggressive weeds and I have to put a minimum of four layers of cardboard (two boxes folded up). It has worked great. I've never watered it in. Also, aside from keeping the cardboard away from the base of your plants for watering purposes, its also good because cardboard and mulch touching the stem/trunks of plants can cause rot.
Thanks for the tutorial and great reminder to this at my son’s house where I spent 4th of July weeding! 😝 My only other comment is to please wear gloves when working in the yard to help protect you from any random sharp items and bitey bugs!
Nice job! From my own mistakes, overlapping the cardboards is important when dealing with some perennial weeds. Otherwise they start growing in between... 😒
Just saw this video today in 2022 in July and I’m amazed at what a great worker you are, but I can’t believe nobody helped you. I might try cardboard instead of weed barrier great job!
Hi, I do this too! No more back breaking turning over a garden! Wetting cardboard is essential! I use paper compost bags too, and I love that worms show up in droves to help break down the paper! I sometimes put black earth over the paper compost bags, or compost, then mulch!
I let my backyard get overtaken with weeds because of health problems the last couple of years. Now I'm slowly taking back my yard. I'd never heard of using cardboard as a layer of defense against weeds! I order from Amazon a ton, so I'll have plenty of cardboard to work with. I'll remember your tip to put black earth over the paper or cardboard. The dirt in my yard has practically no nutrients for plants right now. This makes me even more excited to clear my yard and start planting!
Good idea! I’ve been saving these things! Just thought if something. There are no-till wildflowers you can grow, or start planting alternative grass ground cover. That’s what I’m going to do because I have terrible pain and health problems as well. It’s too bad, because I live gardening!
Very pretty! I like how the zinnias get broken up into smaller pieces….I probably would’ve just plopped the whole thing in one spot 😂 So nice of you to do that for your friend. ☺
A woman after my own heart! I never wear gloves either! I’m always too rather to get started I forget the gloves! I love your generous spirit and enthusiasm!
I’ve done this before to a large garden area and it worked great! I forgot about it, need to do it to another house’s garden area. Thanks for the reminder!
problem with graval is wind blown dirt get in there and the weeds find a place to root, then it's a nightmare to shovel or rake. Roots go through weed barrier with zero issue from the top.
Yes I just starting doing this last year w either cardboard or thick layers of newspaper and I’m amazed that I only have a weed herd and there to pick!! Before whee we n I would just mulch ,the weeds would grow in no time !! Great improvement and I also edged all my flowers beds w stones so this will the mulch stays in and the grass doesn’t grow into the beds either ,that’s also very important,I know from experience it used to drive me crazy all thd grass that used to sneak into the flower beds !!
Look into getting bulk soil and/or mulch from a local landscaping company or green houses. Usually $35/yard. Covers 80 sq ft at 3" high. Alot cheaper then all them bags. If you don't have a truck. Most will deliver for a fee. In my area, delivery fee ranges from $35-$50. Depends on distance and what truck they have to use.
Looks great ,awsome job! I'm In the same bussiness used to be a termite technician years back though and had a custermer who used the card board in the flower bed along the front wall of his home and termites eat the card board to death because it holds moisture and ended up making into that wall so I had to rip it all out and treat his home for termites a $1,200.00 bill because he didn't wanna pay for weed barriers fabric so if your mulch runs along yr house ,ide just spend $15.00 on weed fabric ,but I see in yr video it's fine yr flower bed is not near the wall of the home!
Those plastic weed barriers definitely work but eventually a new soil builds up on top and they are a real pain to remove. Pre emergents work without any termite problems.
I love this video. I also liked the comments from which I will repeat or add to: For some people with back concerns, kneeling pads should be used. There should be a border or the grass will easily spread into the area. The cardboard should be sprayed with something to prevent termites. Holly and shrubs should be placed where they have PLENTY of room to spread. Don't use toxic weed killers and if you must then wear a face mask.
Thanks for this video, I am new to the weeding game, so I have been pulling the weeds out, then loosening up the soil to extract as many roots as possible. But the process is really slow and back-breaking. The cardboard is a great idea and I am definitely going to try that.
I have always used cardboard. Biodegradable, the worms love it, and you get about 3-4 years of no weeds. I water down everything first, then lay the cardboard.
I use river rock for mulch since it doesn’t degrade. Mulch will b dirt in a couple years which will harvest weeds. Good video though. I never thought of using cardboard!!
Great idea with the cardboard. I’ve got an area in the backyard where I cleared of old hedges and planted blueberries. The area keeps getting filled with weeds. I don’t want to spray anything because I don’t want to damage the young blueberries.
That cardboard is an eyesore. It looks ugly! All you'll need is some mulch, and it's not that expensive. Mulch is only $3.00-4.00 a bag It's very cheap. Mulch would look a lot better than cardboard boxes laying all over the yard.
I’m in Southern California and the weeds completely took over my vegetable garden last month! It’s partly my fault because it gets so hot 🥵 here that the last thing I want to do is be outside!
Eventually a sort of soil develops on those weed barriers and the weeds go again. I wonder if anyone has done it repeatedly and gotten a kind of plastic layer cake on top of their beds.
Im doing the landscape fabric now on part of my yard, knowing the drawbacks of using such material.. but I have been dealing with morning glory for several years now and it is a beast! I am hoping that the fabric helps kill it off! as for cardboard, the fact that ir breaks down is nice.. the little critters, worms and such will be able to move through that barrier eventually.. where as landscape fabric prevents that from happening more so...
Great video! I would sprinkle on some slow release fertilizer and some Preen right at the plant bases before applying the cardboard and the mulch. You’d be surprised at how much that helps.
As others have said, edging the garden to prevent the lawn from invading the bed is important. And it looks really nice! It’s really good to do this every year. Preem should be applied every early Spring (when yellow forsythia blooms) and mid summer to prevent weed seeds from germinating in the mulch as it breaks down and turns into soil on top of the cardboard. Add additional mulch over the Preem every year or two as needed.
Pulling is fine, but I think the weeds will grow despite the no dig method if one doesn't dig out the roots and/or rhizomes, and edge a deep border between the grass and the new plant bed. This was very nice to do for your friend, I hope she feels better soon.
I’ll have to give you a update! I know I’ve seen lots of people have success with the no dig but I’m sure it depends on your area and the specific weeds you’re trying to prevent 👍
@@vladimir7759 So it has worked like this, so far. I started last year and put it behind all the hedges, between foundation and hedge. Lots of weeds, very bad looking and annoying. Almost five months later, by the fall of last year, not a weed in sight. Cardboard had come through the mulch in some places, and it looked a little rough, but no weeds. The winter went by and I checked periodically, no weeds. This spring, more of the cardboard, especially on the edges, was exposed and I just covered it with more mulch. Again, it was thin but still there. I started in February of this year, doing one bed at a time, especially on the edges, where most weeds grow. The plants crowd out weeds in many areas, so I didn’t need to put cardboard there. Still no weeds in the original areas where I put the cardboard. I think I will get two to three full years of no weeds before I have to do it again, at least. I think that no weed seeds take hold and they are smothered underneath. So, even when I do have to do it again, I will only have to do it in a few areas at a time, not my whole garden. So, one year in, the thin cardboard is still there and doing its job. I have no weeds in the original beds, and they still look great. And, the thicker the cardboard, the better. I Just put it down around the base of a twenty year old maple tree, always a problem area. I am almost finished with the whole garden. I feel it works beautifully, and no spraying, with the cost of that stuff, is a great relief. I do spray in cracks in walkways, etc. because they can’t be pulled effectively there. If two people were working, it would go very fast. I expect to get almost three years out of it, which can’t be beat for a free product. Then, I will reapply as necessary. I do know for sure that this year, I will have very few weeds, the beds will look pristine, and that, from my previous experience, it will look terrific by next year too. The question is how long does the cardboard take to degrade. Right now, I’d sat it’s about two full years before you have little or nothing of the cardboard left. I’ll take it. Again, the thicker the better. Also, because I did it in stages, it will also degrade in stages,and I can replace it in stages. It can also be used very effectively to take out large grassy areas quickly. Dig holes where you want them, feed and put in good soil and plants. Cover everything in between with cardboard and cover the whole thing with mulch. Instant bed. I can only attest to the time frame I have done this. Last year to this year is almost 12 months. The cardboard is tattered but still there and I have no weeds in those areas. That is what made me do it in the rest of my garden.
I suggest that you cut an edge with the grass to a depth of a few inches so the mulch doesn’t get into the grass.. I approve of the cardboard. I killed off my lily of the valley using it.
Gosh! just what I needed!!! Great video for a beginner like me, give me the strength to try and get rid of the very overgrown weed in the backyard!!! Thanks much :)
Intuitively, this seems like it would work better than the weed stop fabrics, by a mile. Are Amazon boxes and stuff okay for the ground? I have so many of them 😂 But I care more about what would be good for the soil and maybe even for food. I’ve also heard some people use newspaper.
Weed fabric works great too, and you can leave it in place for years, mulch over it, and when putting in new plants- you cut cut out the fabric the size of the planting & proceed as usual.
Depends. I have it in my front and back yard beds. Works fine in one part of the backyard. Does not work at all in the front yard. I will be trying this in the spring!
I can’t use mulch in my garden. The stray neighborhood cats love to use it as a toilet. I plan to use rocks this year. I used water sprinklers in the past to keep cats, squirrels and others out of my flower beds. However, it has been an ongoing struggle for me to find a good water hose that doesn’t eventually burst, or leak.
They also really dislike the smell of citrus (There are a few smells they hate) if you wanna try (and reapply obv after rain) as a deterrent. (Like a diluted oil mix or whatever can work :)
@@elloohno1349 : Thank you. I have tried a mixture of essential oils in the past and had some success. I guess I just need to be more conscientious of reapplying after rain.
This was so helpful! Als9 i love helping friends and seeing others do so too ❤ I only found your channel today and am hoping you come back to UA-cam soon!
great info, have been considering using cardboard & now I know how this will work in my japanese garden.. thank you so very much.. I am new here but a fan, nonetheless.
This came at such a good time!! With all the rain this year crab grass and weeds completely took over my soil after my Gardner dug up my lawn. I’m in the process of removing these new weeds and planting a variety of things, ie Lavender and some interesting shrubs. I’ve never heard of covering w cardboard!! Also paper grocery bags sounds like a plan. My concern is if it gets windy and they blow off. ??
I have an acre of nightmares! With the rain we have, weeds & unwanted grass invade every inch. I have tried various ideas but long story short, I cannot keep up. I wish my entire yard was just concrete. Lol
Yes. I have literally said that over and over for the 20+ years I have owned my property. I too have an acre. Mostly gravel driveways and parking lots and some grass areas. 90% is weeds. Except where the house sits. Hate the chemicals because of pets etc.. Also to make matters worse we have the devils own plant: BAMBOO in massive spreading groves. The place really does need to be paved lol.
You can also use the bags that the mulch came in for weed control; that way you don't have to throw them away. Cover it with mulch to keep the plastic cool, so it wont break down under the heat of the sun.
Do not put plastic in your beds. All the micro organisms beneath that plastic are "trapped". Use the plastic bags as garbage backs. Stick to paper in the garden.
@@wendyperez8714 I agree with Wendy. Happy soil gives you happy plants. That means helping all the visible & microscopic soil life w/ NO buried plastic. Card breaks down slowly & becomes worm food! :-)
Hi Crystal, Beginner here, and so Id like to just pull up the weeds and add the mulch with some fake plants maybe. Do you suggest, I use weed killer 1st before using the cardboard? Thank you.
The one thing I am learning . It’s not the weed it’s the seed . When you mow if your not using one that drops the weed seeds straight to the ground your seeds catch the wind . I am trying to have a nice lawn but I watch as my neighbors have tons of weeds and the lawn guy they hire has a mower that throws the grass / weeds everywhere. If you mow make sure you mow away from your landscape if you use a mower with a side shoot.
Nice work and way to help your friend out! May I ask what is the cultivar of the boxwood (I think) in the center back? Between the holly on the left and the spruce on the right. Looks perfect for my garden!
💜💜💜hi crystal, thanks for sharing. I just stumbled across your video, so happy l did because am an amateaur & love gardening and could use all the tips & tricks to transform my yard both front & back. Thank you again! 💜💜💜
I'm wanting to do this in a flowerbed I've neglected but it's a flowerbed that I also want to sow some annual flower seeds. So I know the cardboard makes that challenging. Do you just put 6 inches of potting soil on top? Or is there a better way?
I have a well established garden. Sheet mulching isn't practical any longer. Instead I apply a granular pre emergent weed killer twice yearly. It keeps the need for weeding to a low level.
Thats exactly what I was thinking! Or vice versa! If it would be good to do both! Put down the weed barrier then the cardboard! I'd like to know if either of those are a good solution!!
Not necessary because the cardboard functions as a weed barrier. Plus it is healthier than fabric because it is biodegradable. I would not recommend spending money on the fabric.
There is no need to use any weed barrier. I did a new flower garden and put cardboard down directly on top of grass and then mulched. I've only used weed barrier once and will NEVER use it again.
8:24 I think you completely covered two of the Zinnia plant that you just put in the ground? Looks like by the very end you may have uncovered one but it looks like it got trampled.
Throw the shears away and prune selectively! Cardboards does not work in herb gardens. If you use mulch over cardboard you will have to wet it significantly to prevent the wind from blowing it away! Always use stone over weed barrier or cardboard!
I love using cardboard as mulch. However, I did not remove the tape so several years later I am taking care of that. Now that the cardboard has biodegraded I am dealing with crabgrass. Time to refresh the wood chip mulch.
I have a bunch of weeds in my yard where I have pinestraw. Do you think I could just weed wack them and then lay cardboard on top of there stubs and then add more pinestraw?
I'm in the same boat as you. It's very disheartening to spend so much time preparing and planting to discover all your efforts were not enough! I'm thinking about just racking the pine straw out, weed whacking then shoveling the top layer of weed soil then lay cardboard over it then finally putting in the pine straw....lots more than what I had.
Master gardener here. If the weeds are really tall I would weed wack them to about 4to 6 in.Then apply Roundup to kill the plants.. Then apply Preem to prevent germination of weed seeds in the soil. Then add another layer of pine straw. Every year apply Preem and another layer of mulch as needed.
Yes. Can't hurt to try. Pine straw ?? Would that just be pine needles ?? I would burn or blow all the needles or rake them away. Make a giant pile. And keep burning. Then weed whack very low. Then cardboard. Or then replace pine straw if not gonna burn it. It will resets lish. Never fails.
Hey brother...just wanted to say good stuff! I was actually looking to install weed fabric...nonetheless I watched your whole video & case out with ALOT more then just learning an install....GREAT advice in general.....keep it up....God Bless
What time of year is it best to do this? Like if I cut down the disaster of a garden that existed at the end of the season, would it be better do do this when I cut everything down in the fall, or just at the beginning of spring before stuff has a chance to grow in? Just to kinda get rid of the old "garden" that was here when I moved in. It's so crazy out of control I want to wipe it and start fresh.
If I had to pick a good time I'd say in spring when it getting plants in. Cause doing it at end of season the weeds don't grown in cold months . Unless u live where it's warm yr round. But I'd still go with spring when it's time to freshen everything
Yeah a exterminator above said just that. Client had to pay 1200 dollar to get rid the termites. But he said just don't cardboard near the wall of the house
Hi I think it's great using card for work but I think you forgot 1 thing weeds will grow even on card on top of cardboard when you put soil on it so you might have freedom for about 1 summer the next summer you're going to have we need to get in I don't know what the solution is for weeds I tried everything
She said she did not add mulch before because she forgot it the first time she worked on the bed. There was no mulch under the cardboard. It would be fine to leave old mulch under the cardboard and just add on top of it though
Just came across your channel and I have to tell you your videos are very well done. You give out tons of info while making your videos. Thanks again. BTW, where can I send you a donation to continue your journey.
When fall comes and the zinnias die off, put paint sticks in the ground over the winter. Then in the spring, you will know where the holes are in the cardboard to plant new annuals.
I put down cardboard every spring. I live in the south and the weeds are vigorous. I let it get rained on first -- it's a lot easier to cut the boxes that way. I get free cardboard from the grocery store and Walmart, in addition to saving my Amazon and Chewy boxes.
I knew I should have done this when I first started my planter its so hard to manage but now that we are gonna clean it up today I am doing THIS THANK you so much for your knowledge and tools !
This comment mostly applies to using cardboard without mulch as I do in my garden but another reason to spray down the cardboard after laying it out is that the dry cardboard initially absorbs a fair bit of moisture and new cardboard doesn't let water pass through it very well. It tends to shed a lot of water at first. This lasts for at least a couple weeks then as the cardboard breaks down it becomes more permeable. Then it actually helps retain moisture in the soil and keeps it cool. You want to try and keep the cardboard damp for the first week or two to help the cardboard "break in" if you will. Also when it dries out in the sun it can start to act like a wick and rob moisture from the soil below. Young plants that were planted at the same time you put down the cardboard, may need extra watering in hot weather to combat this. If you're mulching on top of it putting a layer of soil on the cardboard under your mulch is also beneficial as a good soil has much more organic matter and microorganisms than mulch alone that speed up the decomposition. This won’t ruin the weed barrier element but will allow water to better flow through into your soil. Don’t be afraid to spray everything down a few times a week for the first month or two to keep the cardboard moist as dry cardboard won’t biodegrade either. Cut the hole in the cardboard for your plant at least as wide as the canopy of the plant.
All that said cardboard is THE best weed barrier for gardens and mulch beds. Its free, biodegradable, and organic matter to the soil!
Came out great! I've been using the cardboard and mulch combo in my yard for years. We have really aggressive weeds and I have to put a minimum of four layers of cardboard (two boxes folded up). It has worked great. I've never watered it in. Also, aside from keeping the cardboard away from the base of your plants for watering purposes, its also good because cardboard and mulch touching the stem/trunks of plants can cause rot.
Thanks for the tutorial and great reminder to this at my son’s house where I spent 4th of July weeding! 😝
My only other comment is to please wear gloves when working in the yard to help protect you from any random sharp items and bitey bugs!
Yes! I’m severely allergic to any pathogens, and I got Lyme this way!
I have an awful problem with weeds in my garden. Thanks for posting this.
Nice job!
From my own mistakes, overlapping the cardboards is important when dealing with some perennial weeds. Otherwise they start growing in between... 😒
yep good thick large pieces of cardboard I agree
Massive improvement. Its amazing what a little landscaping does for curb appeal.
I'm amazed at how fast weeds will take over especially in July. I wish we could pray the weeds away!
Seriously, I feel like July is the worst for it!
@@crystaldoes6576 I totally agree and she has full sun it looks like
Wow exactly
Omg! They are everywhere!!!
AMEN!, I concur
😂 I have to laugh at the size of those weeds.
So great of you to help your friend. 👍
Just saw this video today in 2022 in July and I’m amazed at what a great worker you are, but I can’t believe nobody helped you. I might try cardboard instead of weed barrier great job!
We do the same with using cardboard under mulch in garden beds. Glad that your friend is doing okay. That was a lot of weeds!
I’m really glad I could come back and fix it up for her! I know this will help her going into fall and baby season! Lol
Hi, I do this too! No more back breaking turning over a garden! Wetting cardboard is essential! I use paper compost bags too, and I love that worms show up in droves to help break down the paper! I sometimes put black earth over the paper compost bags, or compost, then mulch!
I let my backyard get overtaken with weeds because of health problems the last couple of years. Now I'm slowly taking back my yard. I'd never heard of using cardboard as a layer of defense against weeds! I order from Amazon a ton, so I'll have plenty of cardboard to work with. I'll remember your tip to put black earth over the paper or cardboard. The dirt in my yard has practically no nutrients for plants right now. This makes me even more excited to clear my yard and start planting!
Good idea! I’ve been saving these things!
Just thought if something. There are no-till wildflowers you can grow, or start planting alternative grass ground cover. That’s what I’m going to do because I have terrible pain and health problems as well. It’s too bad, because I live gardening!
Very pretty! I like how the zinnias get broken up into smaller pieces….I probably would’ve just plopped the whole thing in one spot 😂 So nice of you to do that for your friend. ☺
A woman after my own heart! I never wear gloves either! I’m always too rather to get started I forget the gloves! I love your generous spirit and enthusiasm!
I’ve done this before to a large garden area and it worked great! I forgot about it, need to do it to another house’s garden area. Thanks for the reminder!
great idea, I went with heavy weed barrier fabric and river gravel, still get around 10% weed growth but not having to mulch every yr is worth it.
problem with graval is wind blown dirt get in there and the weeds find a place to root, then it's a nightmare to shovel or rake. Roots go through weed barrier with zero issue from the top.
Yes I just starting doing this last year w either cardboard or thick layers of newspaper and I’m amazed that I only have a weed herd and there to pick!!
Before whee we n I would just mulch ,the weeds would grow in no time !!
Great improvement and I also edged all my flowers beds w stones so this will the mulch stays in and the grass doesn’t grow into the beds either ,that’s also very important,I know from experience it used to drive me crazy all thd grass that used to sneak into the flower beds !!
Look into getting bulk soil and/or mulch from a local landscaping company or green houses. Usually $35/yard. Covers 80 sq ft at 3" high. Alot cheaper then all them bags. If you don't have a truck. Most will deliver for a fee. In my area, delivery fee ranges from $35-$50. Depends on distance and what truck they have to use.
Looks great ,awsome job! I'm In the same bussiness used to be a termite technician years back though and had a custermer who used the card board in the flower bed along the front wall of his home and termites eat the card board to death because it holds moisture and ended up making into that wall so I had to rip it all out and treat his home for termites a $1,200.00 bill because he didn't wanna pay for weed barriers fabric so if your mulch runs along yr house ,ide just spend $15.00 on weed fabric ,but I see in yr video it's fine yr flower bed is not near the wall of the home!
Wowowow🤯
Those plastic weed barriers definitely work but eventually a new soil builds up on top and they are a real pain to remove. Pre emergents work without any termite problems.
I love this video. I also liked the comments from which I will repeat or add to: For some people with back concerns, kneeling pads should be used. There should be a border or the grass will easily spread into the area. The cardboard should be sprayed with something to prevent termites. Holly and shrubs should be placed where they have PLENTY of room to spread. Don't use toxic weed killers and if you must then wear a face mask.
What would you spray the cardboard with?
@@kellylynn9163 Boric Acid
Thanks! I’m not only 4’ 9”, but I have a terrible spine and a recovering broken shoulder! Ugh!
Depends on the climate. Termites don't like freezing temperatures.
Thanks for this video, I am new to the weeding game, so I have been pulling the weeds out, then loosening up the soil to extract as many roots as possible. But the process is really slow and back-breaking. The cardboard is a great idea and I am definitely going to try that.
And you will be disappointed. I used weed fabric+cardboard+ thick layer of pebbles on top and got weeds same year....
Cardboard is one of the best ways to keep weeds down. Here in the Minneapolis area the wild bean and creeping Charlie is just insane
I have always used cardboard. Biodegradable, the worms love it, and you get about 3-4 years of no weeds. I water down everything first, then lay the cardboard.
I use river rock for mulch since it doesn’t degrade. Mulch will b dirt in a couple years which will harvest weeds. Good video though. I never thought of using cardboard!!
Great idea with the cardboard. I’ve got an area in the backyard where I cleared of old hedges and planted blueberries. The area keeps getting filled with weeds. I don’t want to spray anything because I don’t want to damage the young blueberries.
That cardboard is an eyesore. It looks ugly! All you'll need is some mulch, and it's not that expensive. Mulch is only $3.00-4.00 a bag It's very cheap. Mulch would look a lot better than cardboard boxes laying all over the yard.
@@slimdude2011 the idea is to put so much mulch that you don’t see any cardboard & w/ normal rainfall it’ll break down in 6 months.
would the cardboard not just break down in a couple of months and become fertilizer for weeds and grass in that mulch bed?
I’m in Southern California and the weeds completely took over my vegetable garden last month! It’s partly my fault because it gets so hot 🥵 here that the last thing I want to do is be outside!
Girl, me too!!! I really let some parts of my garden get away from me. You aren’t alone!!
It was hot last month ? I am from Phx, define hot LOL
Wow! Love the idea of using cardboard instead of a weed mat
Using cardboard is much better for soil quality / soil life too
Eventually a sort of soil develops on those weed barriers and the weeds go again. I wonder if anyone has done it repeatedly and gotten a kind of plastic layer cake on top of their beds.
Im doing the landscape fabric now on part of my yard, knowing the drawbacks of using such material.. but I have been dealing with morning glory for several years now and it is a beast! I am hoping that the fabric helps kill it off! as for cardboard, the fact that ir breaks down is nice.. the little critters, worms and such will be able to move through that barrier eventually.. where as landscape fabric prevents that from happening more so...
Great video! I would sprinkle on some slow release fertilizer and some Preen right at the plant bases before applying the cardboard and the mulch. You’d be surprised at how much that helps.
As others have said, edging the garden to prevent the lawn from invading the bed is important. And it looks really nice! It’s really good to do this every year.
Preem should be applied every early Spring (when yellow forsythia blooms) and mid summer to prevent weed seeds from germinating in the mulch as it breaks down and turns into soil on top of the cardboard. Add additional mulch over the Preem every year or two as needed.
First time house owner. Learnt it hard way.
Speaking of lawn, I find using grass clippings as a mulch in the garden does a really good job of preventing weeds.
@@jeffk464 I tried that, but now I have to pick up clippings because I have Lyme and I’m scared of grass!! Lol!
Do you apply the preem onto the mulch or onto the cardboard?
@@erinm714 onto the mulch
Pulling is fine, but I think the weeds will grow despite the no dig method if one doesn't dig out the roots and/or rhizomes, and edge a deep border between the grass and the new plant bed. This was very nice to do for your friend, I hope she feels better soon.
I’ll have to give you a update! I know I’ve seen lots of people have success with the no dig but I’m sure it depends on your area and the specific weeds you’re trying to prevent 👍
kareharpies , especially with wild bermuda grass! 😬
Have used this method for years and it works perfectly. You can put the cardboard on top of any weeds and then cover with mulch. No weeds.
@@maureenmckenna5220 the cardboard will decompose in 2-3 months and the weeds will go again, I don't understand how it should work???
@@vladimir7759 So it has worked like this, so far. I started last year and put it behind all the hedges, between foundation and hedge. Lots of weeds, very bad looking and annoying. Almost five months later, by the fall of last year, not a weed in sight. Cardboard had come through the mulch in some places, and it looked a little rough, but no weeds. The winter went by and I checked periodically, no weeds. This spring, more of the cardboard, especially on the edges, was exposed and I just covered it with more mulch. Again, it was thin but still there. I started in February of this year, doing one bed at a time, especially on the edges, where most weeds grow. The plants crowd out weeds in many areas, so I didn’t need to put cardboard there. Still no weeds in the original areas where I put the cardboard.
I think I will get two to three full years of no weeds before I have to do it again, at least. I think that no weed seeds take hold and they are smothered underneath. So, even when I do have to do it again, I will only have to do it in a few areas at a time, not my whole garden. So, one year in, the thin cardboard is still there and doing its job. I have no weeds in the original beds, and they still look great. And, the thicker the cardboard, the better. I Just put it down around the base of a twenty year old maple tree, always a problem area. I am almost finished with the whole garden. I feel it works beautifully, and no spraying, with the cost of that stuff, is a great relief. I do spray in cracks in walkways, etc. because they can’t be pulled effectively there. If two people were working, it would go very fast. I expect to get almost three years out of it, which can’t be beat for a free product. Then, I will reapply as necessary. I do know for sure that this year, I will have very few weeds, the beds will look pristine, and that, from my previous experience, it will look terrific by next year too. The question is how long does the cardboard take to degrade. Right now, I’d sat it’s about two full years before you have little or nothing of the cardboard left. I’ll take it. Again, the thicker the better. Also, because I did it in stages, it will also degrade in stages,and I can replace it in stages. It can also be used very effectively to take out large grassy areas quickly. Dig holes where you want them, feed and put in good soil and plants. Cover everything in between with cardboard and cover the whole thing with mulch. Instant bed. I can only attest to the time frame I have done this. Last year to this year is almost 12 months. The cardboard is tattered but still there and I have no weeds in those areas. That is what made me do it in the rest of my garden.
I suggest that you cut an edge with the grass to a depth of a few inches so the mulch doesn’t get into the grass.. I approve of the cardboard. I killed off my lily of the valley using it.
Gosh! just what I needed!!! Great video for a beginner like me, give me the strength to try and get rid of the very overgrown weed in the backyard!!! Thanks much :)
Yesssss, I have to go and help my mother with the weeds, too
Help Us Lord
Intuitively, this seems like it would work better than the weed stop fabrics, by a mile. Are Amazon boxes and stuff okay for the ground? I have so many of them 😂 But I care more about what would be good for the soil and maybe even for food. I’ve also heard some people use newspaper.
Edging will also help to keep invasive grass and weeds at bay. Overall great job !
yep, cut those rhizomes and stolons!
Weed fabric works great too, and you can leave it in place for years, mulch over it, and when putting in new plants- you cut cut out the fabric the size of the planting & proceed as usual.
Not great. I have older beds where I used weed fabric years ago and now it's decomposed into millions of bits of plastic 😢
Depends. I have it in my front and back yard beds. Works fine in one part of the backyard. Does not work at all in the front yard. I will be trying this in the spring!
I can’t use mulch in my garden. The stray neighborhood cats love to use it as a toilet. I plan to use rocks this year. I used water sprinklers in the past to keep cats, squirrels and others out of my flower beds. However, it has been an ongoing struggle for me to find a good water hose that doesn’t eventually burst, or leak.
Chicken wire just beneath the top layer of mulch will keep the cats away. They don't like that stuff underfoot.
@@wendyperez8714 : Thank you. I’ll try that and see what happens.
They also really dislike the smell of citrus (There are a few smells they hate) if you wanna try (and reapply obv after rain) as a deterrent.
(Like a diluted oil mix or whatever can work :)
@@elloohno1349 : Thank you. I have tried a mixture of essential oils in the past and had some success. I guess I just need to be more conscientious of reapplying after rain.
This was so helpful! Als9 i love helping friends and seeing others do so too ❤ I only found your channel today and am hoping you come back to UA-cam soon!
Start at 1:45
I love gardening - I could watch it for ages! 😀
great info, have been considering using cardboard & now I know how this will work in my japanese garden.. thank you so very much.. I am new here but a fan, nonetheless.
This came at such a good time!! With all the rain this year crab grass and weeds completely took over my soil after my Gardner dug up my lawn. I’m in the process of removing these new weeds and planting a variety of things, ie Lavender and some interesting shrubs. I’ve never heard of covering w cardboard!! Also paper grocery bags sounds like a plan. My concern is if it gets windy and they blow off. ??
The mulch will hold the cardboard down. I'm gonna do cardboard with rocks. No plants . Just around a tree.
I have an acre of nightmares! With the rain we have, weeds & unwanted grass invade every inch. I have tried various ideas but long story short, I cannot keep up. I wish my entire yard was just concrete. Lol
Yes. I have literally said that over and over for the 20+ years I have owned my property. I too have an acre. Mostly gravel driveways and parking lots and some grass areas. 90% is weeds. Except where the house sits. Hate the chemicals because of pets etc.. Also to make matters worse we have the devils own plant: BAMBOO in massive spreading groves. The place really does need to be paved lol.
Mowing it all down probly simplest. Pay someone to come do it once a month or so.
@@flat6fever68045 % vinegar
Just spray it twice a year..
I also have an acre of weed's and I am overwhelmed with it .......
You can also use the bags that the mulch came in for weed control; that way you don't have to throw them away. Cover it with mulch to keep the plastic cool, so it wont break down under the heat of the sun.
Do not put plastic in your beds. All the micro organisms beneath that plastic are "trapped". Use the plastic bags as garbage backs. Stick to paper in the garden.
@@wendyperez8714 I agree with Wendy. Happy soil gives you happy plants. That means helping all the visible & microscopic soil life w/ NO buried plastic. Card breaks down slowly & becomes worm food! :-)
Very interesting about the cardboard, wish I had seen this sooner, I just recycled all my boxes LOL!!
This little garden looks nice! When everything comes in it will be even prettier!
Hi Crystal, Beginner here, and so Id like to just pull up the weeds and add the mulch with some fake plants maybe. Do you suggest, I use weed killer 1st before using the cardboard? Thank you.
Great job! What a great friend you are!❤️
The one thing I am learning . It’s not the weed it’s the seed . When you mow if your not using one that drops the weed seeds straight to the ground your seeds catch the wind . I am trying to have a nice lawn but I watch as my neighbors have tons of weeds and the lawn guy they hire has a mower that throws the grass / weeds everywhere. If you mow make sure you mow away from your landscape if you use a mower with a side shoot.
Nice work and way to help your friend out! May I ask what is the cultivar of the boxwood (I think) in the center back? Between the holly on the left and the spruce on the right. Looks perfect for my garden!
What a great thing to do for your friend. Happy gardening
💜💜💜hi crystal, thanks for sharing. I just stumbled across your video, so happy l did because am an amateaur & love gardening and could use all the tips & tricks to transform my yard both front & back. Thank you again! 💜💜💜
Thank you, I know what to do now! Gotta go, got to save some boxes!! 🏃🏼♀️
Best of luck to your friend!!
I been wanting to try the box trick to control weeds, you given my courage to do it 🤞.
Do it!! I’m really excited to see how her garden fairs going forward. I think I’m going to do it with my side garden too! It’s so bad with weeds 🤦♀️
I'm wanting to do this in a flowerbed I've neglected but it's a flowerbed that I also want to sow some annual flower seeds. So I know the cardboard makes that challenging. Do you just put 6 inches of potting soil on top? Or is there a better way?
The weeds will just grow on top of the cardboard. I’m no expert but would maybe say let the flowers start growing and then mulch around them?
I have a well established garden. Sheet mulching isn't practical any longer. Instead I apply a granular pre emergent weed killer twice yearly. It keeps the need for weeding to a low level.
Great tip, how long does carboard last and why better than weed screen?
Thank you so much for this. It’s exactly what I was thinking of doing but now I will do it with assurance knowing it will work.
All that’s missing is a nice edge around the garden 🪴
Can you put down the cardboard and then cover with weed barrier and then put mulch on top ?
Thats exactly what I was thinking! Or vice versa! If it would be good to do both! Put down the weed barrier then the cardboard! I'd like to know if either of those are a good solution!!
Yes you can
Not necessary because the cardboard functions as a weed barrier. Plus it is healthier than fabric because it is biodegradable. I would not recommend spending money on the fabric.
There is no need to use any weed barrier. I did a new flower garden and put cardboard down directly on top of grass and then mulched. I've only used weed barrier once and will NEVER use it again.
8:24 I think you completely covered two of the Zinnia plant that you just put in the ground?
Looks like by the very end you may have uncovered one but it looks like it got trampled.
Would you do the same with rocks on top? I don't like buying mulch all the time
Throw the shears away and prune selectively! Cardboards does not work in herb gardens. If you use mulch over cardboard you will have to wet it significantly to prevent the wind from blowing it away! Always use stone over weed barrier or cardboard!
Great job! I’m confused by the red twig dogwood location tho. Isn’t that going to grow too large for that space?
You're a good friend! Keep up the great work...and deeds!
Love cardboard. Using it over a part of the yard between the gate and storage shed. No weeds in an area that had weeds consistently.
Amazing tip to control weeds.Thank you .Happy gardening.
Great video! How many mulch bags did you use? I have 7 x 56L for the same size garden and wondering if that would be enough
I love using cardboard as mulch. However, I did not remove the tape so several years later I am taking care of that.
Now that the cardboard has biodegraded I am dealing with crabgrass. Time to refresh the wood chip mulch.
Yeah, I can imagine it would be frustrating finding tape everywhere! Lol live and learn!
Is the cardboard better than the garden fabric?
I wish you had an after pic with it grown in! ❤
Nice video! A quick question .. I was advised that wet cardboard used this way attracts termites. Is there any truth to that?
What is the cone shaped conifer on the right? I have something similar but I have a hard time shaping it. You are a great friend!
I have a bunch of weeds in my yard where I have pinestraw. Do you think I could just weed wack them and then lay cardboard on top of there stubs and then add more pinestraw?
I'm in the same boat as you. It's very disheartening to spend so much time preparing and planting to discover all your efforts were not enough! I'm thinking about just racking the pine straw out, weed whacking then shoveling the top layer of weed soil then lay cardboard over it then finally putting in the pine straw....lots more than what I had.
Master gardener here. If the weeds are really tall I would weed wack them to about 4to 6 in.Then apply Roundup to kill the plants.. Then apply Preem to prevent germination of weed seeds in the soil. Then add another layer of pine straw. Every year apply Preem and another layer of mulch as needed.
Yes. Can't hurt to try. Pine straw ?? Would that just be pine needles ?? I would burn or blow all the needles or rake them away. Make a giant pile. And keep burning. Then weed whack very low. Then cardboard. Or then replace pine straw if not gonna burn it. It will resets lish. Never fails.
Hey brother...just wanted to say good stuff! I was actually looking to install weed fabric...nonetheless I watched your whole video & case out with ALOT more then just learning an install....GREAT advice in general.....keep it up....God Bless
Brother?? This person is clearly female
If you value your feet, get better shoes with which to step on the shovel. Shoes with a metal shank to protect your arches. Just FYI
I remember when I was a kid my grandma used cardboard and newspaper s in garden
What time of year is it best to do this? Like if I cut down the disaster of a garden that existed at the end of the season, would it be better do do this when I cut everything down in the fall, or just at the beginning of spring before stuff has a chance to grow in? Just to kinda get rid of the old "garden" that was here when I moved in. It's so crazy out of control I want to wipe it and start fresh.
If I had to pick a good time I'd say in spring when it getting plants in. Cause doing it at end of season the weeds don't grown in cold months . Unless u live where it's warm yr round. But I'd still go with spring when it's time to freshen everything
You are a good friend!
What type of Mulch or brand did you use?
I was discouraged to use this technique at our Florida property as it is said to attract termites.
Yeah a exterminator above said just that. Client had to pay 1200 dollar to get rid the termites. But he said just don't cardboard near the wall of the house
Lined with cardboard like that, how long will it take for rabies to grow back If so, how long will it take for the weeds to grow back?
Hi I think it's great using card for work but I think you forgot 1 thing weeds will grow even on card on top of cardboard when you put soil on it so you might have freedom for about 1 summer the next summer you're going to have we need to get in I don't know what the solution is for weeds I tried everything
The yard across from me gets no weeds. I'm told they had it done professionally.probly just a good weed control fabic
Landscaping paper make a x for the plants hit with a pre emergence then mulch
The problem is that weeds will grow in the mulch, though they are easier to remove unless you let them grow through the cardboard.
Great video Kristel Despot it worked great 👍👍👍👍😊
That’s a great idea. I need about 4 acres of cardboard. 😁❤️👍
thank you. I just did exactly what you did. it's an easy and fun solution.
Thank you for the great idea. I will definitely do this 🙏🌹
Amazing video ❤ You explained everything so well. Thank you
What a wonderful friend you are!
This was a great video!!! So helpful since I’m a visual person.
Cardboard… I’ll have to try that idea. Thanks.
i like the supervisor in the back
Do you put the cardboard on top of the old mulch or do you have to remove the old mulch first before laying the cardboard?
I would love to know also.
I reckon either would be fine, but why do more work than necessary ? Buried mulch will turn to soil/compost in time.
She said she did not add mulch before because she forgot it the first time she worked on the bed. There was no mulch under the cardboard. It would be fine to leave old mulch under the cardboard and just add on top of it though
Yesssss the exact video I needed to see ❤
Just came across your channel and I have to tell you your videos are very well done. You give out tons of info while making your videos. Thanks again. BTW, where can I send you a donation to continue your journey.
Will cardboard weed preventer attract insects and fungus
That’s a lot of weed but you sure got it done nice job 👍🏾
Great the way you did it all by hand