This works. I have done it and still do it. I add old clothing and or fabric, even old carpets and rugs. With time, all decomposed and feeds the soil. I did this in The Keys, FL where the sun cooked the soil and the roots of my fruit trees. I do it now in Michigan.
@@boklee1862 The idea is to keep the cardboard damp so it doesn't blow away. Yes you can use rocks or metal pins to keep the cardboard down. I prefer corn starch spikes so I don't have to worry about losing them.
finally a video that actually shows you instead of yapping. Every video I've looked at just yap about how knowledgeable they think they are and try to be funny.
Ya, I'm actually a middle school teacher, so its important to me that you can actually learn something valuable with the time you spend watching a how to video(not wasting time).
I have been doing this method for around 10 years now. However, i take it a step further and accumulate lawn clippings in the spring and distribute them all around the plants. This goes on for around 6 cuttings, and then when i lay down the cardboard (mid May in Rhode Island), the cardboard goes right on top of the clippings. I also add kitchen scraps, and even non-glossy junk mail on top of the grass and then the cardboard goes right over it. Then a generous spread of mulch on top of the cardboard. As long as it is fully covered, the cardboard and materials underneath are literally gone within 2 months. It is natural, it works, it feeds the soil, and it is a great way to keep cut grass and junk mail, bills, old bank statements etc.. out of the landfill. AND, my flower gardens are the best in the neighborhood
MY problem would be the are weeds in my grass cutting, property is too big to get rid of them all and wouldn't want to introduce them in to a new garden area.
I'm trying this this weekend, starting with a couple of flower beds that are notoriously weedy. I don't want to use poison for killing them and this looks like an AWESOME way to not only get rid of the weeds but make things look neat and tidy as well.
A cautionary tale friends... Putting cardboard under my mulch attracted tons of termites to my property. It was horrifying to move the cardboard and see hundreds of termites scramble around carrying tiny bits of decomposed cardboard. They made their way into the basement and took down one of our porch columns. We had to a hire a pest control company to inject termite treatment around the entire house, and they said there are two major termite no no's: putting mulch near your house, and using cardboard which provides termites the moisture and cellulose they love. Now we have to dispose of 20+ bags of mulch and replace with rocks or rubber mulch. Never using cardboard again.
Looks great! I just used cardboard this morning to build a raised bed. Watered the cardboard, put bricks & other items around various spots, & now I’m tuckered out. I’ll fill it later. I’m sure the neighbors think I’m nuts. :)
That’s what has lead me to this video. I’m wondering, could I use the cardboard to kill/smother the weeds in the current old raised garden bed. Then fill ontop of the cardboard, and THEN the mulch??
Really great advice! Thanks so much. Got really fed up struggling to keep grass and weeds out of the border. I also like that it's eco-friendly as well.
One thing I’d like to add. If your using used mailing cardboard boxes, be sure to remove all the the packing tape. That stuff doesn’t biodegrade and after a few years, it will end up working itself up to the surface of the mulch. Just in case you’re wondering….the cardboard is no match for running bamboo roots. (My neighbors bamboo).
Captivating video! I so enjoyed this music with it and the fast motion. Of course, the technique and information are fantastic as well. Thank you so much!
Hello, Thank you for sharing the link to watch this video in responseto my question about the cardboard from another video. This video was VERY helpful, informing and a little entertaining...it looked like the grass Stalks were dancing to the music 😅.
haha...oh wow!!!! Funny!! Well, you are certainly welcome. Thanks so much for your kindness and taking the time to leave your thoughtful comments. Have a great day!
Excellent solution to two problems - all those shipping boxes and weed barrier under mulch that is biodegradable. I did use newspaper, but we no longer get those. Thank you for sharing.
😳I was looking to hire someone to do this for me. I think I can do it, now. Plus I watched ur other video on how to add the bricks. I cant wait to do this progect.
I'm sure you can do it, Sabrina. the border will look fantastic and be long lasting and your beds will look perfect with this mulching technique. TIP: Here's what I have been doing more recently on these borders. Before spraying with water, use a cup to use as a scoop and toss cup fulls of cement mix in between the blocks on the back side and you'll quickly fill in these gaps and strengthen the border even more. One or two cup fulls is good for each gap. I have perfected this border technique with this quick extra step. Sabrina, I'd love to hear from you later after you build it. Thanks for your comment and I hope to hear back from you after you make your border. Have a great day!
Rock on. I am always getting boxes from the internet. Here is a suggestion I hope you will consider - plant lots of pollinator friendly plants, butterflies, bees, hummingbirds. Thanks! :)
Thank you so much for sending me the link in your response to my other comment on another of your No Dig videos, that brought me here! This is awesome! Now, to find enough cardboard! LOL ... I'm sure I'll get enough ... and we'll definitely put this into practice in our upcoming No Dig project to upgrade/update our front yard beds...
You could check with your local grocery or Lowe's - they will likely have lots of extra cardboard laying around! Hope your upcoming projects go well! I'd love to see pictures the finished results. If have have a chance, please send me a finished photo at tim@timvogelaar.com. I'm going to make a gallery for people to browse through for fun.
I know!!! I had enough cardboard to do one half of my flower bed. The guys came with the mulch and I had to just say, “oh well.” But I am on a journey to a yard free of weeds!!!
Just a little tip from experience, when spreading the mulch by hand, always wear gloves, poisen ivy has a tendency to find it's way into bagged mulch !!
BIG BABY JESUS!! Thank you! Thank you! I have some big landscaping projects and you saved me some serious time!! I have a few questions ( I am new to this also) Boarder first? Then plants? Cardboard and mulch last? What kind of mulch do you prefer? And could I do stones instead of mulch? What size were those spikes again to keep the boarder in place? Can I use the cardboard method in established beds? Once the grass is tall enough can I edge it to give the space a cleaner look? Or should I do it before placing the boarder? Thank you again! 😊
Q&A 1. Border, plants, cardboard/mulch last 2. Brown hardwood mulch. Stones are ok, but here in TN with lots of trees and organic matter around the rocks get filled up with leaves and it doesn't look so nice after awhile. 3. yes 4. Make your border and then trim up your grass along it as desired when you mow. You will want to use a string trimmer along the edge to keep it neat. I hope this helps. Let me know if I can help you any more, ok?
LOL, love the "use large arm movements to spread the mulch around" comment! Love the cardboard idea, I used newspaper last year, going to change it up! Thanks!
ha! thanks! maybe that large arm movement would be obvious for most people, but maybe it helps someone who has never mulched before. good observation and thanks for the comment, pamela!
If your local Post Office Delivers Amazon. Amazon delivers all the parcels in a huge cardboard Box To the Post Office . You might try them. That's where I get mine.
I just watched this and the no dig edge video I’m going to combine the two. Would you recommend using some of the spikes to tack down the cardboard? Also should the order be: step 1. Lay down cardboard 2. Tack down plastic border 3. Place quick cement, level 4. Place stones adding cement between the ‘v’ 5. Watering everything cardboard and cement 6. Laying mulch I want to make sure I got a good handle on these 2 projects!
You are on the right track to use both the border technique and this mulching technique!! Build your border first. Finish it completely. Then do your mulching. Don't bother spiking the cardboard down. When you spray the mulch area after finishing, it won't ever go anywhere. The cardboard lays down and forms to the ground. I'd love to see what you end up making!! Have a great day, Nanci!!
Wow! This is amazing, I'm going to try it. I've been suffocating with this onion like weed I've tried almost everything to combat it but to no avail, I gave up fighting it because it's becoming worse and worse.
I just had the idea of getting a roll of cardboard and apparently you can order them on Amazon with free shipping then you can roll them out lay logs on top to hold them in place and then put some leaves on top of that
TIP: Here's what I have been doing more recently on these borders. Before spraying with water, use a cup to use as a scoop and toss cup fulls of cement mix in between the blocks on the back side and you'll quickly fill in these gaps and strengthen the border even more. One or two cup fulls is good for each gap. I have perfected this border technique with this quick extra step. Hey, if you end up making this, when you are finished would you leave me a comment and let me know how it went?
Great question, Cindy. This is controversial with some people, but personally in that situation, I would spray with area with grass and weed killer and let it dry and the spray the ivy also with poison ivy killer. The ivy in particular is what would not be killed with this cardboard technique because of its aggressiveness and invasive qualities. Also, as the ivy dies, pull it out and remove it so it can't come back so easily. It's very hard to get rid of.
This is what I do here in FL, but around about every six months you have to re do it once the cardboard breaks down. Dumpster dive at a furniture store and grab your bags of mulch #Done
This is awesome!!! So I don’t need to till my ground first? I’m in California and get gopher holes like crazy do you think this will work for my yard still?
Early on you suggest leaving a couple inches around the plants for future growth, then towards the end you say push the mulch snugly around the plants. Which is it?
Really, it depends on the plant. If you expect growth coming up from the ground like a perennial, then give it a little space, but if its more woody, like a little bush, then push it up snugly to the plant. Hope this helps. Have a great day, Jim!
Hi, thanks for the video! Do you it would be a good idea to lay landscape fabric over a layer of cardboard and then another layer of fabric on top of that? Then mulch/ gravel. Dandelions are a PAIN in the butt!! I’m concerned they’ll just be determined to break through! lol. They germinate at this time, so it’s best to do it now.
I have had to fight with landscaping fabric over the years so much that I cannot recommend it at all...every time I see old fabric in the ground, it always has roots growing right through it. It just doesn't work. Even if roots could not penetrate it(like a sheet of plastic), its not effective still because so many seeds and spores float around and germinate into mulch and start growing things. This will always happen no matter what. That's why this cardboard system works well, is because though it is temporary, it works incredibly well for the first few months or year and then you can just do it again whenever in the future and the old cardboard has disappeared and you probably need to mulch again then anyway.
W E LL D O N E !!!! Woo Hoo a lazy mans way of quick and attractive garden make over (and believe me - I'm very lazy hahaha) PS should I kill the grass off first with Round Up (glyphosate) ??
Most everything that was covered with the cardborad will be dead by the time it decomposes and then you will maintain it however you choose in the future for new weeds that pop up that can come mostly from the wind and seeds dropped on top. If your mulch has broken down, you could use the cardboard method once a year when you mulch if so desired. Sometimes wont need again, though. It just depends how much trouble you have with weeds growing up in there if you want to use cardboard again in future years. I hope this helps. Have a nice day, Vinny!
I'm going to use the cardboard method, but then on top of that I will lay black rubber mulch (recycled tires, basically what's used on playgrounds) I purchased from Amazon. I'm also thinking about spraying the rubber mulch with the mulch glue. REASON for all of these steps:.... #1. I like the idea of the cardboard because its inexpensive and easy for ME to lay, #2. The rubber black mulch is durable and the color won't fade ( I've had it in my yard for 3 years now and it's still black no fading), #3. I want to use the glue to keep the mulch from being blown by high winds and rain outside of my brick border. I don't plan to plant foliage in the areas where I will spray the mulch glue. What do you think about my landscape layout idea??? I'd appreciate your feedback.
Let me compliment you on your choice of background music,Beethoven,s 9this incomparable.Now for a mi or technical correction.The boxes in your video are corrugated boxes not cardboard boxes .Corrugated boxes are multi layered with raised layers between flat layers.Corrugated boxes can go from lightly built to very heavily constructed.Cardboard is always a single ply,never Kraft paper,it can vary in thickness and flexibility.I do not mean in any way to demean your excellent video,it’s just that I,ve purchased corrugated boxes for many years and I,m knowledgeable about their construction.
Hey, I like that you are educating me on this, but I still don't get it unfortunately....would you mind trying to explain it again for me cuz I'd like to understand better...thanks, @Nello353!! Have a great day!!
cardboard is always a single layered box with varying degrees of thickness and stiffness ,ex toothpaste box, box of crackers.Corrugated is made of sheets of paper that are layerered,a simple box will have walls made up a top,middle and bottom layer .The middle layer is never flat but convoluted as to support the upper and lower layers.a side view will show the air spaces made by the middle layer. Corrugated walls vary in size and strength depending on the product contained. strength is derived by using thicker sheets as layers. For mulching purposes any discarded box is sufficient.I have liked and suubscribed your video and hope yo see many more.
Can you use this idea in a vegetable garden that is overrun with grass? We have Bermuda grass that just fights its way through everything we've tried. We laid down weed barrier, tried raised beds and I think the grass feeds off of the weed barrier, its a joke. We tried newspapers and heavy mulch, grass broke through in a matter of weeks. Just wasn't sure about the cardboard and growing vegetables to eat. I can find tons of free cardboard so I'm definitely trying this in my flower beds around my home.
Yes! Cardboard is excellent for garden use!!! You should try it. Bermuda Grass will not get through it and should kill it off from lack of light. If you have a super bad case of that grass, you may want to pull of the shoots throughout to help give it a fresh start, but you wouldn't have to. Raised beds get weeds from bird poop and floating seeds that land in there. Any dirt area will get some weeds from these things, but Bermuda Grass, as you and I know is a different beast!
Yes the Bermuda climbs up the sides of the raised beds and through any crack it can squeeze through and takes over. Lol I am excited to try the card board. I already have a good stash of cardboard boxes saved up. Is it okay to lay the cardboard down first, then compost, then cover with mulch? I noticed in your flower beds you put cardboard then just added mulch on top, but I'm pretty sure our soil still needs some good compost added due to it being sandy loam. I won't plant until next year, but I want to start prepping now for a garden. Thanks for responding, I've watched several of your videos and they give me hope to accomplish some home improvement around our place, I'm excited.
Alright, good, Mandybug! That crazy Bermuda Grass!!! Ya, with our Tennessee dirt, I add a good amount of generic soil conditioner by the bag to the native soil. Sometimes I also get mushroom compost by the scoop(in the back of my truck) from the nursery. This stuff is superpowered for plants! You can mix that in your soil and any plants will thrive!
Hey, sorry i didn't see your question earlier. Have you tried it yet this spring? I've used this for the past several years and don't use anything else, but I've never tried it in a vegetable garden yet. Did you figure anything out?
Yes, you can, but remember that one of the main features of this is that it is biodegradable, so after a year or so, the rock would start sinking into the ground. Durable landscaping fabric is still best under rock- to keep it out of the dirt...other than that, never use landscaping fabric.
I have some weed already growing. Can I place cardboard on the top of the existent weed then place the bark on the top or should I clear the existent weed first before placing the cardboard? In other words, will the cardboard smother the weed? Thank!
Can I use dried leaves to cover up the cupboard? I'm clueless. What's the purpose of putting mulch anyway? It is to help decompose the cupboard? Do you recommend me using construction sand and stones?
Great idea, but I've tried leaves and they don't work so well. From my experiments, here are different things that happen with leaves depending on where you live. 1. They blow around everywhere. 2. They decompose quickly and basically disappear without stacking them high and replenishing them. 3. Can get moldy and nasty if it rains a lot there. The purpose of the mulch with the cardboard...the mulch looks good, organic, stays in place(hardwood mulch), holds in moisture the best for roots, and is easy to work with and maintain. If you are asking about a border, here is one I designed myself and I highly recommend it for a long-term solution: ua-cam.com/video/WJmPBu754z8/v-deo.html I hope this helps, Azwan!!!
Also, when can I start planting veggies? Should I wait for the mulch to breakdown then add soil and compost? Or can I add cardboard then add soil and compost and veggie seeds? Sorry if my question is dumb. I have no idea what I'm doing.
Here you go....1. Plant your veggies in rows of your choice. 2. Lay cardboard between the rows. 3. Lay mulch down over the cardboard, but NOT on the veggie seeds.
Does the cardboard need to be brown? I have several boxes that I can break down that are white. Is there an undesirable chemical in cardboard that is white?
I am going to do a rock garden. I was going to put down fabric weed barrier and then top it with rock. How do you think the rock on cardboard would do? I will do the edging from one of your other videos. I was thinking the rock would slide around a bit on the cardboard so it might not work in this case.
You are correct, Jeremy. The fabric is a better idea for a rock garden because the cardboard will decompose and enable the rocks to sink down and get lost in the dirt. Also, I have one tip for you that I have started doing recently on the landscaping border you are referring to. Before spraying with water, use a cup to use as a scoop and toss cup fulls of cement mix in between the blocks on the back side and you'll quickly fill in these gaps and strengthen the border even more. One or two cup fulls is good for each gap.
@Judy L. Put cardboard down underneath the rocks because then you have to remove all the rocks to put the cardboards back down and it would be a major pain
Hi there, Im strongly considering to use card board in my existing flower beds, just curious about the long term effects as for how long will this method choke the weeds and if new weeds will emerge on top of the cardboard any soon, does anyone have any testimonial about this question? thanks in advance!
Weeds will germinate on top of the mulch every season, but it takes longer for it to establish and it’s easier to pick because the mulch should be very loose. You should also add another layer of mulch every year or two (depending on the climate) so the seeds are unable to get into the nutritious composted layer. All in all just keep up due diligence and you’ll never have to break out a weeding tool in that area.
Does the weeds not start popping through after the cardboard decomposes? I'm re-doing my beds and will be tearing out the plastic weed block. I tried dumping compost on it and cutting slits but can't get anything to propagate beyond what I plant myself and even then they don't do as well as my natural beds on back property. No nutrients get until the soil and the worms can't do their natural aeration being blocked from the surface by plastic. Cardboard seems like a great alternative.
Ya, James, I think plastic is horrible. The weeds will not pop back through because they are killed off when they don't get sunlight for a few months while the cardboard holds up. After it decomposes, new weeds may pop up like they would in the organic matter on top of your plastic. You could use some cardboard in future years if you want to or not.
No, you don't need to pull anything unless it is too tall and keeps the cardboard up in the air. You may weedeat and get semi level. Then just lay the cardboard out. Get it good and wet afterwards and if you have high winds, use something to weigh it down until the ground grabs it. Good luck
For some reason, there have not been any termite problems. Have you heard of termites liking cardboard? I've used it for several years on different jobs here in Tennessee and it always works perfectly for the first year while it decomposes.
yeah, my termite guy said any type of paper products /cellulose material could attract them. I'm in Alabama, the termite problem is very prevalent. I think the cardboard is a good idea but I paid a tone of money to get rid of them 2/3 years ago
Well, I'm not a termite expert so I can't speak from that perspective, but I do know there have not been any issues. Another thing some have been afraid of is using wood chips for mulch. I've done this in some places for many years with no termites also. I've read online that others have said they thought they would. So, since I'm not a termite expert, I can't speak from that perspective, but as a landscaper, I can tell you there aren't any problems in my experience.
Yes. Perfectly. Also, to make your mulch stay in place better, use hardwood mulch. It stays in place better than, for example, pine bark mini nuggets. They are more light weight and will float with water very easily and become uneven.
I'm a new homeowner and my back/side yard need help. What are your thoughts on rubber mulch? I'm hoping to have the side yard area (~3.5' x 30') require no maintenance (perennials) for these first few years so I can focus on the rest of the yard. I've read alot about the pros (e.g. long lasting, sustainable, etc.) and cons (e.g. long term leaching of chemicals from rubber, smell during the summer, difficult to remove, etc.) but hopefully you can share your experiences. I dont necessarily care to have mulch abutting the home and I certainly don't want grass. I've also considered a stone mulch combo. Thanks!
I have never used rubber mulch because based on my experience, you would regret it after a few years. You would have a big mess of dirt, leaves, and rubber chunks after a few years. Also, if plant roots wanted to go through the mulch, rubber would not be conducive. You might like it for about one or two years and then you would really regret all those rubber chunks in there with your plants and in your dirt when you tried to plant something else in there eventually.
Thank you! Looking at other videos for inspiration maybe I'll find some nice ground cover plant instead. I saw a video on creeping thyme. I'll have to check if it's invasive. Thanks for your expertise!
I have a rose garden in planters and the pesky squirrels keep planting acorns. I want to put down cardboard before I remulch this year ut I have an automatic watering system. Would you put holes in the cardboard to allow the water to seep down easier or will it work without it? I have to do something because it is at my business and I am too busy to keep pulling oak trees...
Wow, Debi, those pesky squirrels. When you start placing the pieces of cardboard down, overlapping your way across your area, you'll find its very easy to place the cardboard down right around your sprinklers. The water from your sprinklers(along with rain) will flow over and in between the cardboard, soaking the ground underneath and keeping it wet longer because of the cover, sheilding the soil from wind, sun, and evaporation.
maxpatch67 we used it and put it down in the rain. lol it's done fine. we were able to get the sprinkler heads inserted because of the wet cardboard. the pots look amazing! thanks
I n your other comment, you mentioned planting veggie seeds which means you have to leave empty rows for the seeds, so you should pull the weeds up by the roots so remove them. If you weren't doing these rows of seeds, you would just put cardboard down over everything except the plants that you have in there. So pull the weeds so you can plant your seeds first.
I would really like to do this, however, I’ve read that termites are attracted to cardboard. I’ve seen other commenters also saying they’ve done this and then termites became an issue for them. How do you avoid that?
That's a great question, gVeronica. I have never had any problems with termites and have used this method for many years. So, I don't have any ideas for what do about the problem....honestly I don't know if the problem is real or not since I have not experienced it myself now has anyone I have done this for. Have a great day!!
I don't know an exact amount, but the way I usually do it is once a year when I mulch if needed. Everything will pretty much die under the cardboard, so it may not ever be needed again. You can see what happens in your situation. Generally, everything will die and not come back that was alive before the cardboard.
In my experiences here in Nashville, I've never had any termite problems with the cardborad with myself or my clients. Everyone thinks its great.....but I'm not saying someone else has had a different experience....have a great day!!
I only use cardboard on a brand new landscaping area because it lasts about a year and kills most anything growing in there and then I just do normal weeding in the future. If you have an area that has not been weeded or maintained over the years, that would be another good place to use this technique to get it under control.
Hi friend, thank you for the videos! Could you tell me what type of plants/shrubs you've got here? I'm tired of the lazy gravel pit edging my steps and want to change it out with some good landscaping. Thank you!
Hey, Musiq!! In this landscaping there's Monkey Grass, Arborvitae, Firepower Nandina, Crape Myrtle and Japanese Maple. If you like that border, you can check out how I make it here: ua-cam.com/video/WJmPBu754z8/v-deo.html I hope this helps. Have a great day!!
I think these were pine park mini nuggets, but I use different kind on different jobs...more often hardwood mulch. Maybe get 14 or 15 bags for a good thick layer of about 5" on the first time doing it. In the future you can use about half of that....
As far as I know, it should work anywhere...maybe experiment in a small area and see how it goes. It works great in gardens where the plants are in rows I know.
You may want to do it once a year, but you may never want to do it again because not that many weeds are popping up in the landscaping. After the initial kill(if you are doing a new area) some find that not much ever grows back. The cardboard will disappear after several months.
This works. I have done it and still do it. I add old clothing and or fabric, even old carpets and rugs. With time, all decomposed and feeds the soil. I did this in The Keys, FL where the sun cooked the soil and the roots of my fruit trees. I do it now in Michigan.
I wonder if the mulch may blow away when windy. I live in San Bernardino, California where we get gusty and strong winds in winter....
@@boklee1862 Use a big rock
@@boklee1862 The idea is to keep the cardboard damp so it doesn't blow away. Yes you can use rocks or metal pins to keep the cardboard down. I prefer corn starch spikes so I don't have to worry about losing them.
Edith Reardon, What is a corn starch spike?
Yanett Langley, Old carpet decomposes? That seems strange to me. Isn’t it full of harmful chemicals?
finally a video that actually shows you instead of yapping. Every video I've looked at just yap about how knowledgeable they think they are and try to be funny.
Ya, I'm actually a middle school teacher, so its important to me that you can actually learn something valuable with the time you spend watching a how to video(not wasting time).
The music really makes me excited about mulching
you will be very glad you used this technique!! thanks for the comment!!
I have been doing this method for around 10 years now. However, i take it a step further and accumulate lawn clippings in the spring and distribute them all around the plants. This goes on for around 6 cuttings, and then when i lay down the cardboard (mid May in Rhode Island), the cardboard goes right on top of the clippings. I also add kitchen scraps, and even non-glossy junk mail on top of the grass and then the cardboard goes right over it. Then a generous spread of mulch on top of the cardboard. As long as it is fully covered, the cardboard and materials underneath are literally gone within 2 months.
It is natural, it works, it feeds the soil, and it is a great way to keep cut grass and junk mail, bills, old bank statements etc.. out of the landfill. AND, my flower gardens are the best in the neighborhood
Kevin, thank you for this insightful, informative comment. Wow. You have got this method down to a science at your place. I love it!!!!
brilliant! I love the old junk mail usage idea to add to it all.
MY problem would be the are weeds in my grass cutting, property is too big to get rid of them all and wouldn't want to introduce them in to a new garden area.
This is for sure what we are going to do. Never thought about doing it to classical music ;)
I'm trying this this weekend, starting with a couple of flower beds that are notoriously weedy. I don't want to use poison for killing them and this looks like an AWESOME way to not only get rid of the weeds but make things look neat and tidy as well.
Sounds good!
I do this in the raised beds and walkway around my vegetable garden. Looks good and works well. I get the mulch by the dump truck load.
Love the music. Thank you! And thank you for showing the ideas quickly and thoroughly!
My pleasure. I try to be efficient with communicating information.
I've been hoarding cardboard for 3 years, i'm ready...
hahaha....perfect! Some people get tons of cardboard from Amazon orders.
A cautionary tale friends... Putting cardboard under my mulch attracted tons of termites to my property. It was horrifying to move the cardboard and see hundreds of termites scramble around carrying tiny bits of decomposed cardboard. They made their way into the basement and took down one of our porch columns. We had to a hire a pest control company to inject termite treatment around the entire house, and they said there are two major termite no no's: putting mulch near your house, and using cardboard which provides termites the moisture and cellulose they love. Now we have to dispose of 20+ bags of mulch and replace with rocks or rubber mulch. Never using cardboard again.
Finally! An excuse to get rid of all our folded up cardboard boxes downstairs! 😂 Love this organic option. 💚
Absolutely!!!
Looks great! I just used cardboard this morning to build a raised bed. Watered the cardboard, put bricks & other items around various spots, & now I’m tuckered out. I’ll fill it later. I’m sure the neighbors think I’m nuts. :)
Ya, probably!! The worst part is when it windy and you can't keep the cardboard down!! Have a great day!! Thanks for the comment, Vivian!!
That’s what has lead me to this video.
I’m wondering, could I use the cardboard to kill/smother the weeds in the current old raised garden bed. Then fill ontop of the cardboard, and THEN the mulch??
@@jaycee571 I would love to know this answer to!
I've used lawn bags that my city gives away...2 years no weeds. but this great idea I'm gonna use. wonderful garden hack!
hey, thanks! have a great day!
Really great advice! Thanks so much. Got really fed up struggling to keep grass and weeds out of the border. I also like that it's eco-friendly as well.
Hey, Linda! Thanks for the comment! Have a nice day!
One thing I’d like to add. If your using used mailing cardboard boxes, be sure to remove all the the packing tape. That stuff doesn’t biodegrade and after a few years, it will end up working itself up to the surface of the mulch. Just in case you’re wondering….the cardboard is no match for running bamboo roots. (My neighbors bamboo).
Yes, remove that plastic packing tape!! And, yes, I'm sure it is not match for bamboo. Thanks for your comment! Have a great day!!
Good video: fast motion, written tips, and Beethoven baby!!
Well, thank you so much, Brian!! :) Use this technique...its the best around!! :)
We put new fabric on flower bed and after a short time weeds poked through the fabric.So annoying, this is a great idea.
Bless you and yours
Ya, that is soooo annoying. That fabric just protects the weeds and gives them a safe harbor for going crazy in your flower bed.
My first year doing this!!! Thank you so much. I did as the video instructed and so far it's looking great!!
I'm so happy for you!! Thanks for taking the time to leave this comment. Have a great day, RM!!
Beethoven is smiling. Confused, but smiling. ☺️👍
Captivating video! I so enjoyed this music with it and the fast motion. Of course, the technique and information are fantastic as well. Thank you so much!
Hello, Thank you for sharing the link to watch this video in responseto my question about the cardboard from another video. This video was VERY helpful, informing and a little entertaining...it looked like the grass Stalks were dancing to the music 😅.
haha...oh wow!!!! Funny!! Well, you are certainly welcome. Thanks so much for your kindness and taking the time to leave your thoughtful comments. Have a great day!
This plus Beethoven Symphony 9: All I needed
Came for the hack. Stayed for Beethoven.
The music! Sublime!
Mulching always works best when the 9th is being played during the process! Why? Because it never gets old.
Awesome! Now I have to return the landscaping mesh and go dumpster diving to score cardboard.
That's my favorite method! :) ....because I think it works best.
Worms will like it
Ah, therapy for my soul.
AWESOME IDEA! Thanks for sharing!
Ya, you're welcome, Stefano. It works great!
Excellent solution to two problems - all those shipping boxes and weed barrier under mulch that is biodegradable. I did use newspaper, but we no longer get those. Thank you for sharing.
insightful comments...thanks!! I hope you have a great day!!
Thank you. Love the music! Going to try this tomorrow.
Thanks, Susan! I'd love to hear how it goes.
I'm so happy I came here🇯🇲✌🏿
😳I was looking to hire someone to do this for me. I think I can do it, now. Plus I watched ur other video on how to add the bricks. I cant wait to do this progect.
I'm sure you can do it, Sabrina. the border will look fantastic and be long lasting and your beds will look perfect with this mulching technique. TIP: Here's what I have been doing more recently on these borders. Before spraying with water, use a cup to use as a scoop and toss cup fulls of cement mix in between the blocks on the back side and you'll quickly fill in these gaps and strengthen the border even more. One or two cup fulls is good for each gap. I have perfected this border technique with this quick extra step. Sabrina, I'd love to hear from you later after you build it. Thanks for your comment and I hope to hear back from you after you make your border. Have a great day!
The mulch is surprisingly cheap. I just bought five bags from Home Depot, about the same size as shown in the video and I only paid $2.50 per bag.
Rock on. I am always getting boxes from the internet. Here is a suggestion I hope you will consider - plant lots of pollinator friendly plants, butterflies, bees, hummingbirds. Thanks! :)
Yes! Thanks, Johnnie!
This year I planted mammoth sunflowers and the bees were gathering into October and I live in Saskatchewan Canada. They LOVED those plants.
Thank you so much for sending me the link in your response to my other comment on another of your No Dig videos, that brought me here! This is awesome! Now, to find enough cardboard! LOL ... I'm sure I'll get enough ... and we'll definitely put this into practice in our upcoming No Dig project to upgrade/update our front yard beds...
You could check with your local grocery or Lowe's - they will likely have lots of extra cardboard laying around! Hope your upcoming projects go well! I'd love to see pictures the finished results. If have have a chance, please send me a finished photo at tim@timvogelaar.com. I'm going to make a gallery for people to browse through for fun.
I know!!! I had enough cardboard to do one half of my flower bed. The guys came with the mulch and I had to just say, “oh well.” But I am on a journey to a yard free of weeds!!!
Finally a use for all those Amazon boxes!!
Absolutely!!! Have a great day, Mama G!!!
a trick I do is to wet down the cardboard so that it doesn't move at all when you go to mulch.
good idea!
Just a little tip from experience, when spreading the mulch by hand, always wear gloves, poisen ivy has a tendency to find it's way into bagged mulch !!
whoa....good tip!!!! thanks!!!
you my friend are a genius 👍🏾👍🏾
Man, thanks, Marcos! I hope you get to try using cardboard because you will love it.
BIG BABY JESUS!! Thank you! Thank you! I have some big landscaping projects and you saved me some serious time!!
I have a few questions ( I am new to this also)
Boarder first? Then plants? Cardboard and mulch last?
What kind of mulch do you prefer? And could I do stones instead of mulch?
What size were those spikes again to keep the boarder in place?
Can I use the cardboard method in established beds?
Once the grass is tall enough can I edge it to give the space a cleaner look? Or should I do it before placing the boarder?
Thank you again! 😊
Q&A
1. Border, plants, cardboard/mulch last
2. Brown hardwood mulch. Stones are ok, but here in TN with lots of trees and organic matter around the rocks get filled up with leaves and it doesn't look so nice after awhile.
3. yes
4. Make your border and then trim up your grass along it as desired when you mow. You will want to use a string trimmer along the edge to keep it neat.
I hope this helps. Let me know if I can help you any more, ok?
LOL, love the "use large arm movements to spread the mulch around" comment! Love the cardboard idea, I used newspaper last year, going to change it up! Thanks!
ha! thanks! maybe that large arm movement would be obvious for most people, but maybe it helps someone who has never mulched before. good observation and thanks for the comment, pamela!
maxpatch67, I love the comment “spread your fingers like a rake.” It’s so sweet to help people who are totally clueless.
If your local Post Office Delivers Amazon. Amazon delivers all the parcels in a huge cardboard Box To the Post Office . You might try them. That's where I get mine.
I use leaf bags. It’s so nice and easy
Excellent video
Thank you. And thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Have a great day, Sudha!!
This is awesome.
This is what I do with all our Amazon Prime boxes.
very impressed with your enginuity
Ya, I prefer to use cardboard from a dumpster, but in this video I needed to much, too quickly so I bought some large boxes for about a $1 each.
I just watched this and the no dig edge video I’m going to combine the two. Would you recommend using some of the spikes to tack down the cardboard? Also should the order be: step 1. Lay down cardboard 2. Tack down plastic border 3. Place quick cement, level 4. Place stones adding cement between the ‘v’ 5. Watering everything cardboard and cement 6. Laying mulch
I want to make sure I got a good handle on these 2 projects!
You are on the right track to use both the border technique and this mulching technique!! Build your border first. Finish it completely. Then do your mulching. Don't bother spiking the cardboard down. When you spray the mulch area after finishing, it won't ever go anywhere. The cardboard lays down and forms to the ground. I'd love to see what you end up making!! Have a great day, Nanci!!
Wow! This is amazing, I'm going to try it. I've been suffocating with this onion like weed I've tried almost everything to combat it but to no avail, I gave up fighting it because it's becoming worse and worse.
I really hope this works for you!! Thanks for your comment, Mary!!
Love the cardboard idea. Greeting from New Zealand.
I just had the idea of getting a roll of cardboard and apparently you can order them on Amazon with free shipping then you can roll them out lay logs on top to hold them in place and then put some leaves on top of that
That would be very handy!! Really sounds perfect!! Thank you for sharing this great idea. Could you provide a link for me?
@@maxpatch67 I just searched on Amazon roll of cardboard it will come right out there are several salers
Great video! Love the music.
I have done this with pine straw on top. Works great but very slippery till cardboard begins to break down. Careful.
ya, good point!
Ill try it this week. Oh, and good choice of music.
Thank you for giving me my next project....!
TIP: Here's what I have been doing more recently on these borders. Before spraying with water, use a cup to use as a scoop and toss cup fulls of cement mix in between the blocks on the back side and you'll quickly fill in these gaps and strengthen the border even more. One or two cup fulls is good for each gap. I have perfected this border technique with this quick extra step. Hey, if you end up making this, when you are finished would you leave me a comment and let me know how it went?
maxpatch67 I'll do that and thanks for the improved method
What if the previous owner leaves you w a big garden full of weeds and ivy? Can you just put the cardboard on top of it all?
Great question, Cindy. This is controversial with some people, but personally in that situation, I would spray with area with grass and weed killer and let it dry and the spray the ivy also with poison ivy killer. The ivy in particular is what would not be killed with this cardboard technique because of its aggressiveness and invasive qualities. Also, as the ivy dies, pull it out and remove it so it can't come back so easily. It's very hard to get rid of.
I really enjoyed this video so much fast forward and music the best I just mix the old card board into the soil put on new
This is what I do here in FL, but around about every six months you have to re do it once the cardboard breaks down. Dumpster dive at a furniture store and grab your bags of mulch #Done
Chuck, where are you in Florida? I am zone 9b central Florida.
Go 6 to 8 inches on your much and you won't have to redo it for several years (just add to the much if it breaks down and keep it thick).
This is awesome!!! So I don’t need to till my ground first? I’m in California and get gopher holes like crazy do you think this will work for my yard still?
I always wondered how long it took for weed seeds to fill the mulch and start growing again.
Early on you suggest leaving a couple inches around the plants for future growth, then towards the end you say push the mulch snugly around the plants. Which is it?
Really, it depends on the plant. If you expect growth coming up from the ground like a perennial, then give it a little space, but if its more woody, like a little bush, then push it up snugly to the plant. Hope this helps. Have a great day, Jim!
Thank you for your awesome video, I'll starting tomorrow, can't wait for this new idea going to work
you'll love it :)
Love it !! Thank you
My pleasure, Olga!!
Hi, thanks for the video! Do you it would be a good idea to lay landscape fabric over a layer of cardboard and then another layer of fabric on top of that? Then mulch/ gravel. Dandelions are a PAIN in the butt!! I’m concerned they’ll just be determined to break through! lol. They germinate at this time, so it’s best to do it now.
I have had to fight with landscaping fabric over the years so much that I cannot recommend it at all...every time I see old fabric in the ground, it always has roots growing right through it. It just doesn't work. Even if roots could not penetrate it(like a sheet of plastic), its not effective still because so many seeds and spores float around and germinate into mulch and start growing things. This will always happen no matter what. That's why this cardboard system works well, is because though it is temporary, it works incredibly well for the first few months or year and then you can just do it again whenever in the future and the old cardboard has disappeared and you probably need to mulch again then anyway.
@@maxpatch67 Thanks for your info and advice! I appreciate it. 🙏♥️🌟
my pleasure, Emma :)
No weed block fabric!
W E LL D O N E !!!! Woo Hoo a lazy mans way of quick and attractive garden make over (and believe me - I'm very lazy hahaha) PS should I kill the grass off first with Round Up (glyphosate) ??
No, the spray is not needed. This method is way longer lasting and replaces the grass/weed killer. Have you tried this yet?
@@maxpatch67 No not as yet. Have to line all the ducks up first before I can proceed.
Thank you for this video its amazing
What happened after cardboard completely composted? Will new grass or weed will coming up?
Most everything that was covered with the cardborad will be dead by the time it decomposes and then you will maintain it however you choose in the future for new weeds that pop up that can come mostly from the wind and seeds dropped on top. If your mulch has broken down, you could use the cardboard method once a year when you mulch if so desired. Sometimes wont need again, though. It just depends how much trouble you have with weeds growing up in there if you want to use cardboard again in future years. I hope this helps. Have a nice day, Vinny!
@@maxpatch67 thank you so much
I'm going to use the cardboard method, but then on top of that I will lay black rubber mulch (recycled tires, basically what's used on playgrounds) I purchased from Amazon. I'm also thinking about spraying the rubber mulch with the mulch glue. REASON for all of these steps:.... #1. I like the idea of the cardboard because its inexpensive and easy for ME to lay, #2. The rubber black mulch is durable and the color won't fade ( I've had it in my yard for 3 years now and it's still black no fading), #3. I want to use the glue to keep the mulch from being blown by high winds and rain outside of my brick border. I don't plan to plant foliage in the areas where I will spray the mulch glue. What do you think about my landscape layout idea??? I'd appreciate your feedback.
Let me compliment you on your choice of background music,Beethoven,s 9this incomparable.Now for a mi or technical correction.The boxes in your video are corrugated boxes not cardboard boxes .Corrugated boxes are multi layered with raised layers between flat layers.Corrugated boxes can go from lightly built to very heavily constructed.Cardboard is always a single ply,never Kraft paper,it can vary in thickness and flexibility.I do not mean in any way to demean your excellent video,it’s just that I,ve purchased corrugated boxes for many years and I,m knowledgeable about their construction.
Hey, I like that you are educating me on this, but I still don't get it unfortunately....would you mind trying to explain it again for me cuz I'd like to understand better...thanks, @Nello353!! Have a great day!!
cardboard is always a single layered box with varying degrees of thickness and stiffness ,ex toothpaste box, box of crackers.Corrugated is made of sheets of paper that are layerered,a simple box will have walls made up a top,middle and bottom layer .The middle layer is never flat but convoluted as to support the upper and lower layers.a side view will show the air spaces made by the middle layer. Corrugated walls vary in size and strength depending on the product contained. strength is derived by using thicker sheets as layers. For mulching purposes any discarded box is sufficient.I have liked and suubscribed your video and hope yo see many more.
Can you use this idea in a vegetable garden that is overrun with grass? We have Bermuda grass that just fights its way through everything we've tried. We laid down weed barrier, tried raised beds and I think the grass feeds off of the weed barrier, its a joke. We tried newspapers and heavy mulch, grass broke through in a matter of weeks. Just wasn't sure about the cardboard and growing vegetables to eat. I can find tons of free cardboard so I'm definitely trying this in my flower beds around my home.
Yes! Cardboard is excellent for garden use!!! You should try it. Bermuda Grass will not get through it and should kill it off from lack of light. If you have a super bad case of that grass, you may want to pull of the shoots throughout to help give it a fresh start, but you wouldn't have to. Raised beds get weeds from bird poop and floating seeds that land in there. Any dirt area will get some weeds from these things, but Bermuda Grass, as you and I know is a different beast!
Yes the Bermuda climbs up the sides of the raised beds and through any crack it can squeeze through and takes over. Lol I am excited to try the card board. I already have a good stash of cardboard boxes saved up. Is it okay to lay the cardboard down first, then compost, then cover with mulch? I noticed in your flower beds you put cardboard then just added mulch on top, but I'm pretty sure our soil still needs some good compost added due to it being sandy loam. I won't plant until next year, but I want to start prepping now for a garden. Thanks for responding, I've watched several of your videos and they give me hope to accomplish some home improvement around our place, I'm excited.
Alright, good, Mandybug! That crazy Bermuda Grass!!! Ya, with our Tennessee dirt, I add a good amount of generic soil conditioner by the bag to the native soil. Sometimes I also get mushroom compost by the scoop(in the back of my truck) from the nursery. This stuff is superpowered for plants! You can mix that in your soil and any plants will thrive!
Hey, sorry i didn't see your question earlier. Have you tried it yet this spring? I've used this for the past several years and don't use anything else, but I've never tried it in a vegetable garden yet. Did you figure anything out?
Who would have thought (cardboard liner) Genius! Do u think I could use the cardboard as a liner for small rocks that are bigger than pebbles?
Yes, you can, but remember that one of the main features of this is that it is biodegradable, so after a year or so, the rock would start sinking into the ground. Durable landscaping fabric is still best under rock- to keep it out of the dirt...other than that, never use landscaping fabric.
I have some weed already growing. Can I place cardboard on the top of the existent weed then place the bark on the top or should I clear the existent weed first before placing the cardboard? In other words, will the cardboard smother the weed? Thank!
Yes, put the cardboard right on top of the whatever weeds/grass is there. With no light for months, anything will for sure die.
Wish I knew I could smother weeds before I removed them 🙄😁 learning process 🥀
Can I use dried leaves to cover up the cupboard? I'm clueless. What's the purpose of putting mulch anyway? It is to help decompose the cupboard? Do you recommend me using construction sand and stones?
Great idea, but I've tried leaves and they don't work so well. From my experiments, here are different things that happen with leaves depending on where you live. 1. They blow around everywhere. 2. They decompose quickly and basically disappear without stacking them high and replenishing them. 3. Can get moldy and nasty if it rains a lot there. The purpose of the mulch with the cardboard...the mulch looks good, organic, stays in place(hardwood mulch), holds in moisture the best for roots, and is easy to work with and maintain. If you are asking about a border, here is one I designed myself and I highly recommend it for a long-term solution: ua-cam.com/video/WJmPBu754z8/v-deo.html I hope this helps, Azwan!!!
Also, when can I start planting veggies? Should I wait for the mulch to breakdown then add soil and compost? Or can I add cardboard then add soil and compost and veggie seeds? Sorry if my question is dumb. I have no idea what I'm doing.
Here you go....1. Plant your veggies in rows of your choice. 2. Lay cardboard between the rows. 3. Lay mulch down over the cardboard, but NOT on the veggie seeds.
@@maxpatch67 thank you for your time and answers. Much appreciated. 😃😃
Does the cardboard need to be brown? I have several boxes that I can break down that are white. Is there an undesirable chemical in cardboard that is white?
All cardboard is great to use. I have used all kinds and it all works perfectly.
I am going to do a rock garden. I was going to put down fabric weed barrier and then top it with rock. How do you think the rock on cardboard would do? I will do the edging from one of your other videos. I was thinking the rock would slide around a bit on the cardboard so it might not work in this case.
You are correct, Jeremy. The fabric is a better idea for a rock garden because the cardboard will decompose and enable the rocks to sink down and get lost in the dirt. Also, I have one tip for you that I have started doing recently on the landscaping border you are referring to. Before spraying with water, use a cup to use as a scoop and toss cup fulls of cement mix in between the blocks on the back side and you'll quickly fill in these gaps and strengthen the border even more. One or two cup fulls is good for each gap.
Will this technique work if you use lava rock instead of mulch for your flower bed?
For the first time yes. But of course in future years you cannot because of the rock.
@@maxpatch67 ok, thank you so much
maxpatch67, In future years you cannot what?
@Judy L.
Put cardboard down underneath the rocks because then you have to remove all the rocks to put the cardboards back down and it would be a major pain
If I already have mulch down, can I do the cardboard trick the next time I am due to mulch or will I need to clear out all the old mulch first?
You can use cardboard whenever you want. There might be less need in the future for it, but you can see how it goes.
Hi there, Im strongly considering to use card board in my existing flower beds, just curious about the long term effects as for how long will this method choke the weeds and if new weeds will emerge on top of the cardboard any soon, does anyone have any testimonial about this question? thanks in advance!
Weeds will germinate on top of the mulch every season, but it takes longer for it to establish and it’s easier to pick because the mulch should be very loose. You should also add another layer of mulch every year or two (depending on the climate) so the seeds are unable to get into the nutritious composted layer. All in all just keep up due diligence and you’ll never have to break out a weeding tool in that area.
hi there's comment was completely right!! please let me know if you have any more questions :)
Thank you
My pleaseure. I hope you are able to use this mulching technique. I always do.
Does the weeds not start popping through after the cardboard decomposes? I'm re-doing my beds and will be tearing out the plastic weed block. I tried dumping compost on it and cutting slits but can't get anything to propagate beyond what I plant myself and even then they don't do as well as my natural beds on back property. No nutrients get until the soil and the worms can't do their natural aeration being blocked from the surface by plastic. Cardboard seems like a great alternative.
Ya, James, I think plastic is horrible. The weeds will not pop back through because they are killed off when they don't get sunlight for a few months while the cardboard holds up. After it decomposes, new weeds may pop up like they would in the organic matter on top of your plastic. You could use some cardboard in future years if you want to or not.
Thanks for the informative video. Any issues with termites?
No termites.
Wet the cardboard first before mulching.
thanks for the tip!
Newbie here... Do I have to do any prep for this? Do I still pull the weeds out before laying out the cardboard and mulching?
No. Just use the cardboard and mulch. The lack of sunlight will kill the grass and weeds. Have a good day, Claudia!
No, you don't need to pull anything unless it is too tall and keeps the cardboard up in the air. You may weedeat and get semi level. Then just lay the cardboard out. Get it good and wet afterwards and if you have high winds, use something to weigh it down until the ground grabs it. Good luck
Thank you!
would cardboard causes mold to grow?
I have not had any problems with mold or mildew with cardboard. Nashville is fairly wet with about 40 inches of rain per year.
how would you combat the potential for cardboard attracting termites?
For some reason, there have not been any termite problems. Have you heard of termites liking cardboard? I've used it for several years on different jobs here in Tennessee and it always works perfectly for the first year while it decomposes.
yeah, my termite guy said any type of paper products /cellulose material could attract them. I'm in Alabama, the termite problem is very prevalent. I think the cardboard is a good idea but I paid a tone of money to get rid of them 2/3 years ago
Well, I'm not a termite expert so I can't speak from that perspective, but I do know there have not been any issues. Another thing some have been afraid of is using wood chips for mulch. I've done this in some places for many years with no termites also. I've read online that others have said they thought they would. So, since I'm not a termite expert, I can't speak from that perspective, but as a landscaper, I can tell you there aren't any problems in my experience.
Good tips! Thanks a lot! I live where heavy rain comes often. Do you think still it works for me??
Yes. Perfectly. Also, to make your mulch stay in place better, use hardwood mulch. It stays in place better than, for example, pine bark mini nuggets. They are more light weight and will float with water very easily and become uneven.
I'm a new homeowner and my back/side yard need help. What are your thoughts on rubber mulch? I'm hoping to have the side yard area (~3.5' x 30') require no maintenance (perennials) for these first few years so I can focus on the rest of the yard. I've read alot about the pros (e.g. long lasting, sustainable, etc.) and cons (e.g. long term leaching of chemicals from rubber, smell during the summer, difficult to remove, etc.) but hopefully you can share your experiences. I dont necessarily care to have mulch abutting the home and I certainly don't want grass. I've also considered a stone mulch combo. Thanks!
I have never used rubber mulch because based on my experience, you would regret it after a few years. You would have a big mess of dirt, leaves, and rubber chunks after a few years. Also, if plant roots wanted to go through the mulch, rubber would not be conducive. You might like it for about one or two years and then you would really regret all those rubber chunks in there with your plants and in your dirt when you tried to plant something else in there eventually.
Stone would only be about half as bad as rubber to work with over time. If you keep the leaves out of it, it can be real nice.
Thank you! Looking at other videos for inspiration maybe I'll find some nice ground cover plant instead. I saw a video on creeping thyme. I'll have to check if it's invasive. Thanks for your expertise!
I have a rose garden in planters and the pesky squirrels keep planting acorns. I want to put down cardboard before I remulch this year ut I have an automatic watering system. Would you put holes in the cardboard to allow the water to seep down easier or will it work without it? I have to do something because it is at my business and I am too busy to keep pulling oak trees...
Wow, Debi, those pesky squirrels. When you start placing the pieces of cardboard down, overlapping your way across your area, you'll find its very easy to place the cardboard down right around your sprinklers. The water from your sprinklers(along with rain) will flow over and in between the cardboard, soaking the ground underneath and keeping it wet longer because of the cover, sheilding the soil from wind, sun, and evaporation.
maxpatch67 we used it and put it down in the rain. lol it's done fine. we were able to get the sprinkler heads inserted because of the wet cardboard. the pots look amazing! thanks
Awesome, Debi! I'm so happy for you. Thanks for the comment and have a good day!
Genius!
Why thank you so much, Vanessa!! :) Have a great day!!
I have really tall knee high weeds. Should I remove them first or just lay cardboard over them and mulch?
I n your other comment, you mentioned planting veggie seeds which means you have to leave empty rows for the seeds, so you should pull the weeds up by the roots so remove them. If you weren't doing these rows of seeds, you would just put cardboard down over everything except the plants that you have in there. So pull the weeds so you can plant your seeds first.
I would really like to do this, however, I’ve read that termites are attracted to cardboard. I’ve seen other commenters also saying they’ve done this and then termites became an issue for them. How do you avoid that?
That's a great question, gVeronica. I have never had any problems with termites and have used this method for many years. So, I don't have any ideas for what do about the problem....honestly I don't know if the problem is real or not since I have not experienced it myself now has anyone I have done this for. Have a great day!!
Thanks for your reply. Wondering if it varies by region. In May, a lot of people down here experience swarms.
@@veronicae3129 what region are you located in?
do you need to replace the cardboard every 6/12 months?
I don't know an exact amount, but the way I usually do it is once a year when I mulch if needed. Everything will pretty much die under the cardboard, so it may not ever be needed again. You can see what happens in your situation. Generally, everything will die and not come back that was alive before the cardboard.
Does utilizing cardboard invite termites?
@@lovelove326 I've heard they do and wanted to know too please
Thanks
In my experiences here in Nashville, I've never had any termite problems with the cardborad with myself or my clients. Everyone thinks its great.....but I'm not saying someone else has had a different experience....have a great day!!
How often do you have to re-do the area?
I only use cardboard on a brand new landscaping area because it lasts about a year and kills most anything growing in there and then I just do normal weeding in the future. If you have an area that has not been weeded or maintained over the years, that would be another good place to use this technique to get it under control.
thanks, I try this.
Great ideas on your channel!
Thanks so much...comes from experience and what works.
Can the church say Amen! ! ! !
Hi friend, thank you for the videos! Could you tell me what type of plants/shrubs you've got here? I'm tired of the lazy gravel pit edging my steps and want to change it out with some good landscaping. Thank you!
Hey, Musiq!! In this landscaping there's Monkey Grass, Arborvitae, Firepower Nandina, Crape Myrtle and Japanese Maple. If you like that border, you can check out how I make it here: ua-cam.com/video/WJmPBu754z8/v-deo.html I hope this helps. Have a great day!!
Yes! This is incredibly helpful. Thank you!!
I have a box that a 55 inch tv came in. It is glossy with Lots of color on it. Can that be used?
yes, perfect.
Please provide titles of music selections. They are great!
Bethoven's 9th Symphony, 4th movement--Ode to Joy
What type of mulch did you use on top of the cardboard? I think my area is 12'x12', how much will i need?
I think these were pine park mini nuggets, but I use different kind on different jobs...more often hardwood mulch. Maybe get 14 or 15 bags for a good thick layer of about 5" on the first time doing it. In the future you can use about half of that....
Can I use this mulching system in my areca nut plantation
As far as I know, it should work anywhere...maybe experiment in a small area and see how it goes. It works great in gardens where the plants are in rows I know.
Are there any cons to using cardboard and about how long does it last before you have to apply new cardboard?
You may want to do it once a year, but you may never want to do it again because not that many weeds are popping up in the landscaping. After the initial kill(if you are doing a new area) some find that not much ever grows back. The cardboard will disappear after several months.
Awesome, thanks
EXCELENTE!