Sheet Mulching! Smother Grass with Cardboard and Newspaper
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- Опубліковано 15 тра 2020
- Sheet Mulching is THE EASIEST way to make a flower bed. In this video I show you the simple steps required to build a garden or flower bed by using cardboard and newspaper to smother the grass. This is incredibly easy to do, and very low cost. I also discuss a few ways to get free cardboard and how to go about obtaining it.
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Regarding using cardboard in the garden, this article details if it is safe, organic, what types of cardboard to avoid and why.
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I swear the weeds actually like the landscape fabirc.
Truth. Doesn't even slow most of them down.
Definitely
Probably so we will have to buy more product.
I used landscape fabric and it worked well for 2 years-but it must be the heavier ( more expensive) type. But now I’ll try cardboard for the garden w no fabric and an abundance of the dreadful, fast growing, crabgrass taking over there!
totally agree
I was a general manager for a "dollar store" a few years back. We used to love when customers would come in and take our cardboard. We were actually saving money when they would. Having a cardboard recycling dumpster emptied more than once a week can get expensive.
That is good to know - thank you for sharing
I started doing this thirty years ago. My neighbors thought I was nuts but it worked great.
It's my favorite way to create a garden. Absolutely easy.
Thank you for this video exactly what I was looking for. Perfect instructions and straight to the point!!! 👏🏼
You are very welcome Bianca - I'm glad you enjoyed it!
So glad I kept searching and found this instructional video I was at a lost on how to do a small area with mulch thank goodness I have plenty of Amazon boxes to recycle and get my project done... Thank You
You are very welcome. This is really about the easiest way to make a new bed.
Just what I was looking for…Best video ever… no excess talking- good information and to the point… thank you!
You are very welcome An! Glad you like my video style.
So happy I found your channel. Now when I’m searching something and your name pops up in the results I know not to waste time on others!
Thanks man! I'll try to keep them coming.
I'm thinking this is exactly what I'm going to do in this makes total sense and what a back-breaking saving method
This is by far the easiest way to remove grass. And I've tried just about every method imaginable.
Charles Dowding recommends repeated application of of cardboard on the paths (to smother out weeds as they pop up again, and to create borders between beds and paths and beds and surrounding area - also with carton (smaller stripes in that case of the border, resp. sheets for the paths).
At least in wet U.K. (but with cooler temps for many months) they break down in 6 weeks and newspaper likely breaks down even faster.
That will define the now grow zone, so grass etc cannot creep in again, or grow sideways. And after 3 - 4 times the weed roots (even the robust ones, deep down) are exhausted.
I just found your channel and I'm so thankful!!!
I'm happy you are liking the videos I put out there! Thank you.
Fantastic solution! Thank you!
You are very welcome! I'm glad it helped you!
I can personally attest that this works. I was advised to do it to start a new perennial bed some 10-12 years ago.
I decided to add dead leaves as well because I had so many.
This flowerbed is still amazing and low maintenance.
I like this method the best! No waste, using materials that might otherwise go into the landfill. It truly makes the best soil. I add a little compost with new plants, but basically just keep adding mulch. Let the worms do the work!
Are there any problems with the cardboard choking out plants that are desirable? I have a huge shade tree that doesn't grow enough grass to keep rain from washing the soil off the roots but still grows enough that I do have to mow under it.
This works! I started with small areas a few years ago, and it worked so well I am now on a quest to kill ALL my lawn! I was able to get a truckload of woodchips (a LOT of chips...a pile the size of a mid-sized car!) delivered for free from a tree company contracted by my gas/electricity provider last year...a perk for being a customer. This year, I contacted a local arborist and they brought me a load of chips at no cost. In larger metropolitan areas, ChipDrop is another resource. Ahhhh...more garden for natives! Thanks for being a great source of information on this and winter sowing!
You are very welcome Steph! I'm very happy you are enjoying my videos! And I love hearing that you are eliminating your lawn!
I think you are my newest obsession.🙂 My husband talked me into using landscape fabric. We just pulled it and all the dang grass it was growing and took it to the dump. What a waste all the way around! Now I am saving all my chewy and Amazon boxes! Already have a good supply going!
Sounds good. I just planted a new bed with this method. I laid cardboard about six weeks ago. Grass was pretty much dead, but still needed to get the roots out where I planted my flowers. But nothing came through. And I only had a couple inches of mulch.
Love it, thank you very much, today I learned something new.
You are very welcome Gladys! Glad you enjoyed it
I did this and it really works.! I found for myself wetting cardboard before putting down was easier for me..I got a childs swimming pool to use to soak cardboard in....worms love this and areate ground underneath the cardboard....makes a really good soil.
Couldn't agree more. This is the best way to make a garden.
Thank you so much for this! I’m excited to get started. 😊
This is by far the easiest method of building a flower bed/garden. And I've removed grass in almost every way imaginable. This method has the least effort BY FAR.
@@growitbuildit I’m healing from a hip surgery so I don’t have the same stamina yet and our yard looks awful. It’s making me crazy. I’ll be on the hunt for cardboard for the next few weeks!
LOVE THIS
You're welcome Bill
Splendid!
This is by far the easiest method of constructing a flower bed. I've done nearly every method imaginable. This is the best.
Looking good! We've always wet it down with good results!
Nice - My only complaint is that it isn't the most practical for wild type areas. But for flower beds it is excellent.
@@growitbuildit definitely doesn't work well on brush that's for sure!
Great idea!!!
It's my preferred way to remove grass
Thank you for your video x
You are very welcome Clarissa!
thanks, i needed that inspiration :)
You are very welcome Dotti. Good Luck!
Another place to get cardboard is appliance stores! You get nice big boxes. I have used loads of it around our place...great video.
Thanks
Mike 🇨🇦🍁
Good tip!
Walmart, Giant, etc....pretty much any grocery store will have small to medium sized boxes
Wow......it's amazing technic, I will apply in my kitchen garden for weeds.
You'll love it Sona
@@growitbuildit 😊😊
Thank you!
You are welcome Leslie!
I've done this on a 7meter x 7meter patch of my lawn. It 10/10 works and it's fascinating. I wet mine down before covering with compost and when you wet the cardboard it goes like a floppy thick leather and it becomes even more workable and fun to use. Fun project, more people must get into this method. Also works on established perennial gardens in early spring, the wet cardboard method works best for working around plants.
I couldn't agree more. I just did another area of our yard, removing invasive shrubs, etc. The only problem was I ran out of cardboard half-way through and had to resort to the shovel method for grass removal. Still worked, just a bit more effort.
I'm just getting started removing my lawn and converting my yard to a native texas plant garden. I am going to do this!!!!
@@growitbuildit I'm going to try the thick brown paper that painters spread on a floor to protect it. I got a 100 foot roll for about $7.50.
Curious to hear how it works out. It may be worth a test in the Spring
This is really fabulous info, thank you so much! We'll be using your method to get rid of our lawn. I looked at the other methods you mention for removing a lawn, and wish you hadn't of suggested the use of herbicides, Roundup in particular, no matter how fast it is. On June 24, 2020 Bayer agreed to pay $24 billion to settle cancer lawsuits across the country. And the Monarch butterfly is now near extinction levels, mainly because Roundup has wiped out milkweed across it's migratory route. We are truly poisoning ourselves and our planet. If you can use your voice to take a stand against herbicides for the health of our planet and every living creature on it, including ourselves, you can help educate people and save lives in the process. Thanks again.
Watching from Trinidad and Tobago.
Happy to have you watching Glen!
Thanks!
Thank you April!
Thank you so much for this video tutorial and for showing how to plant other small shrubs in the future. I wanted to make a flower bed in my front yard but I don't have the strength to dig the flower bed. This method is so cool and easy I think I can manage in one weekend.
You are very welcome Tiggy! And yes, it is that easy. I'm actually about to go expand our veggie garden using this method tomorrow. (My kids want their own vegetable garden).
@@growitbuildit wow this is awesome. Please make a tutorial out of it. Right now I’m growing my vegetables in containers because our soil is hard clay that no one in their right mind would want to dig into. It would be great to see a vegetable garden on top of hard clay.
Instead of using mulch I intend to use compost. Then just plant either directly in compost, or dig a small amount under the cardboard.
But for an absolutely wonderful method to improve your soil, check out my leaf mulch videos. Applying a thick layer of leaf mulch is the single best thing I've done to improve soil. It makes it drain better and reduces compaction.
This one, and the follow up. ua-cam.com/video/kyYpGNZOCwE/v-deo.html
@@growitbuildit Thank you kindly. I will definitely check it out.
You are very sharp.
Thank you!
amazing!!!! thank you! I'm going for it! replacing my entire front lawn!!!
Excellent! Good luck!
Awesome
Thanks - it works well!
Thank you so much. Just what I was looking for! New S. 👍. ~Sammie
You are welcome Sammie! Good luck!
Thanks a lot
You are welcome A W
thank you
You are welcome Saran.
i was kinda surprised u cover seeds bulbs etc back up with cardboard. great vids.
The plants just need a pathway to get through the cardboard. Nature finds a way.
I moved into my home in the country back in December. I bought some furniture at a junk store that I painted, so I layed cardboard down outside to use as a painting surface. Everywhere I had that cardboard, I have bald spots now. Cardboard really works! I’m about to put it everywhere I want to grow things to snuff out the weeds.
I live in East Texas, and I recommend wetting the cardboard, as the wind will blow it everywhere if you don’t. Rocks, bricks, and large sticks can help keep it in place until you get your growing media or mulch on it.
Those are all good tips. Keeping it moist really is key for it to decompose.
Using this method, I started turning my Vermont backyard into beds about six weeks ago. I love doing it this way. I first learned about it in the South. Thanks Marianne!
I'm in New England, now, but lived in South Carolina before now. Red clay! It took a pick axe to break new ground, and of course, I had to amend like crazy. Whenever we dug a new hole, we tossed the red dirt and replaced it with a nice soil mix and mulched. I couldn't afford as much mulch as you use, but 3 inches worked out. I added more each year. Then I started enlarging my starter beds with sheets of newspaper. Worked like a charm! So much easier! By the time we moved, my beds covered about half the lawn space.
Hi Carol - I scored all that mulch free. A relative lived in a municipality that allowed free mulch to residents. He loaded up his pick-up and came on over.
Sounds like you had quite the garden when you moved. Cheers.
Cool hack!
This is by far the easiest method for making a garden.
@@growitbuildit It looks really easy and I always have cardboard. Will be doing this when I move to my new place :)
TIP: wet the cardboard! just spray it quickly with hose and wait 1 minute. and it becomes very easy to place cut and it reduces shifting!
Excellent tip!
active legend portugues
👍🏼😉🇧🇷❤🇧🇷
Or just use your grass clippings from the bag, refresh every time you cut. Once the under grass is smothered, blow away the clippings or till them down. The grass clipping start to 'cook' within 3 days of being laid down, the seeds in the clippings are not able to sprout because of the heat. Its basically composting grass where you want the bed to be. It helps feterilize and build the soil for the new bed too. Been doing this for 3 years and dont have issues with grass growing in my new flower beds. Also use it for mulching my existing beds instead of spending money on regular mulch.just dont crowd the base of the plants you want to live there..
mow the grass really short and then dump the grass clippings around the trees to feed them nitrogen , then cardboard, then compost or non dyed mulched .
Be careful, not to lay clippings too thick or ccer before dry, as the grass clippings will get very hot as they decompose and may ignite the paper products or themselves...🔥
Great video. I’ve been doing this on my property for a few years now but I keep getting grass moving in from the sides. How do you prevent this? You mentioned “edging” around the mulch. How do you do your edging? Thanks!
Hi Mandy - I'll be doing a video of this later this Spring - actually, right where I put this cardboard/mulch because I never got around to it. But it is really simple.
Take a flat shovel, aka a garden spade - this is like the one I use - amzn.to/2QQFcwc
And then go around the perimeter, and stab straight down about 2-3". Then, just outside of that perimeter, about 1-2" wider, stab the shovel at a 45-60 degree angle. You should be able to basically peel up the sod/strip by just yanking on the grass.
Why this works is that grass will send out horizontal runner roots, but at the height of the root crown. When it meets the air gap that you just created, it will not send those roots down, under and back up. But this works very well. You won't have to trim around these areas either. At least not much. Good luck!
Great video thanks! You are right landscape fabric is a nightmare. After 3 years weeds grew on top, roots worked through the fabric and took hold underneath, the fabric became locked down tight to the ground and prepping the flower beds turned into a fiasco. The work to remove the fabric was unreal. I thought I would die before I finished.
Awful stuff. I just removed the last from the previous owners, I think.
Yep. I moved into my house 7 years ago and every year have worked on removing extensive river rock including rock that has worked several inches into the soil (meaning the soil is Incredibly dense with rock so much so that you can’t plant in it or get the plastic out that is beneath it. compromised/sunk in landscape fabric . Done with the front yard and just starting on the back yard. This is landscape fabric that has been here for decades and is now shredded like lace. Horrible - had no idea I was getting into this.
Haven't tried this source, but someone else recommended mattress stores for finding free large thick cardboard
That would probably be a good source for cardboard.
I am glad for those finding free newspaper and cardboard. Places here get money from recycle places so it is more difficult to get. Walmart, furniture, appliance places are saying now. I watch for people moving in as ask them if they are not reselling theirs. Even if I had to buy boxes still better than the landscape fabric. Wish I could tear it out of my entire yard.
I couldn't agree more Lisa. I hate landscape fabric! It is one of the biggest wastes of money someone could make.
Hi,very helpful video, can I use grass killer spray before laying cardboard for better result?
Thanks.
Hi - there is no need to use a grass killer spray. The cardboard does the trick.
Cardboard works great for preventing weeds. I tried using cardboard along with the weed preventer sheets, and then stones top of that. That has prevents weeds for several years. I plan to use cardboard, weed preventer sheet, and mulch this time. That might be too much. Please feel free to comment.
Hi - you will probably have weed seeds blow in from the yard/ street that will germinate from time to time. But that can't be helped. I think your set-up sounds good.
Hello. Thank you for the wonderful video. Can i use cardboard on top of sprinklers? How does this cardboard layering work with sprinklers in the flower bed ? Please advice. Ty
Hi Prasanna - I think if you cut holes for the sprinklers it would be fine. But otherwise the Sprinklers probably won't rise with the weight of the cardboard/mulch on top of them.
Thanks for your video. I planning to clean my side back yard.
In this video you just put the papers on the top op grass and mulches. Grass won’t be grow up through the mulches? It’s silly question but ..I am totally beginner. Have no idea about gardening or landscaping.
Appreciate it.
Hi - very thick layers of newspaper (10 sheets or more) is enough to stop the grass from growing through. It will stay as a barrier long enough for the grass to die. This method works well, and is by far the easiest way to make a flowerbed or garden.
Auto body shops have huge boxes! Liquor stores always have free boxes as well.
Nice tips!
I have a natural Florida lawn. I’m going to use this method to smother out the weeds and create a beautiful bed. When we’re not having spring showers it’s very dry and I rely on the sprinkler system. Currently it’s set up with large risers and shrub sprayers to cover the area. However with a lot of mulch and the cardboard this doesn’t seem like the best application for watering. What exactly would you recommend perhaps a drip line on every flower?
I think your current set up would work, but just take a bit more time. I could see where a dripline would save on water, but I'm not sure how much. As osmosis would probably spread the water a bit.
What would you recommend for Bermuda? And what about a pea gravel patio? Most recommend landscape fabric, but I wonder if cardboard would work as a base for pea gravel? Or perhaps thick plastic?
Hi - I'm sorry but I don't have any straight recommendations on dealing with Bermuda. It doesn't grow up here so I just don't have any experience. I would strongly suggest that you call your local ag extension office and ask their advice. Surely they've had that question before.
thaks so much for sharing! i would like to put my flowers in the beds like now, i´m behind, but i´m afraid the cardboard do not work the grass quickly enought, do you think that would be ok if i plant right away? or i will have to wait a wile? (sorry my english is not very good)
Hi Amanda, it will work. Just cut an 'x' where you want to plant your flower. Then place your flower, and fold the cardboard around the stem. I actually do this at the end of the video.
Wish I knew this before we threw gravel stones on a huge unused patch at the back of the house. There are weeds growing right through the landscaping material and up through the stones
Ahhhh - I feel your pain Ingrid. I absolutely hate rock!
I also learned you can get brown boxes from bike shops and that they will even cut them up for you so the boxes fit in your car. :)
That is a nice tip Patty.
Go on weekends, they are selling stuff and leaving the boxes out back to dispose of later cause they're busy
In most grocery stores, like Walmart, Giant, etc., they restock shelves late in the night. Go there an hour or so before closing, walk through the aisles and ask the people stocking the shelves if it is ok to take a few of the cardboard boxes. They usually put them in recycle bins, so it is fine for them.
Great info. How long before weeds start popping up again?
Hi C - No weeds, or weed seeds that are under the cardboard will grow. But - as soon as weed seeds blown into the mulch, they can germinate on top (like dandelions). That is how most of the weeds arrive.....which is just another reason why you shouldn't bother with the landscape fabric. No weed 'barrier' will stop seeds from coming on top.
We have a long, narrow area that we can’t keep under control. We’ll try this tomorrow-can’t get any worse.
It works for almost any grass. I've heard that bermuda takes a couple sheets of cardboard. But have no direct experience. Good luck!
@@growitbuildit thank you!
Hi, I am a super beginner gardener. i wanted to use this technique (newspaper + cardboard) but for a vegetable bed. Does it work for vegetables as you described for a flower bed? My second question is regarding planting soil and top soil. I bought a couple of bags of both, but it seems you use only mulch. Thanks so much for your video!
Hi Maria - this method is basically the 'Charles Dowding' method. Look him up, and you will see that he has been using this method for decades in England to make his vegetable gardens with great success. Instead of mulch, he uses compost.
He plants his vegetable starts in the compost on top of the compost. But, if you don't have compost, just make an 'X' in the cardboard and peel it back. Plant your seedling into the soil, and recover with mulch. I actually show this at the very end of the video, when the end-screen is on (youtube rookie mistake).
But since you are just getting started in gardening, you may find this helpful. I wrote a step by step guide to start gardening recently. And I think you may find it useful, as it has no 'fluff' - just the info you need to know. I will be making a video on the article at some point soon, but until then, you may get some value out of it. Let me know if you have more questions, and I will try to answer them. Here is a link to the article - growitbuildit.com/how-to-start-a-vegetable-garden-in-your-backyard/
@@growitbuildit thank you so very much! I will check it all out!
As someone who hates yardwork and is super lazy, I can't wait to use this method. Do you need to wait a certain time before planting though?
Hi Marc- if you make an 'X' and dig under that, you can plant pretty quickly. I show this at the end of the video, but unfortunately you need to look through the end screen.
Can you plant bulbs that multiply or that you need to dig back up during the fall using this method? Can dahlias and hostas punch through the cardboard?
Hi Wellen - I am afraid I can't answer your question from my direct experience. Since you generally do this method to 'start over' or to make a new bed, I'm guessing that they (and most any other plant) would not be able to punch back through cardboard.
However, if you know where your bulbs are located, you can always make an 'X' or small hole in the cardboard. I've done that for bare root plants and they were able to squeeze through the cracks.
@@growitbuildit Thanks for your help. I consulted with another gardener and she said it is effective, and you are correct. Simply cut through the paper when you are ready to plant your bulbs in the spring. Then by fall, the paper eventually will have disintegrated and you can dig the bulbs up if need be.
I'm putting about 100 bulbs in this fall. I'll use an auger to dig holes right through the cardboard. I've also used a pointed spade to create holes for larger plants. Works just fine. I don't dig up bulbs until they need to be separated and my hosta weather right where they are, but I don't see why you couldn't lift them out the same way you put them in.
I have had a perennial garden for a number of years. I am planning on covering it with with cardboard and mulch before moving my raised garden bed, which I use for veggies this year. Any tips as to how it should work. The bed is about 20x20
Hi Tom - this method should work just fine for your purpose.
This is a good method in many areas, BUT not everywhere. in western Oregon we have a creeping bentgrass that grows through and around cardboard. You can still smother it, but you probably need 3-4 layers of cardboard. Plan to redo the cardboard in areas where it breaks down, and figure on 1 to 2 years before the grass is dead. Sorry for the bad news, but i've seen too many disappointing sheet mulching jobs around here...
Thank you for sharing that. We don't have that grass where I live, so it is good to know.
Can I use this method to remodel my lawn, by adding a thinner layer of mulch on top of the cardboard and then removing it all in the Spring?
Hi Kara - If you are just trying to kill your grass and start over, yes. But you could just weigh the cardboard down with rocks. The only thing I would caution you on, the weed seeds are still there. So, without that cardboard or mulch layer they may just start germinating again.
We have an area where we used to have a playground the mulch is pretty much gone and now it has some grass growing in it but a lot of thistles We want to clean this area up for maybe a garden bed or put sod on it not sure would this process also work for getting rid of a patch of thistles?
Hi - the cardboard should smother the thistle just fine.
But i should add that thistle spreads via horizontal rhizomes. So you may still get some new thistle sprouts outside of that area. Constant pulling will eventually kill it off.
Could you use brown paper grocery bags? Double layered and overlapped?
Hi Laura - that would probably work as the paper is pretty thick. I've not done it, but the only way to find out is to try it. If you do try it, could you please tell me the results? I'd love to hear how the grocery bags worked.
Instead of a mulch garden, I want to create a layer of stone blocks to place and stabilize earth-boxes/container pots (for vegetables). The vegetable containers would sit on top of the stones. I realize that I may have to add mulch to further cover up the cardboard, but I wanted your thoughts on this idea. You’ve covered a lot and provided additional resources, but I haven’t found an example that’s quite what I’m looking for. I hope you can advise. Thank you.
Hi SL - if you are talking about larger landscaping stones and having large pots on top of them (with mulch in-between), it could work. But I am generally against using smaller stones in place of mulch. This is because when weeds come (and they will), it is incredibly frustrating to pull any weeds. They will break off at rock level and come right back in a couple of days.
I grew up with a rock covered area nearby, and sometimes I had the chore of pulling the weeds. You barely got any at all. It is totally different than a thick mulch layer, where weeds come up pretty easily.
@@growitbuildit thank you for the thorough response. Yes, I’m looking at larger stones for the very reason you mentioned-weeds. I have 3 landscaping areas with smaller rocks and the weeds are a challenge, I spray them, but I know it’s not the best solution. Again, thanks for the advice. I’m also a new subscriber. 🙋🏾♀️
Do u put the newspaper down first and then cardboard on top of that
@@highridgegraphics2816 yes, I would put the newspaper (now I’d use non glossy cardboard, like Amazon boxes without tape) down first. I’d probably add weed cloth too. It may not help much, but it can’t really hurt-anything to keep weeds down.
Love this method! What do you do if you plan to sowing seeds directly into the ground? Just sow them into the mulch, or till the cardboard/mulch into the soil? Thanks!
Hi Eva -Assuming you are doing row crops, if you are going to sow directly into the ground, perhaps you should purchase some bulk compost to put on top of the cardboard then followed by mulch, then plant your seeds direct into that.
If you were just planting isolated seeds, then you could just move the mulch, cut a small hole in the wet cardboard and plant your seed, then put a small amount of mulch back.
What time of year does this work best please? Fall, or spring? Or is it any time of year? Thank you for this video.
@Mona anytime of year is fine
Hi, I am curious to know if you had any grass grow back. If so, to what degree. Any suggestion on how to tackle Bermuda grass?
Hi Katarina - I never had the grass grow back. It will try to creep in from the side, but you need to either pull it or provide a barrier.
I am not sure this would work against Bermuda grass though. As that is quite tough. I'm afraid that I have no direct experience to offer you there.
Couch grass, bindweed, alkanet - all manage to get through pretty much anything! But it does make them easier to control.
I haven't had to deal with those, at least not in a garden setting yet.
@@growitbuildit you’re lucky! We have all three here in west London and they’re certainly keeping me busy!!
(Couch grass goes by many names - it’s that rhizome grass which can live dormant underground for many years and it’s roots can pierce wood)
I've got Bindweed in the area, but it hasn't made it to a flowerbed yet!
Couch grass I'm not familiar with,but will have to look up
Does the cardboard break down enough that I could plant a veggie garden on top of the cardboard? I was thinking to put soil on top but not poke any holes in the cardboard? My property is wild - natural grasses, yarrow, etc. Thanks for this video!
Hi Johanna - You can plant a vegetable garden right after laying down the cardboard/mulch.
I cut the video off a bit short, but at the very end you can see me planting right through the cardboard. Just cut a 'X' with a knife, bend back the triangle pieces, and dig your hole and plant. Then just fold the cardboard pieces back down near the stem. Apply some mulch, and you should be good to go.
I couldn’t find your note anywhere but would this work with the Bermuda Grass?
Hi - I haven't been able to find out if this does in fact work with bermuda grass. I have heard from several people that it can work if you double the cardboard. But, you must make sure there isn't more bermuda grass surrounding the area you are doing, as their underground rhizomes will eventually migrate their way to the mulched area over time.
Soil test your lawn...Some weeds only grow in certain pH levels....local extension office can help you do that yourself... Each state has one...
Does this method work on an inclined lawn, or would I need to level the surface first? Thank you in advance
Hi AW - I don't see why it wouldn't work on a hill. As long as the mulch weighs it down you should be fine.
Question: Do you still put the mulch on if you are just starting this in October when it is already starting to snow? So far only put down the cardboard and the newspaper with weights on it to hold it in place. It's on a hillside.
Hi - I would add the mulch if you are able. The reason being that the cardboard will start to decompose over the winter, and everything will be holding water better. If cardboard is left out in the open it will dry out, and then it will repel water.
Newbie here. @4:40 do you really cover the seed back up with cardboard and mulch? Does this work for *any* seed? (Wildflowers, etc.)
Hi - that wasn't seed, but a bare root. The 'x' in the cardboard will allow the shoots to push through. And then it can do likewise with the cardboard. Bare roots are mature flowers that are dormant, that you can buy/plant in Spring.
Newb question: I bought four bags of potting soil last week to fill a dip in the yard and start a small flower garden. A friend gave me seeds. Will this dirt on top of cardboard/newspaper work okayish vs. mulch?
Yes, that will work. Just make sure you put down 2-4" of dirt. That will help retain moisture, etc. You will probably want to cover it with some straw too, as that will help retain the moisture. Seeds need to be moist and at the appropriate temp to germinate. Also, it make take a couple weeks.
I'm going to be trying this method in my backyard. Can you put garden soil on top of the carboard first, then the mulch or is it not needed? I will be planting a lot of flowers.
Hi J - the if you are using garden soil on top, the mulch may not be needed. But know that it will probably have a lot more water demands without the mulch. The cardboard needs to stay moist to break down, and your plants will need plenty of water once it gets hot.
Hey there so I want to replace my lawn with creeping thyme, creeping mazus and perrywinkle. I really don't want to dig all my lawn out....could I just cover With newspaper or cardboard, then topsoil then plant and let it spread?
Yes.
Will this work over an area with heavy strong weeds if mowed as low as possible first? Or will they poke through?
Hi Meli - in my experience it will work. Just make sure you get several inches of mulch.
Any experience doing this with standard wood chips instead of mulch? They break down more slowly I would imagine but can be purchased for 1/5 the cost and even found for free if you ask a landscaper looking to get rid of chips. I'm just afraid there's something I'm missing about using chips which has made me hesitant
Hi - wood chips will work perfectly fine in place of mulch. Go for it!
Can you layer on finished compost as a mulch layer?
Hi Pamela - absolutely.
Great video. From what I understand, the cardboard acts in place of landscape fabric to prevent weeds from coming up. However, once the cardboard breaks down, that protection is gone. Am I missing something? How do we prevent future weeds?
Hello - the cardboard layer will last long enough to suppress weeds for that season. After the cardboard degrades, the weed seeds will not get sunlight, and thus won't germinate. Now, weed seeds will blow in on top of the mulch, and germinate. But that also happens with weed barriers.
Weed mats / weed barriers are one of the greatest scams ever sold! They are only good for a single year. The weeds will return, but germinate on top of your mulch.
@@growitbuildit Ah okay, thank you for the explanation!
I’ve got a ton of wildflower seeds from American Meadows - would it work if I laid down the newspaper and cardboard, put down a layer of potting soil, and sowed the seeds into that? I’ve also got a ton of cuttings from my enormous monkey grass puffs of that would be good to put down. Thank you for this video, very helpful!
That would probably work Emily, but you should probably use topsoil, or something a bit heavier than potting soil. Potting soil dries out easily. I would probably do a thick layer of topsoil and a bit of mulch on top of that. Then just spread the seed and walk on it. And many flower seeds need to go through a cold treatment, so do it in Fall.
Hardware stores are good for cardboard for this. They get a lot of big stuff in so you can usually find a lot bigger boxes.
This is a good suggestion - thank you
I agree with the weed fabric! Dogs dig it up and plants get ripped apart.
Question - I have lots of garden beds. Do I remove the weeds by hand first, then lay the cardboard or just cardboard and newspaper on top?
Thanks.
Hi Noreen- I have weed whacked weeds low and then laid down cardboard + mulch. It has worked well!
Weed wack first, then yse really heavy cardboard. 2 LAYER minimum. Another is better.. No more weeds.
Oh yes! Our two dogs from my other house did that to the weed fabric around the pond
How long did you wait before planting those flowers. I’m in Connecticut zone 5 - so I was thinking of doing the cardboard/mulch in the fall and just let it sit and kill the grass over winter. Has anyone tried doing this?
Hi - it will definitely be ready by Spring. But even if you find cardboard, just cut an 'x' into it and peal back the cardboard, plant your plant, and place the cardboard back leaving a gap to the stem. I've done that in other beds and had good results.
How do you reapply the cardboard after it decomposes and how do you know when to do that? THanks!
Hi Jason - you never have to replace. Just as weeds sprout in your mulch, pull them. And don't let anything go to seed. This will be the exact same as any conventional weed barrier, but will biodegrade over time allowing your soil to be improved. Weed seeds will blow in from your yard or other places, just like anywhere else.
You said this method does not work for Bermuda grass and you disppointed me, because I was going to try on my Bermuda grass. Actually I already have a huge flower bed but my lawn grass kept growing eventually even though I mulched my flower bed. Now I was going to try on the grass that took over the flower bed. Any solution to this one? I am still going to try and see but just wanted to check if there is any alternate option. Also what type of mulch did you use?
Hi - I've not tried this for Bermuda grass, but I have read about others who tried and failed. But for regular turf grass, this method works very well.
Also, to help prevent grass from growing into your flower bed, you can edge it with a flat shovel. You basically dig a small trench around the flower bed about 1-2" wide by 2-3" deep.
Charles Dowding recomends having borders (bed to path, and bed to surrounding are) and to define them with cardboard, smothering out grass there. (repeatedly). He is in the UK and the cardboard disappears within 6 weeks during the growing season, it breaks down, but of course they usually have a lot of rain.
Maybe a thicker mulch layer will help (or even wood chips just do not work them INTO the soil), and exhausting the root of the grass by removing what can be easily removed.
Back to Eden Paul Gautchi recommends newspaper because it clings even better to the underground as soon as it is wet - smothering all life under it (one could do a good layer of newspapers and cardboard on top, you just have to help the planted seedling to get through by creating an opening as shown in this video).
Will pine straw work on top of the wet cardboard and newspaper instead of mulch. I happen to have a lot of it left over from another project.
Hi Carole, I'm not sure how well it would hold water, which is necessary for the cardboard to break down. But if it was a thick enough layer it would probably work.
I have a lawn that is embedded with weed and I just want to start a fresh again with some new lawn. Will this work if I lay new turf on top, I am planning to lay loads of top soil before adding the new turf
Hi Simone - that would work. As long as the top soil is weed-seed free. I don't know if I would want to try this on a large lawn though. If it is a very tiny space, then sure. But if your yard was similar to most suburban yards, you may want to look into a weed and feed. They do work, but must be applied when dew is on the grass, and no rain for a couple of days.
Can I plant in it right away, or do I need to wait for the grass to die off first?
If you are careful, you can plant.
1 - Rake away the mulch until you reach the cardboard.
2 - Carefully cut an 'X' or make a small hole in the cardboard. Remove any grass that could come up, or tuck it underneath the cardboard.
3 - Plant your flower/veggie.
4 - Seal the hole up with the cardboard 'X'.
This is the process that I do, and it works well.
Thanks for the informative video. Doesn't the cardboard eventually completely break down?
Yes Muktha - it will completely decompose.
@@growitbuildit Thank you!
I'm just filling in a 10x20 flowerbox with cedar mulch for now because it will look better than the patchy grass and weeds, but I'm specifically using cedar to repel bugs and wasps. Will using cardboard attract bugs like roaches, who like wet cardboard? That would defeat the purpose of the cedar mulch. Those humongous ones can be seen outside here in SC, and they freak me out! I've sprayed to keep them at bay, but I don't want to do anything to attract them.
Hi Lily - I have no gardening experience roaches or Palmetto bugs, but can understand not wanting to attract them. The wet cardboard should be buried, and I would think fairly safe from a roach. I know that people all over the US use this method for preparing a garden.
But perhaps you should call your local SC county ag extension office to see if they have an opinion. If there is historical experience with this method attracting roaches, they would probably know about it.
I'm not trying to kill an entire lawn but I have small patches of crabgrass I'm trying to smother with two sheets of brown paper. Idk if that's not thick enough I'll go back and add more layers
Smothering would work to kill what is there.
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