Considering putting down cardboard between my beds. What do you think?
Considering putting down cardboard between my beds. What do you think?
My beds are on the ground, not raised. It’s just grass in between them and when I mow it throws seeds in my beds and it’s so difficult to manage. Thinking about hoeing the grass out, adding a double layer of cardboard and then maybe some bark chips or straw just to hold it in place. What do you think? Do you foresee any issues? What do you have between your beds?
Yes I did exactly this with wood chips and it worked pretty good. The only downside was kneeling on wood chips instead of lawn meant I needed something to kneel on to protect my knees.
There were still occasional weeds that pokes through but they were easy to handle.
Someone gave me one of those foam knee pads and I use it every day. I don’t think I would have bought it for myself but I’m so glad to have it now.
I use cardboard all the time. Right now I have cheap fake grass carpeting on top of the cardboard next to my beds. Between the plants in my rows is cardboard under wood chips.
Right on, that seems to work well then huh. Where did you get that stuff?
It does work well. I got the carpeting from a local store called Ocean State Job Lot. It's one of those stores that sells stuff thst didn't sell well in other stores. Lol.
This is what my wife and I do. We get a bunch of free mulch then put down usually a double layer of cardboard and mulch over it. The cardboard and mulch break down over time creating new, rich soil. You'll likely have to cardboard and mulch every year but you can also move your beds around and replenish the soil. And I wouldn't worry about hoing up the grass. The only trouble I foresee is along the edges.
Okay right on I’m excited to try that
Sounds good. I've only used the raised beds I made but this sounds like it could work.
I have a cardboard with mulch between my beds, so it works. :)
My personal experience is that cardboard takes much longer to break down than what I've read about in books. Not a deal killer but still an issue. (I still use it.) Also, slugs love to hide underneath it.