Tried cardboard sheet mulching last fall and I'm actually impressed

I've been fighting weeds in my 4x8 raised bed for like 5 seasons straight. Pulling, spraying, laying down landscape fabric that just falls apart after a year. Then my neighbor told me to just lay down flattened cardboard boxes and pile 6 inches of compost on top. Did that last October before the ground froze. This spring I planted my tomatoes and peppers straight into it. I swear I haven't pulled a single weed yet, the cardboard just broke down into the soil. Has anyone else tried this method and did it last more than one season for you?

2 comments

2 Comments

carr.elliot15d ago

So how thick did you actually lay the compost on top? I've heard mixed results from people who skimped on depth and ended up with cardboard poking through by mid summer.

the_hayden15d ago

Oh man, I feel you on this. I actually went through that exact same thing last year and it drove me crazy. I laid down maybe 2 inches of compost on top of the cardboard and by June I had strips of it sticking out everywhere like some sad garden flag. It looked awful and the weeds found every little gap. This year I went way thicker, like a solid 4 to 5 inches, and it's made a world of difference. The cardboard is completely buried and breaking down nicely, plus the soil underneath is actually holding moisture better. I think people underestimate how much that top layer settles and compacts over a few months, so don't be shy with it.