How to Use Cardboard in Garden to Prevent Weeds
You might want to know how to use cardboard in the garden to prevent weeds since this method is very popular right now. In fact a lot of people use this method since it is proven to be more beneficial than other methods commonly used before.
Why Should You Use Cardboard?
Using cardboard as a way to prevent weed from growing is actually better than other material such as fabric. The reason is because water and air can easily flow through the cardboard anytime so it would not hinder any useful resources needed by your plants. Furthermore, the cardboard itself will break down with time which then adds more resources to the soil. Having cardboard around is also helpful to attract beneficial worms such as earthworms that’s needed by the plants. The best thing is, you can easily get cardboard with little to no cost at all. So, there is no reason for you to not use it.
How to Use Cardboard in Garden to Prevent Weeds
First you need to remove any fabric that you might install before as well as mulch that you have put on top of the soil. The reason is because the cardboard needs to be in direct touch with the soil so it would be effective in stopping weeds from growing. Furthermore, having it touching the soil will also make sure that the soil helps to break down the cardboard more efficiently.
Next step to learn how to use cardboard in the garden to prevent weeds, you need to lie down the cardboard directly into the soil under your flowerbeds. Make sure that the cardboard that you use is flat so you can easily put mulch on top and can flatten it later on.
You need to put down a few cardboard overlaps with each other until they reach 4 to 6 inches in height so there is no gap in between the cardboard. If you already have any plants or flowers inside your flower bed then you need to give 3 to 4 inches gaps from the base of the plants. That way your plants can still get the moisture and air that it needs.
Now you need to pour some water on the cardboard until it is fully soaked. This is important to increase the weight of the cardboard so it would not move around so it can prevent weed from growing.
Next you need to add a thick layer of mulch on top of the cardboard layer. This is important since the mulch can help to keep the cardboard down so it would stay in place. Furthermore, having mulch on top will make the surface more interesting than having cardboard. The best thing is mulch actually also helps to prevent weed growth. That means you will have 2 layers of barrier on top of each other which increase the effectiveness of this method.
As you can see, this method has a lot of benefits that you can get. This is why it is important for you to learn how to use cardboard in the garden to prevent weeds so you can get healthy plant growth that you want in your garden.