It seems to me that putting a paper base or a cardboard base over a area for new plantng keeps the weeds down! Wether making a raised bed or putting 6 inches of garden soil over paper or cardboard which works best? The paper seems that it would decompose quicker even at 2 layers! There are many ways to use it for mulch on top of the ground but I am talking of plaing it over bad weedy ground then adding 6 inches or more of top soil or composted soil! I have a new garden area hat is just loaded with weeds and weed seeds! I used black plastic but even the 6 inch hole gets lots of weeds that I have to pull around the plants!
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Next year or even some areas this year I am going to make a raised bed on top of the spoil by ptting paper then adding 6 inches of weedless soil mixes to make a nice carrot bed! Ant ideas ut there?
- applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30541
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
If you search for "sheet mulching" I've described the way I do it in every way possible
Here's an example:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=181148#181148
Also, read the "I want to talk HAY" thread in the Permaculture forum. There are also several threads floating around describing individual examples/experiences in detail, not just from me.
Here's an example:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=181148#181148
Also, read the "I want to talk HAY" thread in the Permaculture forum. There are also several threads floating around describing individual examples/experiences in detail, not just from me.
- Runningtrails
- Senior Member
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 10:52 am
- Location: Barrie, Ontario,Canada
I do this a lot. I use a lot of cardbaord as I find it takes longer to decompose. You need several layers of newspaper to accomplish the same thing, at least 6 layers of paper, but it does work. Also I find that newspapers are more prone to blowing around more if uncovered at all and are easier to tear up under the mulch. I put thick newspaper layers under mulch in parts of my garden this year, only to have racoons tear it all up to get at the worms underneath. They leave the cardboard layers alone. Now I have to replace it all with cardboard.
But if you have a lot of newspapers and very little cardboard, they will do the same job in the 6 or more layer stack covered with something else organic to weigh them down.
Newspapers are easier to plant through, if not completely decomposed, than cardboard is. If you are not waiting for the layers to decompose completely before planting, you might find that you have to cut a hole in the cardboard to plant, depending on how deep your layers are on top of it.
I always cover bare garden areas with cardboard and weigh it down with whatever I have to use at the time. I cover the utility areas with cardboard too and sometimes cover the cardboard with old shingles for permanent coverage around the utility areas.
But if you have a lot of newspapers and very little cardboard, they will do the same job in the 6 or more layer stack covered with something else organic to weigh them down.
Newspapers are easier to plant through, if not completely decomposed, than cardboard is. If you are not waiting for the layers to decompose completely before planting, you might find that you have to cut a hole in the cardboard to plant, depending on how deep your layers are on top of it.
I always cover bare garden areas with cardboard and weigh it down with whatever I have to use at the time. I cover the utility areas with cardboard too and sometimes cover the cardboard with old shingles for permanent coverage around the utility areas.
Last edited by Runningtrails on Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
- rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
I don't think in the long run it makes any difference. I made a couple flower beds out of parts of our front lawn, just by putting down about 6 layers of newspaper right on top of the grass. Wet it down thoroughly then add about 6" of soil on top. Wet it down and plant, cutting holes through the newspaper for planting larger things. Voila, no digging out grass, nice flower beds. Easy-peasy! Cardboard would have worked just as well, newspaper was what I had. I put edging around the beds to keep the grass from growing right back in to it.