From the page: Cardboard holds up to far more than just one more move
Idea 2
Garden bed and mulch cover
The method known as "sheet mulching" was born in permaculture, copying what the soil does with fallen leaves in the forest. Cardboard blocks light and smothers invasive weeds, but it decomposes into food for worms and fungi — natural weed control and fertilizer at the same time.
What you need
- Cardboard boxes without colored ink or plastic tape
- Soil, compost, or sand for weighing it down
- Straw, dry leaves, cut grass, or sawdust
- Seeds or seedlings for the garden
- Watering can or hose
- Utility knife for opening holes
How to make it
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1
Fold and crumple the opened boxes so they go soft: crumpled cardboard conforms to the soil and leaves no air bridges through which invasive plants can breathe.
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2
Overlap the cardboard sheets by about 10 cm on the garden bed, because overlapping closes the light gaps that would be the doorway for weeds.
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3
Wet everything thoroughly until the cardboard turns dark and heavy: when damp, it clings to the soil and begins to decompose within the first days.
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4
Cover the cardboard with a 5 to 10 cm layer of straw, dry leaves, or compost — this mulch stores moisture and regulates the soil's temperature.
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5
Open holes in the mulch, place a handful of soil, and plant the seedlings or seeds inside, so the roots find soil that is already protected.
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6
Water gently whenever the mulch feels dry to the touch, keeping moisture constant for the worms and fungi working underneath.
Finishing touches
In a few months the cardboard disappears and turns into soft, life-rich soil — you can replant over the same bed without removing anything. In container gardens, pieces of cardboard at the bottom of pots also work as drainage and a moisture reserve.
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