From the page: The tube that holds infinite possibilities
Idea 10
Garden bed and mulch cover
No-dig gardening uses cardboard as a barrier against weeds — a technique popularized by horticulturists imitating the way fallen leaves cover the soil in nature. The cardboard blocks the light, smothers the weeds without herbicide and, as it decomposes, feeds worms and microorganisms that leave the soil soft.
What you need
- Several cardboard tubes (or opened-up packaging)
- Water for moistening
- Homemade compost, manure or humus
- Straw, dry leaves or sawdust
- A hoe or shovel (optional)
How to make it
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1
Crush or cut the tubes to flatten them and cover the ground where the bed will be, leaving no gaps of light — the overlap should be about 10 cm between pieces.
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2
Moisten the cardboard well with water, because when dry it repels moisture and takes a long time to start decomposing.
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3
Spread 5 to 10 cm of compost or humus on top — that's where the roots will draw nutrients in the first months.
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4
Top with a thick layer of straw or dry leaves, which protects from the sun and keeps soil moisture stable.
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5
To plant, open a hole in the cover, tear the cardboard right there and place the seedling — the roots grow down into the soil while the cardboard turns into fertilizer.
Finishing touches
Make paths between beds with these same tubes covered in sawdust — in a few months you'll have living, weed-free soil underneath everything. Water the cover frequently at first, since the dry layer is slow to absorb water.
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