Gardeners can improve their soil and suppress weeds this month by laying cardboard directly on beds, a technique known as sheet mulching. Horticulture content creator Amy May outlined the method on YouTube, explaining why it is worth doing before winter sets in.
While many gardeners scale back during the colder months, allowing soil to rest is beneficial because digging wet, cold soil can damage its structure, leading to compaction and clumping. A healthy soil structure is vital for plant roots, drainage, and the organisms living within it.
What Is the Cardboard Method?
The cardboard method, also called sheet mulching, is an organic gardening practice used to suppress weeds, improve soil quality, and create new planting areas without digging. It mirrors natural processes by layering organic material to produce nutrient-rich, fertile soil.
Not only does it help manage unwanted weeds by blocking sunlight from reaching them, but it also breaks down to enrich the soil below. The job can be carried out in a matter of minutes, making it a worthwhile task in the coming weeks.
How to Use Cardboard in Your Garden
First, prepare the area by cutting back tall weeds and grass while removing obstructive debris, rocks, or tree stumps. Then lay down plain, brown cardboard, reusing old packaging after removing any tape, staples, or unnatural glossy labels.
Overlap the edges by about four inches and ensure the material is wet to help it begin breaking down. Next, add organic layers such as compost, leaves, or grass clippings on top of the cardboard, then sprinkle a layer of mulch over it to keep everything in place.
Finally, leave the cardboard to do its job by applying the sheet mulching before winter begins and letting it break down in the coming months. Watering the layers can aid decomposition before spring planting season arrives.
