I mentioned this on someone else's post, but I thought I'd do my own to hopefully get some input.
A few years ago we were forced into some painfully expensive renovations due to water damage and mold. Gross .
I was dismayed by the number of large boxes and huge sheets of cardboard we were accumulating. Then I had an idea!
Why not use layers of cardboard and wood chips to choke out grass and edge our big backyard? I'm always looking for ways to reduce the amount of grass we have!
I put in for a free chip delivery from Chip Drop ( basically arborists who want to dispose of downed trees) and got to work. I've received two chip deliveries so far and they're Huge!
Bear in mind, these are not pristine wood chips that l perfect. You have to be willing to put up with leaves, twigs, pine needles… but if you've read any of my other posts, you'll know I'm not too fussy about stuff.
I've been able to reduce the amount we have to mow in the back yard by about a third!
This will be an ongoing project, and I've realized there are lots of people more than willing to provide cardboard for the cause š
Yes, after a year, some weeds poke through and it's not perfect. I've been plucking them, or I just put more cardboard and chips over the area.
Has anyone else had success with this or have any tips?
I'm in Western Montana, so cold winters with snow cover and hot dry summers.
Thanks!
by glcrgrl
4 Comments
I did my whole front yard that way. Cardboard and chip drop. It was fine. In hindsight I wish I had solarized the grass first. I think I might have ended up with less of a weed issue but ultimately itās been fine. I just go around pulling the weeds by hand. I have been able to plant a bunch of native plants event though a lot of people on this sub say you canāt plant anything in wood chips. Iām in zone 5a and have a very shady yard.
Thanks, I appreciate your input!
I did this and it worked pretty well. I did get dandelions punching through the cardboard. Dandelion is a deep rooted perennial plant and not easily smothered. I also don’t think you could destroy Bermuda grass using this method. That stuff is very tenacious! Try to get all the packing tape off the cardboard, it’s kind of annoying to discover strips of plastic tape in the soil when you go to plant in that area.
As a contractor, I had a lot of success with sheet mulching. Bermuda and crab grass are the hardest to get rid of, but Iāve done that, too. Just know that solarizing kills everything in the soil including beneficial flora and fauna.