You won’t need harsh chemicals or to pull out weeds with this simple removal trick (Image: lucentius via Getty Images)
Weeds run riot throughout summer when balmy temperatures and heavy rainfall combine to create ideal conditions for growth and seed germination. Familiar varieties, such as dandelions, daisies, bindweed and ground elder, are easy to spot thanks to their recognisable leaves and flowers — yet this also makes them rather difficult to ignore.
For those who avoid chemical weed killers, white vinegar, baking soda, salt and boiling water are commonly suggested remedies for the job, though they do little to address some of the more demanding aspects of weed removal, such as pulling and spraying. One gardening specialist has proposed a hands-free solution to weeds known as “sheet mulching.”
While professional landscapers have adopted this method for many years, it remains a “revelation” for the average home gardener seeking to keep beds and borders under control.
Elizabeth Florio of Garden & Gun said: “It turns out the cardboard that passes through households in abundance is a low-fuss, good-for-the-soil, sustainable-many-times-over weed barrier.”
The method itself is simple: lay a flattened cardboard box over clusters of weeds and cover with garden mulch. According to the gardening specialist, this works by “smothering the undergrowth” while simultaneously enriching the soil with carbon.
It’s a worthwhile choice for gardeners who prefer a no-dig approach to unwanted growth, and one that many have already employed to great effect. A gardening enthusiast posted on the Charles Dowding forum claiming they found cardboard to be an “amazing” remedy for suppressing all kinds of garden weeds.
The forum member said: “Under hedges I put cardboard with wood chip on top, nothing through at all.
“We also had a weed-ridden border which I put cardboard first, then planted heather into holes cut in it, then put peat compost all over as mulch and it is doing well, heather alive and had to pull about two weeds in two months.”
Some people use the lasagne method to line vegetable patches (Image: Getty)How to kill weeds with cardboard
There is no need to clear existing weeds before placing cardboard on top. In fact, numerous Charles Dowding forum members contend that doing so simply promotes further weed growth.
Instead, they recommend cutting them back and, if desired, allowing the top layers to flatten them down.
Certain types of cardboard are best suited for garden use, and gardeners should opt for the plain brown variety.
Wet cardboard suppresses weed growth beneath the soil (Image: Getty)
Choose sheets with minimal ink and avoid glossy materials, which may contain plastic film or wax. The same applies to offcuts bearing tape, which is why pizza boxes are widely regarded as the safest choice.
Elizabeth suggests layering flattened boxes for the greatest effectiveness against weeds. Hosing them down with water is also recommended to ensure the cardboard moulds to the ground and stays firmly in position.
If you intend to plant directly over the cardboard layer, you will need a top layer of compost and planting soil. For those not planting, simply spread your preferred mulch — be it wood chips, pine straw, or alternative organic materials — directly onto the cardboard.
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