How to get started using sheet mulching to kill weeds | Gardening 101 | Gardening Australia

Sheet mulching is a useful technique for getting rid of weeds in large areas of your garden. It’s cheap, effective and a way to kill weeds without using herbicides. Subscribe 🔔 http://ab.co/GA-subscribe
Using newspaper or cardboard as a layer underneath mulch will smother the weeds by denying them sunlight so that they rot away.

Sophie uses this method extensively throughout her garden and has fine-tuned the process.

How to lay sheet mulch:

1. Use a lawnmower on its lowest setting to ‘scalp’ the weeds you want to smother, right down to the soil level.

2. Water the area well and then fertilise.
Fertilising promotes new growth, but because the weeds will be denied sunlight, the new growth will simply rot away. If this part is not done properly the weeds may not die as easily, and in dryer conditions, you may need to increase the watering to promote their growth.

3. Prepare the sheet material
You can use 5 layers of newspaper or non-wax cardboard to create a base. Remove plastic tape from the cardboard, as it is not only non-biodegradable, it will also stop the layers of cardboard bonding together to suppress the weeds.

4. Cover the area with sheet material
Make sure the layers overlap each other properly and be mindful of any holes in the cardboard or between the layers. Weeds will take advantage of any openings they can find, and areas that are exposed will allow weeds to grow through, so cover open areas with an additional layer.

5. Lay over the mulch
Cover the surface with heavy mulch, Sophie uses bark chip mulch. A thick layer of around 3cm should be enough to avoid breaks or openings forming over time; weeds will make a break for it at any opportunity.

6. Be patient
Depending on the type of weed, it may take up to six months to rot away. If you become too enthusiastic about planting here before they’ve broken down, the weeds will take advantage of the planting holes and will grow right next to your new plants. Similarly, garden art or fence posts that puncture through the layers will create an escape hatch for weeds.

7. Stay on your guard
Be aware of weed seeds entering the patch from other areas or creeping in via underground growth which can invade the hard lining of the sheet mulch bed.

Sheet mulching is a great addition to any gardener’s repertoire. To be effective it takes effort and consistency, but with a little know-how, you can turn any patch of weeds into a beautiful garden without the use of herbicides.
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