In this video, I share how to stop weeds from growing in your garden, yard and landscaping using a natural weed suppression trick that can triple the effectiveness of mulch! Mulching to control weeds only works for a short time before the mulch decays and weeds take over again. This one thing can keep your yard weed free for a full year or longer!
This weed control method enhances the durability of mulch. It is superior to installing weed barrier or landscape fabric under mulch, because artificial barriers prevent worms and other beneficial insects and invertebrates from breaking down mulch and adding organic matter to soil. By doing this, you’ll feed your soil and beneficial worms, fungi and insects so it’s good for your plants while still getting longterm weed suppression. And as an added benefit, you’re helping the environment by recycling your trash instead of throwing it away!
Using Recycled Cardboard As Weed Barrier: https://youtu.be/6dRbuB1oZtg?si=rFRW1tDh12odT4-f
The following products* were featured in this video:
Weed Barrier 200ft. (various widths): https://amzn.to/3ZlaL3p
Weed Barrier, 300ft. (various widths): https://amzn.to/3PmyFqF
Weed Barrier, 17inch width: https://amzn.to/3reHFWF
Painted Galvanized Landscape Staples w/Gaskets: https://amzn.to/3PkYwin
Natural Galvanized Landscape Staples w/Gaskets: https://amzn.to/45Y3ngU
Rubber Mallet: https://amzn.to/48dGSG6
Jobe’s Organic Fertilizer (4lbs): https://amzn.to/3sI3OwW
Jobe’s Bone Meal (4lb): https://amzn.to/3Gqp52e
Espoma Plant Tone (36lbs): https://amzn.to/3Zgk98f
Alaska Fish Fertilizer: https://amzn.to/3XP5EHU
Jack’s All Purpose 20-20-20 (1.5lb): https://amzn.to/3MQ4I2A
Jack’s Blossom Booster 10-30-20 (1.5lb): https://amzn.to/3KyPTzg
Jack’s / JR Peters All Purpose 20-20-20 (25lb): https://amzn.to/44DUV58
Jack’s Blossom Booster 10-30-20 (25lb): https://amzn.to/45FIuXh
Grow More All Purpose 20-20-20 (25 lb): https://amzn.to/44pSQK2
Full Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/themillennialgardener
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 The Problem With Mulch
3:42 Weed Barrier Uses And Limitations
5:53 My Amazing Weed Prevention Tip!
7:55 How To Use Cardboard As Weed Matting
8:52 My Favorite Natural Mulches
10:00 Final Results
11:52 Adventures With Dale
If you have any questions about how to use natural cardboard to prevent weeds in your garden, landscaping and walkways, want to know about the things I grow in my raised bed vegetable garden and edible landscaping food forest, are looking for more gardening tips and tricks and garden hacks, have questions about vegetable gardening and organic gardening in general, or want to share some DIY and “how to” garden tips and gardening hacks of your own, please ask in the Comments below!
****************************************
VISIT MY AMAZON STOREFRONT FOR PRODUCTS I USE MOST OFTEN IN MY GARDEN*
https://www.amazon.com/shop/themillennialgardener
****************************************
VISIT MY MERCHANDISE STORE
https://shop.spreadshirt.com/themillennialgardener
****************************************
SUPPORT MY SECOND CHANNEL!
https://www.youtube.com/c/2MinuteGardenTips
****************************************
EQUIPMENT I MOST OFTEN USE IN MY GARDEN*:
Miracle-Gro Soluble All Purpose Plant Food https://amzn.to/3qNPkXk
Miracle-Gro Soluble Bloom Booster Plant Food https://amzn.to/2GKYG0j
Miracle-Gro Soluble Tomato Plant Food https://amzn.to/2GDgJ8n
Jack’s Fertilizer, 20-20-20, 25 lb. https://amzn.to/3CW6xCK
Southern Ag Liquid Copper Fungicide https://amzn.to/2HTCKRd
Southern Ag Natural Pyrethrin Concentrate https://amzn.to/2UHSNGE
Monterey Organic Spinosad Concentrate https://amzn.to/3qOU8f5
Safer Brand Caterpillar Killer (BT Concentrate) https://amzn.to/2SMXL8D
Cordless ULV Fogger Machine https://amzn.to/36e96Sl
Weed Barrier with UV Resistance https://amzn.to/3yp3MaJ
Organza Bags (Fig-size) https://amzn.to/3AyaMUz
Organza Bags (Tomato-size) https://amzn.to/36fy4Re
Injection Molded Nursery Pots https://amzn.to/3AucVAB
Heavy Duty Plant Grow Bags https://amzn.to/2UqvsgC
6.5 Inch Hand Pruner Pruning Shears https://amzn.to/3jHI1yL
Japanese Pruning Saw with Blade https://amzn.to/3wjpw6o
Double Tomato Hooks with Twine https://amzn.to/3Awptr9
String Trellis Tomato Support Clips https://amzn.to/3wiBjlB
Nylon Mason Line, 500FT https://amzn.to/3wd9cEo
Expandable Vinyl Garden Tape https://amzn.to/3jL7JCI
****************************************
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Me on TWITTER (@NCGardening) https://twitter.com/NCGardening
Follow Me on INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/millennialgardener_nc/
****************************************
ABOUT MY GARDEN
Location: Southeastern NC, Brunswick County (Wilmington area)
34.1°N Latitude
Zone 8A
****************************************
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
© The Millennial Gardener
#gardening #garden #gardeningtips #weedcontrol #recycling
32 Comments
If you enjoyed this video, please “Like” and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS for convenience:
0:00 The Problem With Mulch
3:42 Weed Barrier Uses And Limitations
5:53 My Amazing Weed Prevention Tip!
7:55 How To Use Cardboard As Weed Matting
8:52 My Favorite Natural Mulches
10:00 Final Results
11:52 Adventures With Dale
As always, your videos are very informative. Thank you so much. I was wondering if I can lay the cardboard on top of the mulch. I live in Southern California, so there's not much rain. Dale is adorable.
Смотрю из России. У вас всё отлично.
Excellent video…. This method works very well. My only caution…… if you plan to use this where you grow food crop it's a good idea to know the country of origin of the cardboard. Too much imported material has been known to contain toxins.
Yeah, that works. I did that in my front yard works really well.
We put cardboard down around our raised garden beds. Then we put pine mulch. Within a few months we had crabgrass shooting out in spots. 😩 Any ideas? We are thinking about using rocks or pavers around it now.
Is it ok to do this at the base of trees?
Thank you ! Tip: wet the cardboard first to easily rip/tear off any plastic /labels and sticky tape . Cheers from Australia (coming into our spring as I type ) xxx
Won't the cardboard under 3 inches of mulch block most of the rain from the soil?
We live next to a field and star thistle has taken over our back yard. Just mowing a little of it has broadcasted it everywhere.I'm thinking of laying cardboard, tarps, whatever else I can. I think spraying a heavy vinegar salt mix would be good but. I don't want it coming back.
Great ideas. Thank you.
Great & helpful video for those of us who want as natural solutions as possible. Thank you!
Great information! I will be getting hubby to do this around our new garden set up! 😊
Great video, thanks for the tips 👍
I just heard that the cardboard has PFAs in it. Cancer causing, forever chemicals. Then I thought about blAck newspaper but the ink is also carcinogens.
I suppose it is ok in landscape areas but I am thinking twice about the cardboard now.
Ugh.
What do the rest of you know about that?
This is excellent for most weeds that travel by air or birds, but nothing stops wire grass since it spreads by runners. That takes diligence. Zone 7a, Piedmont NC
This is helpful in many ways as you have pointed out: good for the environment, earthworms 🪱 microorganisms. And especially a low cost weed suppression system.
I have a question: after a year would it be helpful to just redo this process on top of the old stuff, building up layers or remove everything and start new?
I have 20+ ft beautiful crepe myrtles that i basically ignore. Zone 7a.
Do they require winter mulching? I never do.
I do give 10:10:10 in the spring and then fish emulsion when i think about it in summer…
Thanks!
In 3 years on this property, I've seen one earthworm. That's all.
I am wondering if the previous owners used something in the yard that takes out everything but rhizome grass..the dirt is so bad I'm all in containers now.
I tried piling grass clippings all l spring/summer..2022…the ground ate it..6 months and that area looks like there were never grass clippings there at all.
I'm curious as to how you prepared your beds along the fence. I'm toying with doing this as well, but I have grass right up to the fence.What I've done with other beds is just dig up the grass with a shovel and shake out as much dirt as I can, but that is somewhat labor intensive. Is there a better way? Should I cardboard box the grass? Do you worry about the bottom of your fence rotting from contact with soil?
In the spirit of keeping the growing area organic and natural, I am wondering if using cardboard would go against this. The paper used for the cardboard may be treated with chemicals in the process of making the cardboard and would that not then breakdown and contaminate the soil with those chemically treated cardboard products? In addition the chemicals used in the ink printed on the cardboard as well. Can you comment on this please?
That's what I did originally to most of my yard. Now I plant my own blend of weeds. I get very few blown in seeds in general. However it's all getting thin again.
Dale,
Please get your father an 82 foot HoseLink retractable garden hose for Christmas. It is the MOST luxurious garden tool I have ever given myself. I have two and they snap together nicely. Santa might bring you new toys to destroy in 15 minutes. Have fun, From Glen Rock Pennsylvania
Unfortunately if you have satan grass near your garden like I do, this won’t work for a year😢
Beaware if you have chickens. Unfortunately, my chickens got into the area I put cardboard in and they tore it to shreds as they scratched and pecked 🤦♀️. Other than that, it has worked great in my yard.
9:45 that scared me lol
Thank you for sharing such good info.
DALE!!! ❤❤❤
This may be somewhat lg s bad idea, but I've used cereal boxes and several other types of cardboard/papery food containers, like oatmeal to start doing this. Its made a slight batrier from the yard, Nd I can really tell the difference between where I have it out in snd where I dont. Another benefit is even if things like crab grass do grow up around it, the roots and centers are much easier to pull out that if it were naturally rooted straight into soil.
For example, I out few if our Domino's pizza boxes underneath the area where weve thrown the compost pile. HUGE Difference. And the composting process has probably already taken care if any undesirables that might be in there. 😁😁
I fully agree with your use of cardboard. What is your opinion of the rolls of cardboard “moldboard” in big box stores?
Works great