A gardener has shared a simple yet effective method to kill weeds and help plants grow – and it all comes down to repurposing an item that normally gets put in the bin
The gardening fan shared a method for keeping pesky weeds at bay (stock image)(Image: wera Rodsawang via Getty Images)
A gardener has unveiled a clever technique to eliminate weeds while encouraging plants to flourish – and it involves repurposing something that typically gets thrown away. Weeds can prove to be a persistent headache for gardeners, with keeping them under control often proving to be quite the challenge.
One green-fingered woman has revealed a useful approach to suppressing weeds – and it doesn’t even demand extensive excavation work. Amy May, who shares content online under The Plant Realm, used cardboard in her garden to establish a fresh planting area.
This approach is fairly simple and gives new life to cardboard packaging that would otherwise end up in the recycling bin or be thrown out. To attempt this yourself, just position layers of tape-free cardboard in the garden, making sure the borders overlap so sunlight cannot penetrate through.
Following this, cover with compost or mulch and, over time, the cardboard will break down while nourishing the earth. This technique will help prevent fresh weeds from managing to push through.
Amy May, who’s based in Australia, posted a video of herself implementing this approach on YouTube. In the clip, she can be seen placing cardboard layers around a tree close to her garden’s perimeter.
In the description that went with her video, she simply stated: “Using the cardboard method to prep a garden bed”.
Fellow YouTube viewers were eager to express their opinions in the comments area, with numerous people agreeing about the technique’s success. One commented: “That’s exactly what I’ll do in my front garden! Thanks for the idea.”
One person revealed: “I’ve been doing this for decades. It works great as long as you keep it away from the trunk of the tree. Also if you have dogs make sure not to use a cardboard box that dog food/cat food came in, they smell it and will dig it up regardless of how much mulch you put on top.”
Another shared their recent experience: “This is crazy, I did this today for the first time. I used compost instead of soil and mulched the top. Next spring Hydrangea city!!!!”
A third individual said: “This works and is great for people with disabilities”.
Another advised: “I do a lot of cardboard covering in order to kill my grass and enlarge a bed. BUT, let this be a warning. The plants around the cardboard still need to be watered. If you were using sprinklers or natural rain in the past, you might need to hand water until that cardboard breaks down enough to let the water through.”
One user said: “A great way to avoid wasting good soil and get rid of weeds at the same time”.
While another concurred: “I do exactly the same. It helps against weeds for a while.”
And one more added: “This is such a smart idea thanks! I see less weed eating in my future”.
Comments are closed.