19 Gardening Hacks and 1 to Avoid!

[@nitastacy8325]

I have been sheet mulching with cardboard to create new beds. I use shipping boxes. Remove all tape and labels and use only cardboard with no print. It’s been very successful. All the cardboard breaks down in about 6 months. Of course I put lots of compost on top. I still have beds to create and lots of cardboard saved in my garage. I battle Bermuda grass here and the cardboard keeps it at bay. But now wondering if I could just use lots of leaves. Your videos are always so informative. Thanks for all the great info.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

There is an organic alternative though it is not free, it is certainly easier to use than the cardboard. weedguardplus.com/ecomulch-natural-organic-earthtone/

[@GrandmaSandy]

Thanks so much for another great video and some great garden tips to stay on budget and make a beautiful garden. Hugs and kisses and Grandma and Sandy and Debbie.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

You are very welcome! And hugs back to you. Thank you for watching.

[@sandytigard2753]

I showed my husband your compost bin video and he built me a similar one 4x4, so thank you for that! Great point about the slips. I may have to get some alfalfa from Tractor Supply. Thank you for all the info. Happy gardening! 🌤️🪻

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I am sure he built you a lovely one and 4 x 4 is nice and big, so it has plenty of room. The wrapping on the alfalfa from TS is nice if you must haul it in a vehicle, I am feeding a bale to my chickens right now and it is so lush and green, and it still has many of the purple alafalfa flowers in it. Its rather pretty.

[@sandytigard2753]

@ Yes, and I can put plastic wrapping in my Ridwell box so it doesn’t go to the landfill.

[@TamaraLMJ62]

Love the compost bin! Great idea, and that would be something I need to do. I have been looking for compost bin ideas. Thank you.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

You are so welcome! I does work well, at least for me.

[@timothykrott7248]

I have used the alfalfa from tractor supply with great success for mulch in my raised beds. I have no where near me to buy regular bales off a farm

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Thankfully we have a mom and pop feed store that carries the straw, hay and alafalfa in bales but I have bought the TS ones too when I did not have the truck available to haul them and it has worked out fine.

[@gloriabranch6287]

Pam thanks for sharing great tips. I didn't know about the slips

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Many don't know that slip sheets are coated to help with the purpose they are used for. I only know it because of my former husbands work in warehouses and trucking, but I thought folks should be aware of it.

[@katherinecornette5315]

So many great tips! Thank you!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

You are most welcome, it did get a bit long winded but there was so much to share!

[@rhondaschenk5727]

Lots of great info, Pam, thanks!!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@user-rosesroses]

Wow. Great info. Much needed.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@vickiperkins476]

Great video! Thanks for sharing 😊

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

You are welcome.

[@aalejardin]

I have done sheet mulching with cardboard in my ornamental beds but I have also used agricultural grade paper mulch from Johnny's, which I would think is pretty safe as it is intended for use with food crops. It is designed to break down over the season but, along with topping with compost and mulch, it does stop a lot of weeds. Because it's paper it is pretty easy to work with in terms of cutting for bed shape and to plant into. It's more expensive but doesn't seem to have the issues that "free" cardboard can have.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Yes, I agree, and have recommended that to others. There are other sites as well as Johnnys that carry those and they can come in different weights. I think it is much easier to work with since you don't have to fuss with removing, cutting open etc.

[@andreabrown8183]

love the videos-very helpful, thanks

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I'm so glad you found them helpful!

[@debradiggs7489]

Hi Pam love learning new things! Thank you so much for all your videos❤ I'm wanting to have a composter

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

The one I shared is super easy and could be dressed up even more if someone got creative with it. One year I had pumpkins growing out of it as they had sprouted from the previous Falls compost. I had tossed in the small decorative pumpkins I bought for Fall decor.

[@dustyflats3832]

Sometime ago remember something about cardboard for appliances were treated to prevent mice from chewing on them in warehouses. Not sure about today. Lol, maybe they don’t have to because appliances don’t last as long as they use to. Thanks for the info!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

LOL, I agree they don't make things to last.

[@sarahansen8824]

Hi Pam - I just found you and I’m really enjoying your videos- I’m actually learning things! A lot of other ‘hack’ videos just seem to regurgitate the same info. I was going to use the slip sheets. I had no idea they were treated. The path around my raised beds right now is pea gravel. I was going to cover with slip sheets to suppress weeds then cover with wood chips (thinking it would look nicer). I hear you saying to put a thick layer on but I used a walker. If there is any thick loose material the wheels of my walker sink and I can’t traverse the path. Now I’m wondering if I should just stick with pea gravel. What would you do?

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

That is a very valid point and I did not think to address that issue. There is an organic product called Weedguard and it comes in rolls. It is still a paper product but it is certified not to have chemicals. But it is not free, of course. Gardeners Supply carries it and so does the manufacturer. Here is the link so you can see them for yourself: weedguardplus.com/original-weedguardplus--standard-weight/

[@sarahansen8824]

@@FlowerPatchFarmhouse thank you!

[@hetty2974]

Hello there again pam,thankyou so much,loved all this great information, I really need to watch again this evening, I was watching and listening, but making some pasties whilst watching, I certainly will watch again as so much good information. I also keep forgetting the bottle of plant help you use on little plants and repottings.its a liquid at back of your shelf and you mix in water. I have been meaning to purchase and cannot remember the name. Im so scatty,xxthankyou for super video. 😊.bless you, hi to the chickens from me and too.xx

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I think you are talking about the OrganicRev, the growth stimulant. Now you made me hungry talking about pasties. I lost one of my ladies yesterday, I knew she was not up to par but did not know what was wrong. I am keeping an eye on my others to see if anymore are acting poorly.

[@hetty2974]

@FlowerPatchFarmhouse hello there pam,awww,im so sorry about your dear 🐔, yes its very sad,they can be fine one minute and gone the next.some of my girls get very elderly before passing away, and other can just go about 2 ,3 years.its not nice .I do hope your others will be fine,xxim thinking of you xxx.sending hugs and love .x

[@grizoswald210]

Pam thanks for the great ideas in this video. Now I need to go back and watch your video on building that compost bin. Any tips, suggestions, or improvements that you would recommend when building that?

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Yes adding shear with diagonal pieces will help if you get buried in heavy snow. Mine have done great without the shear in normal years but they twisted when we got feet and feet of it and it stacked on top of the compost and bin.

[@KokoraLife]

So helpful! Thanks for sharing this.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Glad it was helpful! You are very welcome.

[@amorgan6417]

Another note on the commercially bagged and dyed mulches,....some are made from shredded pallets that might have been used for bagged chemicals, that could've leached into the wood. Just a warning for using that stuff. Along with ALL those plastic bags that are left!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I am glad you brought that up. It's definitely something to consider! Yes, even the heat treated pallets can contain undesirable elements. We own a manufacturing company and though the pallets are heat treated what is stored on them can be toxic and can leak onto them. We put signs out for folks not to take them when we put them out for the hazmat company to haul away and people still do. I cringe when I see them used for walls, furniture etc because I know most have no idea what that pallet may have been used for.

[@sarahfox3312]

I’ve set up my whole garden on paddock pasture that has never been gardened. I followed the cardboard on top of the grass and then top soil and compost. I’ve still got a lot of garden to establish. I totally hear you so my question is this… can I just establish beds with no pulling up of turf and just put on a thick layer of topsoil and compost? Or do I have to remove all the grass. My garden so far is doing really well on face value and everything is thriving however I put in some roses recently and yes the soil was compacted which I found confusing. I garden in New Zealand in zone 10B.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

That is how I did in here in my garden. But there is some alternatives you can investigate. Here is a company that carries organic products that can help, you may need to search for one in New Zealand though. weedguardplus.com

[@wcouch8]

I would appreciate feedback on what I have done with cardboard. I clean boxes I recieve from delivery orders of tape and labels, then shred them using a cheap crosscut shredder I picked up at an auction. I burn boxes that have glossy or colored print. But I have used the crosscut shreds as layers between kitchen scraps in my compost, a first layer in deep mulching to prevent weeds, and mulch for on top of planters. I've noticed a lot of worms. I keep it away from the house though to avoid bugs.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Many folks do use it that way and leave it to you. Do you know where that cardboard was manufactured? Many cardboard products are imported from china where they do use chemicals but are said to be trying to convert to non-toxic solutions. But who knows which box was made without them and which with? Or which manufacturer made it. So I err on the side of caution and leave them out. I ask myself, is the use of the cardboard necessary? But for those that want to use them I say go ahead, personal choice is there. I try to warn folks not tell them what to do.

[@wcouch8]

@@FlowerPatchFarmhouse Thanks, I have no way to know the manufacturer since they are from various online purchases. My trash service will not take them. I was running them monthly to a county recycle center. Found the crosscut shredding by accident. thought of this as a way to dispose of locally. Another option is burning and using the ashes.

[@kellystuart3169]

Have you ever used Alfalfa pellets to fertilize or heard of it for this use? I bought some last year, it swells up after it rains and slowly breaks down over the winter. Not sure it helped though.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Yes, I have used them on my roses and it did great.

[@trudycrebo8039]

Using alfalfa as a mulch will introduce lots of alfalfa & other seeds into your garden.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I have used it for years and it has not produced anymore seeds than bird coming into the garden and leaving their droppings and the alfalfa is so thick it chokes out weeds wonderfully. I have even used straw which can have seeds in it but they are so easy to pull that it has more benefits than negatives.

[@stephaniebalducci6248]

Will the store bought alphalpha have seeds and or be possibly sprayed with insecticide?

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I have not had any issues with seeds and I wouldn't mind if it had alafalfa seeds as growing it is a great cover crop and there is no reason to spray it with insecticides. You can ask at your local feed store or farmer if buying from them and see what they say.

[@stephaniebalducci6248]

@FlowerPatchFarmhouse Thank you. I was just curious since I've heard from some people that have tried it in their flower beds.

[@LorriePrince]

What zone are you?

[@theropesofrenovation]

8

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I am in zone 8b.