The TRUTH About Using Cardboard in your Landscape

[@MysteriaSdrassa]

you forgot worms... when i put carboard down in my garden it attracts a ton of worms, both red wrigglers and nightcrawlers... they literally eat the carboard and leave and leave behind lots of good casings, plus they aerate the area nicely, also a bonus

[@annienguyen5025]

Yes same here

[@margolehman5482]

Ditto!

[@rednesbit4920]

💯

[@mannarock7]

Same results in my area.

[@SteveLast-hp6uv]

I remove all tape before I put my cardboard down.

[@karchvs]

I made a garden bed using cardboard directly on the grass & weeds, the 6 inches of compost manure blend on top. I am in central SC and weeds and grass are issues with the amount of rain we get. I planted right in it and had no issues. Every year or two, it's best to add and inch or so of much, but i was a bit lazy. I pull out the few random weeds that come up but other than that, it worked perfect. The cardboard broke down in about 6 to 9 months. The flower bed is still goinf strong and beautiful and packed with flowers years later!

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for sharing your experience. That's great information. Six inches of compost definitely kept it from drying out. Being in the hot and humid south cardboard decomposes pretty quickly.

[@joanfrellburg4901]

Thanks for sharing, I think I'm going to give it a try, I'm getting a bit tired of stripping the sod away with a hand pick. This would require far less work.

[@Stigmasterol]

Can you plant right away through it? Do you just kind of cut a hole through the cardboard?

[@surgeinc1]

Yes! We did exactly the same in our yard. No weeds, it’s been 3 years and no weeds.🎉

[@rootelation486]

​@@Stigmasterol yep

[@stparisian]

I start my plants indoors from seed - I use cardboard boxes as garden beds. When they are able to be moved outdoors, I place the entire box on the ground whether there is grass or bare dirt, use a pitchfork to poke holes in the bottom if needed and just let it go. Has saved my back and knees for years! 😁

[@Dr.Warren]

This is great information!!! Thank you for sharing

[@peterbreis5407]

Sounds a great technique! 😃👍

[@JoanWHS82]

That's a great idea! I might try that. Do you start the seeds in the boxes, or do you transfer them from a smaller growing container? About what height boxes do you use? Sorry for all the questions; I'm really interested in this! :)

[@peruviana1000]

That is brilliant! As we get older need to find easier ways to garden.

[@jeremyarcus-goldberg9543]

Can you explain more? Do you use something like shoe boxes filled with soil and then add seeds to it?

[@boysrus61]

June of 2023 I took out a corner of my property about 35 feet both directions from the corner. It took a lot of cardboard. I topped with compost, planted a bunch of plants by digging circles in the cardboard etc. then topped with mulch. A year later, the cardboard is gone and everything I planted this past spring 2024 is sitting in fabulous weed free soil. I did the same thing with two 4 x 16 beds by the porch. I do rip all the tape off and try to get my cardboard from he furniture stores so the pieces are big. The only grass I pull up is the edge where I begin the beds which also creates a good border. I do get weeds that I am assuming comes in with the wind or bird drippings, but using the cardboard instead of cutting out all that grass is a no brainer. Yesterday I dug another bed to take out a corner and make it easier for mowing but I am a firm believer in cardboard in case you couldn't tell!

[@Dr.Warren]

This is great information. Thank you for sharing.

[@LoisJessop]

Living in a dry desert climate, I shred cardboard in my paper shredder a little at a time and put it around my fruit trees and then put dry manure on top to help break down the cardboard and help keep the moisture around my trees! The wind blows a lot here and the shreds don’t blow around like the big pieces do. Also I put paper/ cardboard shreds in my compost pile along with the vegetable scraps and added red worms to help it break down faster.

[@margolehman5482]

I use cardboard covered with wood chips to define the pathways in my garden. Some weeds get through, but not so many that I can't keep up with them. I do remove plastic tape, labels and even the paper tape that Amazon uses, because it does have nylon threads which won't break down. I also shred cardboard as bedding for my worms and I plan to use it in my compost as a carbon source.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for sharing. I am still learning about all the uses of cardboard myself and you taught me something. Thanks you!

[@dominadoramor7767]

Big word of caution when using cardboard, paper towels, etc. for worm food, according to a local organic farmer: bleach is still used in the paper pulping process, and you really don’t want to feed too much of that.

[@loggggon]

I leave a lot of the tape on , it eventually just comes to the surface by itself

[@lane_actual_]

What tools do you recommend / use to shred cardboard?

[@margolehman5482]

@@lane_actual_ I purchased a 12 sheet cross-cut paper shredder (the one from Amazon Basics was recommended, but I think it could be any 12 sheet paper shredder). You still have to rip the cardboard into relatively small pieces for the shredder to handle it, but it does make nice little, tiny pieces which break down much faster.

[@TheSteve0583]

Cardboard has been a great weed suppressant for me. It's easy to mulch on top of, and not get bits of greenery growing back up through the mulch. It's a descent brown to go in the compost with my greens. When I put grass clippings in the compost there's lots and lots of green, and we always have lots and lots of cardboard to go along with it!

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience

[@simongchadwick]

Three years ago we converted a large sprinkler-irrigated grass area along our driveway into a mulched area with drip-irrigated plants. First the grass was covered in chicken manure. Then, instead of cardboard, we used 4 rolls of that 3'-wide brown paper sold at the big box stores for protection from indoor remodeling and painting. It was *much* easier to apply, and more even, than cardboard would have been, especially at curved edges where it could be folded under to fit. Finally 4" of mulch covered the paper. Now we have beautiful dripped plants, and no weeds or grass have appeared.

[@Dr.Warren]

Great information. Thanks for sharing

[@jonicake58]

What is the purpose of the chicken manure? Does it help kill the grass? I have Bermuda.

[@triciac1019]

Great job!

[@boysrus61]

@@jonicake58 I am guessing they have chickens and manure available but the chicken manure is for fertilizing the soil. BUT, it seems everything I've read is that chicken manure is hot and will burn tender new plants or seedlings.

[@lizzid63]

@@boysrus61 if you use fresh chicken manure it is very hot. most commercial bought chicken manure is aged so is not as hot

[@charlaemery1811]

It’s an absolute earthworm magnet in my area anywhere I use it, I’m NE TX zone 8, 50” annual rainfall, never experienced termites in any of my beds. I deep mulch with arborist chips and leaves.

[@Dr.Warren]

Do you guys have the formosan termites out there? They are invasive to Alabama brought over from a lumber shipment to mobile harbor. They chew up anything that closely resembles wood

[@rootelation486]

I agree....my cardboard beds have thousands of earthworms....I don't know why they love it so much other than running away from the sun

[@gr8gardn]

Tape eventuality seems to come up to the surface in my garden after a year or two. It is no problem to pull it out and toss it. Much easier than pulling all of the tape off BEFORE using the cardboard as is usually recommended.

[@Dr.Warren]

That is good information. Thanks for sharing

[@hntrssthmpsn]

This is the way! I used to dutifully pull off all the tape and labels, but now I only bother if they're coated in the kind of thin plastic that becomes super brittle after exposure to the elements because that's a pain to pick up later but comes off the box with relative ease.

[@christophermorgan4759]

You have saved me

[@MYT-Ixe]

Yes and it prevents microplastics in your vegetables

[@prairie3668]

I had termites move into the cardboard. Never again. Never had or even saw termites before. Positive ID.

[@jimblair7724]

I've been using cardboard for 3 years in my flower and conifers beds and i have and easy weeding job, It works great ! Thanks

[@Dr.Warren]

It works great when used correctly.

[@GARDENER42]

I'm in temperate Zone 9, with around 60" of rain annually (NW England, UK). I've been using cardboard covered with 4" of my own compost for initial weed suppression for over a decade with excellent results. Cardboard is completely decomposed in 6-8 months. I also use shredded cardboard for carbon, especially grass clippings, as it's easy to mix the two together. I also use all the sawdust & shavings from my woodworking projects. I've been 'no till' for 7 years.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. This is great information. I toured Kew 20ish years ago and a bunch of other gardens in England. I envy the passion for gardening in the UK.

[@JoanWHS82]

How do you shred the cardboard? I have a pretty decent paper shredder, but I would be wary of trying to put cardboard through it.

[@GARDENER42]

@@JoanWHS82 Crosscut paper shredder - an old HSM Shredstar X15. Supposed to run for no more than 15 minutes at a time but I frequently run it for 40-45 minutes. Only ever cut out once & that was when I pushed to an hour. I must've shredded a couple of tons of corrugated cardboard with it over the years. I don't feed it full width - cut down to 150mm/6" wide strips but as long as I like.

[@theborderer1302]

@@JoanWHS82 Use a lawn mower, but rip up the cardboard into reasonably small pieces by hand first.

[@JLukens48]

(Zone 6A SE PA). I am converting a 15' x 125' strip of grass to a perennial bed over the course of three years. I am in year two. This was a long-term project that has yielded favorable results. To do this I cut lawn at the closest setting. Before I laid the cardboard down I spent a significant amount of time removing any packing tape. Tape does not decompose well (polypropylene or polyethylene plastic), and I saw no reason to add it. Those pieces I did miss are intact after a year. I usually did an area of 15 x 20 feet at a time. That's a lot of cardboard and I was limited by how much I could collect from donations from friends and what I could scrounge from worksites. I laid it down overlapping the cardboard by several inches. I used hardwood mulch that was not dyed. I added about a 4-6 inch layer. Last year I completed an area about 15 x 100. I finished that by about July and let it sit undisturbed until this spring when I began planting transplants. The cardboard had not rotted away but was sufficiently rotted to cut through with a trowel. The remainder of the 15 x 50 I finished off by July and it will also sit until next spring before planting. Take aways: Very satisfied. Be patient. I have experienced no grass coming through. A few weeds will germinate within the mulch but are easy to pull.

[@Dr.Warren]

Awesome thank you for taking the time to share your experiences. That is valuable information.

[@Kristen-603]

I made friends with my shipping department at work. Every recycle day I get to fill my car with cardboard for the multiple projects we are working on in our yard. :)

[@Dr.Warren]

Ha! That is awesome!! Thanks for sharing.

[@BrianGay57]

I have even had excellent results with newspaper. A made a new bed on heavy clay with thick St. Augustine grass. I laid a 3-4 sheets of newspaper, and then heavy mulch. I dug a couple of holes and put in a couple of shrubs, then pretty much forgot it. A year or two later I decided to add some more plants, and what once was very heavy clay had almost magically turned into a dark fertile loam full of earthworms!

[@Adogslife54]

I use the grocery store flyers that are delivered to my house. Free and I don’t have to go anywhere to get them. I also use the newspaper to supplement the cardboard in areas too small to cut cardboard. Like around the roots of small trees or flowers.

[@BonnieKennedy-pj7tn]

That is what I need, AZ SOLID CLAY.

[@BonnieKennedy-pj7tn]

I want to start an inground worm bed to help my ground and compost

[@jenniferselvig7177]

In the Pacific Northwest it takes about 3 months for the cardboard to decompose. We have made MANY beds using cardboard. We remove any tape, as it is plastic based and does not decompose.

[@Dr.Warren]

I could see in a place like Portland, Seattle, etc where it would break down very fast. I did a trip to the Oregon cost and the valley about 20 years ago and its such a beautiful spot. I have always enjoyed running so getting to see Eugene and Hayward Field was a treat for me.

[@leedavis-m2o]

Two years ago I had my garage taken down and the concrete floor broken up. I have been using a layer of cardboard then a layer of weed cloth topped with the concrete. This area is near my raised garden beds and will keep that area weed and work free, (that is my hope). I have been saving all my boxes for two years. So far this is really looking good. I will use sand and maybe a little soil between the concrete shapes to plant Hen and Chicks and creeping Thyme for fragrance as I walk. I always try to use everything that I cut down or take down, somewhere else on my property. Each tree that came down over the years, ground up and used as mulch. So everything that was here 47.5 years ago, is still here, in one form or another.

[@julierobertson148]

This video's just what I needed! I shop online, so I have LOTS of cardboard. I also have a bed with hostas in it but has been taken over by weeds. Knowing how to use my cardboard to reclaim my flower bed is going to make what I dreaded would be a monumental job easy. (I'm now a subscriber.)

[@Dr.Warren]

Thank you for the comment and subscribing. It means a lot.

[@boysrus61]

The cardboard is an initial weed suppressant but eventually, about a year, it breaks down and is gone. That is when you need to figure out what mulches or other ground covers you are going to use to stop the weeds. BUT, if you have lots of weeds, the cardboard topped with mulch will kill it.

[@Dr.Warren]

@@boysrus61 great information. Thanks for sharing

[@nickylowe3005]

I live in the Southern Drakensberg mountains of South Africa and use cardboard to suppress weeds (Rividia/mouse-eared-clover) and mulch (along with straw or pine needles depending on the shrub). I'm preparing compost for a red-wriggler barrel and a few truck tyre piles - lots of used coffee grounds, soaked torn cardboard, small sticks, horse manure, kitchen and garden waste. Holding thumbs that the combination works and the wrigglers multiply.

[@zialuna]

How I do it: I cover the cardboard with water in a wheelbarrow, take off any plastic tape, then rip it up into smaller pieces so air can get through. Then I spread it on the garden, usually 2-4 layers with overlapping edges, then cover with mulch. Great for weed suppression, holding moisture, plus the worms and fungi love it. Anytime I look under the mulch and cardboard, there are many worms, and you can see fungal mycelia running through it, too. Just keep it moist, and the decomposers and soil life will thrive in there.

[@Anonymously4051]

I’ve used cardboard in the garden for decades. Works very well, better on sandy soil than on heavy clay but worked well in both southern Ontario and Nova Scotia where it rains every few days. Breaks down in about a year in Nova Scotia because of the amount of rain. Hasn’t seemed to affect plant/shrub/tree health in any garden location. Place stones over cardboard as mulch because the constant strong winds here in Nova Scotia blow mulch away. Effective at reducing weeds which are plentiful here because of the winds and people don’t maintain their properties well at all.

[@Dr.Warren]

This is great information and seems consistent with the peer review data I have looked at. In moist environments with sandy soils it seems to be beneficial. Thank you for taking time to share your experience.

[@IslandGirl755]

I live in Canada on east coast on Atlantic Ocean I use cardboard (CB) in my garden for 5 yrs now . Trying to stop the Goat weed from spreading. It is a yearly job as It only works until it breaks down. Then I replace it all and dig up weeds. On the top of my bank is the best results for the CB I have a large very old rock wall and on top was just grass and weeds which my neighbour mowed. When he passed away and house was sold they put up a fence along the property line. So I could not mow on the top of bank anymore. So I put down landscape fabric and ROCKS lots of HUGE Rocks. That worked for a few yrs. Goatweed came up in between rocks. So I went ahead and picked up the rocks and put CB over the fabric then put rocks back. Phew what a job. In between rocks I threw tops of my flowers with seeds on them, my plants began to take over the rocks. But this yr in certain spots Goatweed was real bad again. So I lifted rocks and added more CB and put rocks back down. I planted flowers in between rocks and made sure cardboard went right up neighbour’s fence as it was coming under the fence into my space. I hate that weed. This past summer was extremely HOT and Dry. So Hot I could only work outside in the early morning. I need more rocks and I have to go find some more to build up another layer, and more CB. My shed is full of CB. I cut in around my beds every spring and put down CB and mulch this works pretty good and I can mow easier. Bye now

[@Robin-ci2kx]

I have just recently learned about goatweed and I can see why you are so anxious to get rid of it. Bad stuff.

[@Simsane]

When we bought our house there was ivy everywhere. We spent a lot of time pulling out as much as we could only for it to return. I read you're supposed to find the rootball and dig that out but we couldn't find it. Well, I finally put down a bunch of cardboard then covered it with bags of woodchip mulch. That finally killed it. Plus it killed the little bit of blackberry vines that were trying to grow up through the ivy.

[@Dr.Warren]

Great tips. Thanks for sharing!

[@marlenahirsch4338]

I put wood chips on top of cardboard to clear the weedy annual grasses. For example I did that last spring after my husband took a string trimmer to the grasses. Now that it is fall rainy season, it is easy to plant daffodils or perennials through the cardboard. (We are in a dry summer/ wet winter climate. ) The cardboard covered with wood chips treatment is how I expand landscaped areas. In the vegetable growing area, I use this same treatment on the paths.

[@MsKrigg]

I live in a tropical area and use similarly to how Dr. describes. It works and makes my life easy.

[@kobolslastgleamingdragon3732]

Been looking to extend some island flower beds but have been putting it off because of not wanting to do the digging out part. I guess now I can move forward with this info! Thanks!

[@Dr.Warren]

It worked for me. Bermuda might sneak around the edges.

[@BrianGay57]

What I have done when creating a new bed on existing lawn is lay out the shape of the bed. A hose works great for oddly shaped beds. I then go around the outline with a shovel and cut a vertical edge just tipping the soil removed into the bed area. Then cover the grass in the bed with whatever amendments and mulch. I did it once with just 3-4 layers of newspaper and a bunch of mulch. I dug holes and improved the individual holes. After a year or so heavy clay and grass were rich loamy soil with tons of worms. Just newspaper, lots of mulch and time. Amazing!

[@lesleypaton1967]

I am in New Zealand and used this last year under a pear tree, it worked well. Also used in new garden by fence. Thankyou for the information about the ink. I pull off the tape and remove the staples

[@normabumbaugh6929]

In Idaho zone 7b I have used cardboard for the last three years. This past week my husband and I put cardboard over existing weeds. Then we brought in 8 inches of compost. In the walkways we put down thick wood chips that were dropped off by an arborist. This is how I’ve built all my vegetables beds. It’s cheap and very effective. While you still need to be vigilant regarding weeds it is a far cry from what a person normally deals with.

[@Dr.Warren]

Great information. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheJimsjams]

Excellent video! Have considered trying cardboard for a while, so I've got a bank of boxes stored up to test with in an herb garden I have in mind for my farm here. 16 acres of row crops and peach, pear and plum orchards. I wore a halo for 8 months before I graduated to a boot. An amazing journey. . . Bless you Brother.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for watching and for the kind words. 16 acres!!! It sounds like an impressive operation you have going on. I tore my Achilles training for a marathon last winter. I got out of the boot back in May, out of PT 3 weeks ago, and I am on a "return to running" program that consist of different combinations of walking/running. Baby steps but headed in the right direction.

[@teeveepowers4400]

I did a lot of cardboard in my garden this year. I topped it with a mix of top soil, twigs and straw, and black Kow fertilizer. Anywhere the cardboard was covered in soil or a rock had broken down within about a month, anything that was sticking out and didn’t get cover didn’t break down at all. I Planted patty pan squash, jack o lantern pumpkins and marigolds, tomatoes from seed over it and got decent to excellent growth and also planted Woodland phlox over it when it was still fresh, that had mixed results.

[@Dr.Warren]

That's awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[@groussac]

I like the idea of cardboard covered with wood chips in the walk lanes. I may give it a try this fall if I have the time. Weeds in the walk lanes not that big an issue this year, but oh well. I've used cardboard in the perimeter flower bed that surrounds the main garden. Perimeter @ 88 feet, a work in progress due to crab grass intrusion. Any way, have used cardboard over grass to start off new beds. Works okay if you pile enough compost and soil on top of it. Saves from having to dig up the grass that's firmly rooted in place and keeps the soil profile undisturbed.

[@Dr.Warren]

Yes, I would think compost on top of cardboard would be great for the purpose you mentioned.

[@sreek1223]

Great explanation ., Thank you for educating. So, i use lot of the empty CardBoards to fill my ladscape, Simply because the developer of the property stamped lot of construction debri into the soil .I just dont like to grow plants in that soil, so For the past few yrs i dug out about 2 foot down and cleared the soil and use CARDBOARDS, & tree clippings to fill it up., Its lot of work but from what i see it is reviving the soil and I see my plants are thriving, though it takes long time to fill up the space. But its a good alternative I thought. I dont want to bring in external soil , i just want to have a NATURAL soil in my yard ..

[@ellellbee]

I had saved cardboard to put in my vegetable paths and cover with wood chips to deter weeds. But then I remembered that when I set anything down, a board; a mat at the entrance of my garden; anything, I end up with thatching ants using that cover for their nests. I don't know if I can try it or not. My garden is surrounded on 2 sides with forest about 15 feet back from the first rows. I decided to avoid the cardboard. Your comment about termites, has confirmed that thatching ants would be similar. I obtained an old round bale of hay and hosed it down and covered it for the winter under the snow. In the spring, the centre of it was an ant nest.

[@Dr.Warren]

Great tips. Thanks for sharing.

[@SouthCarolinaTransPlant]

I used cardboard before I knew it was "a thing". My elderly neighbor hipped me to it. I place compost on top of the grass/weeds, cardboard, followed by a 4" - 6" layer of mulch. As for termites, I wouldn't sheet mulch if a bed is against my house. Termites got into a bed that was out by the road. They actually helped break down the cardboard faster! I thanked them! 😅😅😅

[@Dr.Warren]

Great information! Thank you.

[@triciac1019]

My grandmother and my father used it. They would get cardboard that appliances were shipped in. That was way back in the 60s.

[@reginastevenson-swint8676]

Before and after I placed it down i put diatomaceous earth down then,soil/compost of choice. No termite issues.

[@Anita-vg8mp]

Very informative and excellent video, thank you. Also, great info and comments from the other viewers. I feel more positive and comfortable about using cardboard in my yard.

[@Dr.Warren]

I agree. I have enjoyed reading other people's experiences with using cardboard. Thanks for watching

[@GenerationsTogetherRecipes]

Thank you very much. I have used newspaper, and was pleased to see so many worms when I lifted it.

[@dmartinpiepenbrok]

Good video. Thank you. I have been building plant beds all around our 0.75 acre clay-based lot to reduce turf over the past year. Within just 7 months our beds have improved substantially to create good soil and produce lots of worms. First I mow the area for the bed as low as I can. I then place the cardboard down, water it thoroughly, and finally cover it with 3-5 inches of wood chips (free using ChipDrop). Where we put in plants I cut out a circle of cardboard that pretty much matches the size of the pot size that the plant came in. As an experiment I did create a large bed without cardboard, but the wood chips were piled about 5-6 inches deep. So far most the of weeds have been suppressed, having only needed to remove a small number. I'm good with those results too. I'm currently building more beds around our home. In consideration of the termites concern, we do have monitoring stations in place around our home, I'm thinking about keeping cardboard about 6-8 feet away from the exterior walls and simply add a deeper level of wood chips. I'll see how that works come next spring. Bottom line is I'm going to continue using cardboard only to build new landscape beds. I will not use it after the beds and plants have been established. Afterward I will simply add more wood chips (again free through ChipDrop) seasonally as needed.

[@Dr.Warren]

Great information thanks for sharing.

[@trizhaay]

We filled two very weeded areas with cardboard. 7 months later weeds only in spaced where I think we left gaps. I think we we double the layers of cardboard next time.

[@meganfaye1426]

All Pros and no Cons for us - made a new flower beds with cardboard and lots of compost, manure and mulch and worked brilliantly. Saved so much effort and very happy soil with huge plants a year after sheeting with cardboard

[@watermelonlalala]

I just covered a mostly clay bed with cardboard and leaves. Waiting for the spring. If it is still clay then, I will know why. I have never seen one comment from a person saying they had a bad result with cardboard, though.

[@marythomson3229]

Looks like you’ve had some issue with your leg. Hope all heals quickly. 🙏🏼 Mary, Decatur, AL

[@Dr.Warren]

Two more weeks from today and that thing comes off. Not that I am counting down or anything. Haha!!

[@gregorythomson7813]

Might be an obvious thing, but also good to mention if using those big heavy-duty cardboard boxes with the big metal staples in them - take out the staples before using in the garden. Don't want to be stepping on those with bare feet.

[@Dr.Warren]

Ouch!!!! Good point!

[@theborderer1302]

I live in the UK (USA Zone 9b) and am fortunate enough to live by the sea. I harvest seaweed from the local beach, leave it a few weeks for the rain to wash out the salt, then spread it out together with ripped up cardboard (about 50 / 50). I then just run a lawn mower over it all to shred. This mix, spread about 100mm thick on my beds in autumn improves soil quality and worm population a great deal.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for sharing from across the pond. I went to Kew and a bunch of other gardens around 20 years ago. I want to go back.

[@n2organic]

Excellent info, but correction about the tape. Paper tape will break down, but plastic tape and printed labels need to be removed. They will never decompose-they only break down into microplastics. I’d love to see any resources about the type of ink used that you mentioned. I regularly use a layer of cardboard covered with mulched leaves and grass as mulch around plants, cut into circular pattern for single plants in the yard, and also as pathway covers in the vegetable garden. Works great!

[@Dr.Warren]

Great information thanks for sharing.

[@frankcoldwell4424]

Cardboard where I live rots down in a couple of weeks ( UK). I use a lot in my compost bin and after prepping raised beds ready for winter crops in late summer cover the beds for a few weeks to encourage worms up. Inevitability when I come to remove it it’s mostly rotted underneath and full of worms. So I don’t understand why all this negativity about using it. Another way to use it if you have lawns and make your own compost is tear it up and throw it all over your lawn before cutting it, this mixes it up really well.

[@Dr.Warren]

I could see in a rainy environment like the UK where it would break down quickly.

[@frankcoldwell4424]

@@Dr.Warren We don’t have a rainy environment, just soak the bed first, then soak the cardboard when you cover it, then dampen it down every couple of days. I use rainwater I collect so zero cost.

[@valkyriesardo278]

Zone 6a in Northwest Indiana. I neglected a back garden for years. This Summer I cleared all the top-growth down to bare dirt. I am eager to put down shredded wood mulch, but I still have too many stumps to dig out from volunteer trees. Plus I have long ropes of inch thick wisteria root that is sprawling across the surface of the ground. Without a doubt there is a multitude of seed and root from all the weeds still lurking in the soil. I expect the weeds will soon return with a vengeance. Based on this video and the comments, it seems my next wisest move would be a layer of cardboard on as much soil as possible. That will discourage the resurgence of weed while I'm digging out the larger root systems. Shifting cardboard about will be easier than dealing with mulch when I need to grade the soil after all the excavations. When all the soil finally is prepared for mulch, I intend to use cardboard at least along the pathways. I scavenged a large roll of landscape fabric I can use in the planting beds. I would like to add that my best friend in all this toil is my reciprocating saw. It has a pruning blade that can cut through a 4 inch trunk without breaking a sweat. Best of all, that long sawblade can be used to cut through root growth without damage to the saw. You can't do that with a chain saw without ruining the saw blades. The only downside is that a reciprocating saw vibrates so holding it steady becomes tiring for an age 70 woman who does not have much muscle. That is a minor disadvantage in light of the benefits. I took down two truckloads of brush with that saw. The city brought a front loader to scoop up those foliage mountains. My region has a vendor that specializes in mulch. Look for one in your area. They deliver or allow pickup by the truckload. They offer mulch from hardwood, softwood, chipper scrap, fragrant woods, and quite a selection of colored mulches. My initial layer will be the least expensive and lowest grade available. I will splurge a little more on the top dressing.

[@Dr.Warren]

Great information thanks for sharing

[@triciac1019]

I would like to suggest not using weed fabric. Weeds grow through it. I am excited for you in your endeavors.

[@rhondabarlow860]

Really like the science and practical mix. Great balanced video. It's too late for me and the termites. Oh well, they were well fed😂 I put it in the bottom of my raised beds. I like how you addressed the ink question.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thank you for watching and leaving a comment! One thing earning my PhD taught me is to try to take my personal opinion out of situations and look at the data. Also, to be willing to change my mind based on new data. It's easier said than done. Confirmation bias of personal experience and opinions is hard to break. I try to apply a balance of science and practicality when I film.

[@brianmorrissey9071]

I use cardboard in multiple usage places. I have 3 types of compost piles that I turn about once a month. One with cardboard, mulched leaves and pinestraw placed on top of a hard layer of plastic. No watering except for nature. This has become my worm compost and makes great soil replenishment. The other 2 piles are of just leaves and grass clippings with soil that has no composition (came from holes I dug for burn pits 6 feet deep) the third is my "wet" compost from the yardwaste and kitchen scraps along with the coffee grounds. This is my amendment soil at the beginning of each year (I pick out the worms). Another use for cardboard is between the rows of my corn bed for weed suppression, this works great as long as I leave an 18 inch diameter of soil clear for the roots. I cover with just raked leaf mulch and water every 2 days. At the end of season I pick up cardboard and leave mulch. Cover with a tarp for the winter. I then take the rather worn down cardboard and place it in "Pile 1". I find many worms underneath and suspect that is where my worms come to "PIle 1". The last place I use cardboard is the walkways between my raised beds which i then also cover with weed cloth barrier and pin it down. About every 2 years I have to replace the cardboard but the weeds in my beds are absolutely only windborne and easy to maintain. Beds are 24 inches high.

[@Dr.Warren]

Brian thanks!!!!!! That took a minute to type out but really valuable information.

[@valkyriesardo278]

I have used a row of pavers to remove turf. Cardboard would have been unsightly in locations where curb appeal matters. Place the row on top of the grass along one edge of your intended planting bed. When that turf is dead, move the pavers to kill off the adjacent strip of lawn. Add mulch to the exposed dirt as your planting bed continues to expand.

[@Dr.Warren]

This is great. Thanks for sharing

[@nildaotero2933]

Thanks for sharing such good info.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for watching

[@Kinosec-10]

I’ve used cardboard to block nasty weeds and it works great! If it’s in contact with the dirt it breaks down quickly so you’ll need to replace it eventually.

[@Dr.Warren]

Yes, it will break down that could be both good or bad depending on the desired outcome.

[@ronachadwick7908]

I an converting a 400m2 verge from couch grass to natives. Have covered it all with cardbrd and mulch. The couch came thru...eventually. Best method...cut grass and water in a liquid fertilizer. Cover with cardbrd and THICK layer of mulch. Green mulch is the BEST. Works really well.

[@Dr.Warren]

This is great information. Thanks for sharing

[@TheWiseOne6775]

Carboard in the garden works fabulous, every single one of my trees and bushes are thriving. The cardboard keeps the moisture in the soil here in Australia with the mulch over it. It also attracts more worms than I can count. And I'm not sure why you think it takes so long to decompose, I put down cardboard around my trees 6 months ago and it is almost gone already, just scraps of it are left, thanks to the worms.

[@Dr.Warren]

Great information thanks for sharing.

[@Maggie-Gardener-Maker]

Excellent video, thank you.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for watching

[@an-alechianeathery770]

I don't compost grass if its seedings. I did that once, had grass coming up in my compost and wherever I use my compost. Thing with some cardboard I found out that some won't completely compost down into soil. The cardboard that didn't compost completely became hard and nonbendable. I had to remove its from my compost container. None of the bug,worm, and organisms didn't want to touch it. Like pizza boxes that I compost ones. Composted completely down into soil in no time. Toilets paper rolls take longer to compost down,

[@Dr.Warren]

This is great information. Thank you for taking time to watch and leaving a comment.

[@thisbushnell2012]

I remove all plastic from the cardboard, tape, labels, nylon filaments etc. And use only plain cardboard, no shiny coatings and very minimal coloration. Our potter's clay soil has improved in texture where cardboard is used with an overlayment of pine straw or pine shaving horse bedding. Areas are periodically allowed to go fallow with native 'weeds' like dandelions, asters etc. and rye and clovers.

[@Dr.Warren]

Clay can be difficult but it sounds like you have greatly improved it's structure

[@thisbushnell2012]

@@Dr.Warren it's slowly getting there. In Elementary School some 70 years ago, we learned of the prairie soil that, when Europeans first arrived was as black as night and from 6' to 15' deep😲. Of the lily worm, now extinct🥺, a native earthworm that grew to 15' in length and smelled like Easter lilies. Of the loss through greedy mismanagement that made it into the Great Dustbowl.😱 It can never recover completely, but my journey to stewardship began that day.

[@Dr.Warren]

@@thisbushnell2012 same here. There is a place in Georgia called Providence canyon and it was created by the mismanagement of soils. It really dialed me into soil preservation. It is the most valuable resource we have.

[@troutfisher7182]

Will it work on a bed that has blackberry encroaching?

[@Dr.Warren]

I don't see why not. You may want to put down 2-3 layers

[@glomontero6011]

Thank you for this very good information.

[@stephencline1884]

I use cardboard as the bottom layer of a new raised bed. I also use shredded cardboard in my compost bins and as filler along with three limbs leaves, anything biodegradable in raised beds.

[@Dr.Warren]

Great tips. Thanks for sharing.

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

I never made any issues with carboard but we are clay

[@peters.cookson4772]

Will using cardboard between raised beds be a place for earwigs and squash beetles to multiply?

[@Dr.Warren]

Potentially, there are a lot of other variables that would play into insect recruitment to the area.

[@joannmicik1924]

Just two very minor complaints. If you don't remove clear plastic tape from some cardboard, it is a nuisance when it pops up. And second, slugs gather under the cardboard so I won't use it near hostas. Conversely, this could be a good way to trap the little pests and get rid of them!

[@Dr.Warren]

Great points. Thanks for sharing!

[@ninavongunten122]

Will placing weed killer Prem under the cardboard mats discourage any termites ?

[@Brandon-zo9ly]

As I understand it, you should always remove the labels that are printed with a thermal printer, they contain BPA. And what about the clear tape often used in packaging? I always remove that too.

[@Dr.Warren]

I think the consensus is clear polypropylene tape is removed if it's paper based like Amazon is starting to use you can leave it.

[@susanwilliams7702]

Ok, I have used some cardboard and black weed cloth in my whole yard front and back. One part will be wildflowers the other raised beds. My grass is now dead. I have two truckloads of fine mulch. Do I put that on top of the cardboard? Of course after removing the barrier….and then what? Now I’m nervous! Zone 7, Knoxville, TN Thank you! Do I keep the weed barrier fabric on???

[@Dr.Warren]

I would put the mulch on the cardboard to save the time. The cardboard will breakdown really quick being in Knoxville things decompose fast with the warmth, rain, humidity, soil acidity, etc. I would skip the weed barrier. I did a video on weed barriers I will leave below. Sidenote, I am not sure if you are a football fan, but the Vols are putting together a good season. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4qqY3SObbGIY5Isi=OSbVr7qpnADfwW8Z

[@susanwilliams7702]

@ I did exactly what you suggested, though I did leave the weed barrier due to even taking it off for a week in parts weeds crept up immediately. Had 4 inches of soil put down, then spread about 2-3 inches of mulch. Long weekend and I had help. Put down 9 inches of mulch in the circle of where an above ground swimming pool was that grass had covered very well. Garden beds are going there in the back with more wildflowers scattered about. Cardboard is scattered intertwined everywhere again. I’m hoping to start worm bins shortly. Will hopefully put seeds down soon, they are in the freezer. lol, GO VOLS! Yes, all of the teams have done very well!

[@susanwilliams7702]

@ oh! I did plant several phlox and other perennials. Used an auger on my drill and glides thru weed barrier. Drilled sporadically thru yard for drainage control. Yard was graded correctly years ago. Another big job at the time . I didn’t want to lose my soil❗️

[@paulaw3264]

Thank you for this viedo. I was wondering about this very thing. Wish i would have known that sooner.

[@Dr.Warren]

Cardboard has its pros and cons just like anything else. In the right applications it's pretty good.

[@kimk3842]

Thank you for clarifying this.

[@kimbyask7212]

I put 2 layers of cardboard under my raised bed in May, and squash, pumpkins, tomatos are all growing so well. my raised bed is only 30CM high and in zone 5 only in spring and fall has some rains. I put landscape fabric in another raised bed 2 yrs ago, my tomato get bloomsom end rot every time after a heavy rain. So apparently after 1-2 months, cardboard drains water better than landscape fabric.

[@Dr.Warren]

From my experience this is correct.

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

VERY helpful video. Hope you are all good, after the recent weather. AND, hope the upcoming storm doesn't hit too bad.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks! The new storm in the Gulf will have minimal impact on me. Helene knocked down a few tree limbs and a few plants I had just put in that weren't rooted. Nothing like what happened a few hours up the road in NC

[@believer2734]

I just used cardboard today. We dug up sod/grass and then laid down cardboard. Added river rock on top of cardboard to hold it in place. We have 3 new bushes planted (2 years old) in the midst of this and left about one foot perimeter around each. It was hard to get around to mow so we are trying this. I hope it keeps the grass/weeds out of this area. Normally I use large black lawn bags but thought this was a cheaper method.

[@Dr.Warren]

It is definitely better than plastic because it lets water through and will not get near as hot

[@coralb3459]

I have known people to use old wornout woollen carpet on their garden to get rid of weeds etc. Wool being a natural fibre would also add nutrients to the soil as it breaks down. Happy gardening, from Tasmania, 🇦🇺 Australia.

[@bud5084]

It is great for attracting termites.

[@Dr.Warren]

In areas where termites are an issue it definitely can.

[@sam08330]

Great video…I was considering cardboard until you said termites, I live in Florida and termites are a problem. I have a termite specialist spraying to keep them out, so I don’t want to do anything to feed or attract them…thx so much for sharing!!!

[@Dr.Warren]

Yes! Florida has the invasive formosan termites. 50-100ft away from the house probably nothing to worry about. On flower beds around the foundation of the house I would not do it.

[@Dr.Warren]

Also, I noticed your picture. I think the Phillies have a good chance to win it all. I'm a braves fan and the injury bug has bitten us big time this year. If the Phillies can get hot they are going to be tough to eliminate.

[@sam08330]

@@Dr.Warren I think so too…thx!!!

[@johanitalouw9315]

Good day! Do you have any suggestions positive or negative, regarding eelworm/nematodes in a garden with sandy soil, please??

[@savannahsmiles1797]

I had sand, sand, and did I mention sand in the high desert of CO. This is the only way I could make a garden....and it became an oasis quickly. I dug a french drain around my property to capture and redirect rain water that tended to be fast and furious flooding water aimed at my house as I was lower elevation than the neighboring properties. I made a makeshift pound to capture that water. Used feeder fish to stock it and if they died, they went under my roses or fruit trees. I did straw bale gardening which did great.. Watering with the pond water gave the plants the needed fertilizeing and at end of season the bales would break apart and you could clearly see the earthworms that found their forever home. It created soil that was loamy eventually without much effort. All from pond water and straw bales. It did the rest. My other attempts were not very successful. Make sure you are using straw from organic sources...

[@Dr.Warren]

Not without doing some research. I know where I am (Alabama) nematodes are really bad, especially on the peanut crops.

[@barrywhite7741]

For large areas, I have been using corrugated b-roll cardboard. Thinner than a box, breaks down faster, very easy to work with, and comes in rolls.

[@Dr.Warren]

This is genius. Thanks for sharing

[@ronniehiggins8624]

Where do you but b-roll cardboard? And does it kill red clover?

[@Dr.Warren]

@@ronniehiggins8624 given enough time it will kill it

[@Handling-Life-1-Day-At-A-Time]

Prior to moving into our current home, the landscape fabric has grass/weeds growing through it. Surrounding our bushes/trees is river rock on top. My question is do you recommend opening a cardboard box up allowing it to be double layered or is one layer (box fully open) sufficient as well. I’d like to cover up the grass/weeds with cardboard and add newer rock on top of the existing rock. The grass/weeds just make the landscape river rock look terrible. Also we also live in South Alabama. Thanks.

[@Dr.Warren]

Either way would work. Double would last a little longer. Being in South Alabama I wouldn't put it close to the house. You guys have the formosan termites and they will be attracted to cardboard.

[@kimk3842]

Same issue here.......NW Florida

[@angelamagrini9274]

I used it on the bottom of my raised beds to help with moisture retention. I’m in zone 10B close to the Caloosahatche river (quite a few southeastern moles) I was hoping it could possibly slow them down from getting to the roots?

[@Dr.Warren]

Do you ever see the Florida panther down there? I've been to big Cypress and the Everglades twice crossing my fingers to see one in the wild.

[@angelamagrini9274]

@@Dr.Warren I have 😁 on Sanibel under a still home with 2 cubs. It was incredible. The island has denied having them. I hadn’t thought about it; I hope they made it through Ian

[@hsnwfl7766]

I have put 1/4 hardware cloth under my dryer drum containers sure hope it helps against moles and voles.

[@tonyb1803]

I am wrong that the plastic tape used on most boxes, other the Amazon boxes, would become micro plastics over time. I also seem to remember that those micro plastics can eventually be take up and into the plant tissue. Am I wrong on this?

[@Dr.Warren]

I would need to do some research on whether plastic is systemic or not. Off the top of my head I would think they wouldn't be.

[@ronachadwick7908]

I remove tape n labels. Looks better and may be better for the soil plants and animals.

[@Anythingforfreedom]

The hydrophobic properties of dry cardboard isn't an issue. The water will run off the side of the cardboard and soak into the ground. The cardboard then prevents that water from evaporating away. Noone has ever claimed that cardboard has an NPK value. It's the best thing for your soil because it's 90% carbon. When carbon is colonized by fungi and bacteria it's broken down into humus. Soil thats high in carbon has a high cation exchange capacity, which means that the chemical charge of the soil prevents nutrients from washing away. The feedback, between these properties becomes a virtuous cycle. More nutrients, more growth, more soil microbes etc.

[@ShirleyThorpe]

I live in Tn where there is lots of RED Clay I put Cardboard down every Fall and Mulch My leaves and put them on Top By Spring all thats left is the strips of Tape that were on the boxes The worms do not like the tape. Early this Spring I saw a Robin pick up a small chunk of Cardboard Moved it over and was eating my worms. There are lots of worms that live under the cardboard and aerate The soil, My garden is beautiful. I have been using the cardboard 12 years

[@Dr.Warren]

I grew up in northwest Georgia. I know allll about the red clay.

[@leavesongrass]

What about all the chemicals used at the papermills where they make the cardboard? Has anyone tested the cardboard to find what remains? I would not want to grow food in cardboard-amended soil.

[@davidcovington901]

Great riff on one "ingredient"! Goes well with the "all peroxide" epidode. A good niche and hope to see more, if possible.

[@Dr.Warren]

I have two weeks off between the end of the spring semester and before I have to return to teach summer semester. My goal is to make a video a day and try to stick to single topic videos like this. I probably won't post a video everyday but I will save them for release periodically throughout the summer.

[@ninavongunten122]

Does the cardboard mats draw snakes ?

[@Dr.Warren]

Not to my knowledge.

[@meggygurova7273]

Here comes my funny story 😁 I´m new to gardening and try my best to learn. So I live in pour soil conditions on top of a bare hill. Great view, wind and weeds 😀 I wanted to improve my soil and put some small mulch to desolve faster. Under it I put cardboard to supress the weeds. The wind blew away my mulch and the ugly cardboard appeared under. 😂 Now I´m taking it of and will put some heavy big piece mulch on top. Just a newbie problems...

[@Dr.Warren]

It happens to everyone. I've been in the green industry my entire career and I am still learning new things. Enjoy the process of learning and getting better.

[@meggygurova7273]

@@Dr.Warren Thank you 😀 My goal is to keep mulching with a lot of groundcovers, plants and flowers in the future.

[@Litehoney77]

Do I need to pull off any packing tape that's on the cardboard?

[@Dr.Warren]

I would. Some people leave it on but I dont want little pieces of plastic floating around when the wind blows.

[@CameronBarnett-ob6hz]

Can you use cardboard next to trees like Holles and Loquats on clay soil? Worried that my trees my get impacted by putting cardboard down next to them and my shrubs/yuccas. But I also want to kill the grass/weeds around them in the mulch beds

[@Dr.Warren]

I think you will be ok with cardboard

[@williamwaters4506]

I am in Zone 7 and in a Master Gardener Program. Our program `build a good size gardening area about 100' x 100" and covered it was cardboard, then wood chips. We then built raised beds. The ground was covered with wire grass. It took about a year before the cardboard decomposed and once again the wire grass started growing. Some of the cardboard was corrugated and I was concerned about the glue. After doing some research I found that the glue, like the ink is safe. White paper such as print paper, coffee filters toilet paper, tissue paper etc. contains dioxin which is classified as a carcinogen by the FDA yet who also says it contains small amounts in coffee filters, is safe and decomposes. Can you trust the FDA? I'll let you decide.

[@Dr.Warren]

I need to read up on dioxin. I do know off the top of my head they are a group that consists of dozens of not hundreds of chemicals. Perhaps some are more toxic than others? And at what levels are they considered safe? I'm not sure and would need to pull the peer review to have a better understanding.

[@williamwaters4506]

@@Dr.Warren There is little or no research on some obscure topics. If there are any studies they usually are very small. I use white coffee filters to make coffee because i cannot find the brown ones any longer. As I drink the coffee I wonder if I am drinking tiny amounts of some chemical used to bleach the paper which the FDA says is safe.

[@NorthernThaiGardenGuy]

Soak it wet before you lay it down. Use Chitosan if you have Termites and don't worry about it.

[@Dr.Warren]

Brilliant ideas

[@kristagunnarsen1974]

Wìĺ nutrients from compost get through to plants? I am considering putting cardboard on an existing flowerbed of rugosa roses and lavender. I'm in victoria bc. Thank you

[@Dr.Warren]

That's a great question. Cardboard allows water to run through it so I would think dissolved nutrients would be carried with the water and not bind to cardboard. However I do not have any peer review to suggest my thoughts are correct.

[@131dyana]

Thank you very much.

[@Dr.Warren]

Thanks for watching.

[@KristinaHoneyHavenFarm]

We use the cardboard to kill the plants underneath (usually to expand the garden or create a path), to deter weeds, and to retain moisture. It works great for all these. For gardening, we normally put old straw on top of it; some plants get planted directly in the straw and for others we will cut a hole in the cardboard to be able to place the plant in the ground. One year I planted directly in cardboard boxes...the only issue I had with that was I had the boxes in places I didn't want the soil to be; by the time I went to move the boxes, the bottoms had decomposed so I had quite a bit of work to dig out the soil; however, the plants themselves did fine. Come to think of it, this may be a great way to try growing potatoes next year. Oh, I have also used cardboard to line open IBC container frames to keep in sticks, leaves, and straw. It works but didn't retain water as well as I wanted because the cardboard was only on the sides, not the bottom, of the container.

[@Dr.Warren]

Great information. Thanks for sharing

[@ebbywald4563]

I used cardbord as a base for mushroom beds. I was surprised to find out that mycelium colonized cardboard much fester then hardwood chips. Mushrooms vere growing between paper layers . lium

[@CounterFleche]

How is the box tape able to decompose? Isn't it plastic?

[@Dr.Warren]

Amazon started using a paper based tape

[@kp-gbuniqueinterest]

For 15-25$ you can get contract paper made from recycled paper. it can be used in the garden too. I find it easier to use because if you have curves, its easy to cut to bed shape. it does the same as cardboard and is very cheap. most are 3x100 or 3x150 or more in length. I tried cardboard in the vegetable garden which does good but trying to overlap them so weeds/grass don't get though takes a lot of boxes. I get small amazon boxes not enough big ones. contract paper can easily overlap. Also I dont know what other business sprayed on the box.

[@Dr.Warren]

Great information. Thank you for sharing.

[@tineschrijvers3174]

You give info on cardboard decomposition in SW & SE USA. What about states and land area along the USA-Canada border such as Minnesota & N. Dakota. Basically in areas with winter temperatures that drop to -30 F. & have snowfall as high as 3-4 ft which last for at least 3-4 months, with shorter days of sunshine, as little as 4 hrs in January. How long would decomposition take there?

[@Dr.Warren]

I would be under the assumption that during the Winter decomposition is halted that far north and resumes during the Spring thaw. So it would take longer to break down.

[@tineschrijvers3174]

@@Dr.Warren That’s what I assumed too. Just wanted an experts opinion. Thank you.

[@Dr.Warren]

@@tineschrijvers3174 that's not peer review just my personal thought. But I can't see it being another way

[@Genna-b4r]

I am curious why you only mentioned termites as bugs that are attracted to the cool wet environment created by the cardboard. The cardboard will take a long time to degrade alone but a lot of composting bugs will eat it such as worms, pillbugs, and earwigs. It's a 2 for 1 benefit because if they eat the cardboard they will be less likely to eat your plants. I have a worm bin and I add a big square piece occasionally to the top to help retain moisture and insulate it when the temps are high and the worms will always climb up to the top and surround it top and bottom to munch on it, it doesn't take them very long to work through it.

[@Dr.Warren]

Because they are detrimental to structures on the property so it was worth noting as a potential negative. The others wouldn't bother much.

[@Egalitarian-bt7kz]

I quit using cardboard, as it wasn’t really that good but, my cardboard was moldy when I replaced my mulch. Mold scared me so, no more cardboard use for me!

[@Dr.Warren]

Some molds/ fungus are beneficial to plants others are not.

[@Robin-ci2kx]

Your mold could very easily have been the completely beneficial mycelium which is good for soil, microbes, and benefits almost all plants. It looks a lot like mold except it seems to have sort of a threadlike growing look like the way plant roots grow out, which they benefit.

[@Dr.Warren]

@@Robin-ci2kx it was ferry ring. Nasty stuff coming out of dormancy

[@followrobthomas]

I use cardboard everywhere in my landscape. It's like a cheat code

[@Sheila-gs5nj]

Can you put cardboard on existing rocks and more rocks on cardboard?

[@Dr.Warren]

I don't see why you couldn't

[@tappure]

I use cardboard throughout my whole garden. Small box’s get ripped up and added to worm bin. Out side use I always do to layers with mulch on top of that. In zone 4B cardboard last 1-2 year depending on winter in my zone.

[@Dr.Warren]

This is great information. Thanks for sharing.

[@davidhogan621]

Are there any chemicals added to the cardboard in its manufacturing process I should be worried about? Like synthetic glues, bleaching agents like chlorine with their dioxins,. What about waxed cardboard is that plastic?