Gardeners Rejoice: Here's a Cardboard Box Hack That Will Eliminate Weeds Overnight!

As any seasoned gardener knows, weeds are the bane of a beautiful garden. They're like the uninvited guests who crash your carefully planned party, stealing nutrients and sunlight from the plants you've painstakingly nurtured. But before you reach for chemical herbicides that can harm the environment and your garden's delicate ecosystem, consider a more sustainable and surprisingly simple solution: cardboard.



Yes, you read that right. Cardboard, the humble material that brings your online shopping to your doorstep, can also be your garden's best friend when it comes to weed control. In an exclusive interview with Tiffany Selvey, a Master Gardener at House Digest, we've uncovered the secrets of using cardboard to combat weeds effectively and safely.


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Cardboard sheet mulch controls weeds by blocking sunlight and preventing seed germination. Credit: Reddit / r/gardening


The concept is straightforward yet ingenious. By using cardboard as sheet mulch, you can block weeds from accessing the sunlight and air they need to grow. This method is not only easy to implement but also eco-friendly and cost-effective. 'I love using cardboard in the garden to kill existing weeds and prevent more from growing,' Selvey shared. 'It's a simple hack that won't put your crops or local pollinators at risk.'


Here's how you can use this cardboard box hack in your own garden:

1. Gather plain brown cardboard boxes, ensuring they are free from tape, staples, or labels. Dyed packaging can work too, but avoid any cardboard with a glossy, plastic coating as it won't break down in the soil.

2. Cut or tear the cardboard to fit the desired area in your garden. If you're dealing with a significant weed problem, cover the entire space with cardboard.


3. Lay the cardboard directly on top of the weeds. For added stability and aesthetics, top the cardboard with a layer of mulch, compost, or decorative rocks.

4. Water the cardboard lightly to help it conform to the soil surface and begin the decomposition process.

5. Over time, the cardboard will suffocate the weeds underneath and prevent new seeds from germinating. As it breaks down, it will also contribute to the soil's health by attracting earthworms and adding carbon-rich material.


The benefits of this method are numerous. Not only does it save you from back-breaking weeding, but it also recycles cardboard that might otherwise end up in a landfill. Plus, it's a boon for the earthworms and beneficial insects in your garden, creating a thriving ecosystem where your plants can flourish.

However, it's essential to be aware of the potential downsides. The moist environment under the cardboard can attract slugs and snails, which might feast on young seedlings or certain plants. Regular monitoring and perhaps some natural pest control methods can mitigate this issue.

In conclusion, the cardboard box hack is a testament to the power of simple, sustainable solutions in gardening. It's a method that aligns with the values of many Australian seniors who appreciate eco-friendly practices and the joy of a well-maintained garden. So next time you receive a package, think twice before tossing out the box – it could be the key to your garden's weed-free future.


Key Takeaways
  • Using cardboard as sheet mulch can effectively control weeds by blocking their access to sunlight and preventing weed seeds from germinating.
  • Master Gardener Tiffany Selvey recommends repurposing plain brown cardboard boxes for this method, ensuring any tape and labels are removed before use.
  • Cardboard mulch is not only cost-effective but also beneficial for the soil as it breaks down, attracting earthworms and acting as a carbon-rich compost ingredient.
  • However, while it attracts beneficial insects, the damp environment under the cardboard can also attract pests like slugs and snails, which need to be monitored.
We'd love to hear from our Seniors Discount Club members about your experiences with this method or any other eco-friendly gardening tips you've found useful. Share your stories in the comments below, and let's cultivate a community of green-thumbed wisdom!
 
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Obviously they don't have, or have never encountered, termites. Termites thrive on the cellulose component of cardboard. Cardboard sheeting is a welcoming card for termites. So don't go down that road !
 
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Reactions: MariaG
We have been using cardboard in our gardens for years, saves a lot of weeding. Never had a problem with attracting termites. I have been bringing home the cardboard from the elections I have worked at for the last few years as the schools I work at no longer want it for projects. It saves it having to be picked up by the recyclers after the election. The sheets are large, no tape or staples, so easy to just cut to size and lay in the garden.
 
You can also use those paper bags you get your shopping in from supermarkets in the same way, a great way to get rid of these things that just seem to multiply and prevents them going into the recycle bin too
At $0.25 each... no way
 
Shred all those old, unwanted papers, bills, letters etc and use them the same way topped over with mulch. Does the same job & no exertion tearing or cutting up boxes.
 
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Reactions: Littleboy8
At $0.25 each... no way
Re-use or lose - they’ll rot in your house OVER A MUCH LONGER TIME anyway & there goes that 25cents per bag eventually. Easier to shred all the paper some collect from bills, letters etc than the time spent cutting up all those cardboard boxes.
 
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Reactions: Littleboy8
Ahhh! I've been doing this technique for garden beds for over 40 years and have never encountered one termite.
Some areas are more prone to termites than others. They are attracted to some vegetation than others too
 
I tried old sheets of corrugated iron on empty areas in our back yard with bricks holding it down . It worked for a long time until we had a really bad storm which even shifted the bricks and small stones. A few days later rain washed some of the soil away. Then we had a dust storm and I think we got some top soil from farms up north. We went up that way for a holiday a few days later and the roads next to paddocks were bad and visibility low. We stopped at the next town we got to. When we got home 3 days later our grey cement driveway had more than one wheelbarrow of soil on it. We also got weeds we had never seen before.
 

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