val_williams•1mo agoProlific Poster

I keep seeing people put cardboard under their garden mulch for weed control

Last spring I helped a neighbor lay down cardboard under their new veggie beds, then 3 months later the soil was a dry mess with no worms in sight. Turns out cardboard blocks water and air from reaching the ground, plus the glue and inks can leach stuff into your soil. Has anyone else found a better method for suppressing weeds that actually helps the soil instead of hurting it?

3 comments

3 Comments

lily701mo ago

Is it really that serious though? I mean, I've used cardboard a ton and never noticed any problems with worms or dry soil, maybe it depends on where you live or how much rain you get.

sarah_patel251mo ago

Notice how @lily70's experience matches a pattern where things often work fine until it suddenly doesn't.

burns.jenny1mo agoMost Upvoted

Double check the type of cardboard you're using - plain brown corrugated with no glossy coating or tape works way better. I've had good luck putting down a thick layer of wood chips on top, like 4-6 inches, and wetting everything down really well so it stays in place and breaks down slower.