No dig gardening using cardboard is an innovative and eco-friendly technique for creating lush, productive garden beds with minimal effort. This method involves smothering grass or weeds with cardboard to form a weed barrier, then planting directly into compost placed on top.
No dig gardening offers numerous benefits over traditional tilling and digging. By disturbing the soil less, you preserve the natural soil structure and biology. Follow this simple no till process for healthy, easy care beds that practically plant themselves!
How No Dig Gardening with Cardboard Works
The no dig method using cardboard sheets mimics how soil naturally builds up undisturbed in forests and meadows, Here’s the basic process
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Mow or cut back existing vegetation in the planting area very short.
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Cover the entire bed surface with sheets of cardboard, heavily overlapping the seams.
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Wet the cardboard thoroughly and weigh down if needed
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Pile at least 6 inches of compost, manure or other organic matter on top.
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Plant seeds or starts directly into the compost layers.
The cardboard blocks all light, gradually killing grass and weeds underneath. Meanwhile, the piled compost feeds beneficial microbes and worms that mix and enrich the native soil. The cardboard breaks down over 1-2 seasons, leaving behind beautiful, fertile soil.
Why Use Cardboard for No Dig Beds?
Building beds using the no dig method with cardboard offers these advantages:
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Suppresses weeds – The thick cardboard layer blocks light, preventing photosynthesis. Any seeds that sprout will die off in the dark.
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Allows immediate planting – You don’t have to wait weeks or till up sod. Just cut planting holes through the cardboard and compost.
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Improves soil – Leaving the earth undisturbed maintains soil life. Food scraps and compost attract microbes.
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Reduces labor – No tilling, hoeing or double digging required! Cardboard is the easy route.
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Eco-friendly and free – Repurpose waste cardboard that would otherwise end up in landfills.
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Conserves water – Compost layers hold moisture much better than bare soil.
For establishing gorgeous, productive garden beds fast with very little work, cardboard no dig gardening can’t be beat!
How to Make a No Dig Garden Bed with Cardboard
Need a garden fast with minimal effort? Making no dig raised beds using cardboard is simple. Follow these steps for healthy, beautiful beds brimming with flowers and vegetables:
Gather Materials
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Cardboard – Plain brown corrugated is best. Avoid glossy or treated cardboard. Remove any staples, plastic or tape.
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Compost – Finished compost, aged manure, coir or other organic matter.
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Water – To thoroughly soak materials. A hose works best.
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Mulch (optional) – Weed-free straw, leaves or wood chips.
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Garden tools – Shovel, spade, rake and scissors for cutting cardboard.
Prepare the Bed
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Cut back existing vegetation as low as possible. Grass can be mown, weeds hand pruned.
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Measure and cut cardboard pieces just larger than the bed footprint. Overlap seams by 6-12 inches.
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Lay the cardboard sheets edge-to-edge over the entire bed, heavily overlapping seams.
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Wet the cardboard thoroughly to hold it in place until compost is added.
Build Up Layers
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Pile at least 6 inches of compost, manure, coir or organic blend over the cardboard.
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Optional: Top with 2-4 inches of straw, leaves or wood mulch to conserve moisture.
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Water the layers well to moisten materials and kickstart decomposition.
Plant and Maintain
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Cut X-slits in the cardboard where you want to place plants. Plant seeds or transplants into the compost.
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Add more compost around plants as the layers settle over time. Replenish mulch as needed.
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Pull any weeds, but avoid digging into the soil. Maintain the no dig approach as beds improve yearly!
In just a few weeks, this easy no dig method using cardboard gives you growing beds brimming with flowers and vegetables. Avoid back-breaking digging and enjoy garden bounty with less work!
Troubleshooting Guide for No Dig Beds with Cardboard
No dig gardening makes bed prep nearly effortless, but a few issues can pop up. Here are some common problems and fixes:
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Weeds emerging – Ensure cardboard seams are heavily overlapped. Cover gaps with more cardboard. Hand pull weeds at soil level.
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Cardboard drying out – Keep it consistently moist until compost layers are added. Water when adding compost.
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Nutrient deficiencies – Test soil pH. Amend compost with organic fertilizer or compost tea if needed.
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Slow cardboard breakdown – Use plain brown corrugated cardboard. Avoid plastic coatings. Keep compost layers moist.
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Shallow plant roots – Ensure at least 6 inches of compost. Add more as it decomposes. Avoid walking on beds.
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Soil compaction – Never dig into the soil. Maintain layers of mulch. Limit foot traffic when beds are wet.
With mindful care and moisture, cardboard in no dig beds will soon disappear, leavingbehind nutrient-rich soil for many seasons of gardening bounty!
The Benefits of No Dig Gardening with Cardboard
Converting to the no dig gardening method using cardboard offers many rewards:
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Fewer weeds – The thick cardboard mulch blocks light and causes any seeds to die off before germinating.
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Less work – No more tedious digging, hoeing and raking required to prep beds each season.
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Conserves water – Compost and mulch hold moisture much better than bare dirt.
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No waiting to plant – You can plant immediately into the compost layers placed atop the cardboard.
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Improves poor soils – Worms and microbes enrich texture and fertility without heavy amendments.
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Reduces soil compaction – Avoiding digging preserves the natural soil structure and biology.
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Eco-friendly – Cardboard is a free, biodegradable material that would otherwise go to landfills.
If you’re seeking an easy, low-effort way to grow thriving gardens, no dig gardening using cardboard fits the bill. Let nature work for you!
Frequently Asked Questions About No Dig Gardening Using Cardboard
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about building no dig garden beds with cardboard:
How long does cardboard take to break down? Plain brown corrugated cardboard will fully decompose in just 1-2 seasons when kept moist under compost. Avoid treated or plastic-coated cardboard.
Can you put cardboard directly on grass? Yes, mow the grass short, then overlay cardboard. The lack of light will kill the grass in a few weeks. Keep the cardboard wet.
How thick should the compost layer be? At minimum, the compost should be 6 inches deep over the cardboard. 10-12 inches is even better for blocking light and feeding the soil. Add more as it decomposes.
What can be used instead of cardboard? You can also use 6-10 layered sheets of newspaper if needed. The key is blocking all light from reaching the soil.
How often should new compost be added? Maintain your beds by top dressing with 1-2 inches of finished compost or manure each year. More can be added if layers start getting thin.
Can perennials be planted in no dig beds? Yes! Just cut an X in the cardboard where you want to place perennials. Add extra compost in the planting holes for the best results.
The no dig method using cardboard sheets is an easy, eco-friendly way to establish thriving gardens that require very little maintenance. Give it a try for your most productive, bountiful garden beds ever!
What if my soil is silty or stony?
At Homeacres, my soil is dense silt and everything roots into that too. In my first garden, created in autumn 1982, the soil was Cotswold brash, very stony. No dig was successful there.
Undisturbed soil develops and maintains a honeycomb structure of small air passages, especially when it is fed annually with about 2.5cm/1in or so of compost on top.
Why use no dig
No dig makes life easier for us and allows soil life to flourish out of sight, and plants grow more healthily. Both moisture retention and drainage are improved, there are fewer weeds to hoe or remove, and you donât get muddy boots!
My advice takes the mystery out of gardening, to make it timesaving, straightforward and enjoyable. I receive many comments like this:
Weâre just now entering year two of no dig and it certainly is very enjoyable compared to past years of endless weeding and bed preparation. TurbineBorescope, YouTube Subscriber
Donât be daunted by what you may have read elsewhere or been told by others about no dig. For example, I often see claims that people cannot go no dig because they do not have, or cannot afford, enough compost.
Actually you can start with very little compost! Though if you can manage to access more, that makes it easier and increases harvests immediately, and in many subsequent years.
In addition, the results of my Two-Bed Trial are consistent over 11 years, that for the same amount of compost applied, the no dig bed gives 12% more food.
See my FAQ page for more understandings.