Smothering Weeds
Two problems pretty much all gardeners all over the world deal with are weeds and pests. Both problems threaten all the hard work and money we put into our gardens. Weeds and invasive species pop up seemingly out of nowhere and oftentimes even overnight. The same issue happens with pests. One day my tomato plants are flourishing beautifully, and the next they are riddled with pests and insects. I have found a solution for both. The plus side? The solution is also affordable. Cheap moving boxes help keep my garden tidy and growing.
Before planting a garden we all know it is common sense to weed the area. Beginners will simply just pull the head of the weeds out and think that is fine. Experienced gardeners know the roots have to be removed to ensure the weed doesn't just pop up again. But the smartest of gardeners know how to make sure the weeds do not even have a chance to pop up again. We simply break apart cheap moving boxes leftover in our garage and place them on the affected area. This stops any growth from underneath from coming up. Just throw soil and compost on top of the cardboard and you are good to go.
The weeds will weaken under the pressure of the cardboard. Then, you do not even need to remove the boxes. They are decomposable and will eventually turn into soil with more added nutrients. Smothering the surface vegetation with these boxes is much less traumatic to the soil than just tearing the whole garden up. The cardboard acts as a nice base for a few years before decomposing and becoming part of the rich soil that no longer includes weeds or invasive species.
So, are you ready to get it done? The best part about this hack is you do not even need to visit the store. Most people have boxes laying around that are ready for immediate use. Be sure to check if your box has shipping tape on it. This will not be useful for the plants. If you make sure the cardboard is damp then the tape should peel right off. Leaving your cardboard outside during a rainstorm can help you clean and remove all unnecessary things from the box. The cardboard also needs to stay moist as some termites have been seen feasting on dry cardboard. Just give the cardboard a little water each week and you’ll be great!
The weeds will weaken under the pressure of the cardboard. Then, you do not even need to remove the boxes. They are decomposable and will eventually turn into soil with more added nutrients. Smothering the surface vegetation with these boxes is much less traumatic to the soil than just tearing the whole garden up. The cardboard acts as a nice base for a few years before decomposing and becoming part of the rich soil that no longer includes weeds or invasive species.
So, are you ready to get it done? The best part about this hack is you do not even need to visit the store. Most people have boxes laying around that are ready for immediate use. Be sure to check if your box has shipping tape on it. This will not be useful for the plants. If you make sure the cardboard is damp then the tape should peel right off. Leaving your cardboard outside during a rainstorm can help you clean and remove all unnecessary things from the box. The cardboard also needs to stay moist as some termites have been seen feasting on dry cardboard. Just give the cardboard a little water each week and you’ll be great!