Cardboard is a biodegradable material that is safe to compost, but it can only be recycled a limited number of times before it degrades too much to be made into new paper products. Despite this, cardboard has many potential uses in the garden. By finding ways to repurpose it in your flower or vegetable beds, you can reduce household waste, lower gardening costs, and enjoy other benefits as well. Here are 9 clever ways to use cardboard to enhance your garden:
1. Start a new garden bed: Layer cardboard over the soil to create a rich planting spot for flowers and vegetables, preventing old weeds from regrowing.
2. Line raised beds: Place cardboard beneath new raised bed frames to inhibit weed growth.
3. Eliminate weeds: Use cardboard to create weed-free walkways, under mulch in ornamental beds, or to smother unwanted plants like poison ivy.
4. Make compost: Add shredded cardboard to your compost bin as a carbon-rich material to balance out other compost ingredients.
5. Create seedling pots: Make DIY seedling pots from cardboard paper towel tubes for easier transplanting and cost savings.
6. DIY plant collars: Protect seedlings from cutworms by encircling them with plant collars made from cardboard tubes.
7. Add to worm bins: Shred dampened cardboard and add it to your worm bin substrate to make it more attractive to composting worms.
Mix the cardboard with another type of substrate, such as garden soil or damp coconut coir. Composting worms will transform the cardboard into nutrient-rich worm castings, creating space in the bin for more cardboard.
Protect your plants from frost by encircling them in cardboard tubes or lining grow tunnels with cardboard sheeting. This will help prevent damage from late-season frosts and can be removed once the risk has passed to allow more light for your plants.
To trap slugs in your garden, place small sheets of damp cardboard near slug-infested plants. Slugs often hide under the cardboard and can be easily collected. This method also works for snails.
FAQ:
– What type of cardboard is safe for the garden?
Brown cardboard and cardboard printed with soy-based inks are safe for gardens. Avoid glossy and highly-colored cardboard that may contain contaminants unsuitable for food gardens.
– How long does cardboard take to decompose in the garden?
Cardboard typically decomposes within two to six months, depending on temperature and moisture levels.
– How many layers of cardboard should I use in my garden?
One layer of cardboard is usually enough to suppress weeds in lasagna gardens and raised beds, but consider using two layers for very weedy areas.
