Gardeners should not throw away old cardboard boxes. Instead, they should use them for leaf mulching. The method, popularised by blogger @ThePlantRealm, involves laying flat cardboard around plants, then watering and covering with soil. This creates a ‘lasagne’ effect that blocks sunlight from weeds, retains moisture and attracts beneficial worms. Before you start, make sure you remove any tape, staples and paint from the cardboard, as you don’t want chemicals getting into the soil. Over time, the cardboard breaks down, which makes the soil more fertile.
Gardeners should not throw away old cardboard boxes. Instead, they should use them by burying them in the ground. This method helps to control weeds, keep the soil moist and even protect plants from the first frosts. This was reported by the newspaper Express.
Blogger Amy May, known on social media as @ThePlantRealm, calls it the ‘cardboard method’ or sheet mulching — a technique that involves creating several layers.
Amy says it’s easy. All you need to do is put flat cardboard boxes around the seedlings, water them well, and cover them with soil. The cardboard blocks sunlight, which stops weeds from growing, and breaks down over time, which makes the soil better for growing plants.
People who watched the show liked the idea. ‘That’s a really good idea, thank you! I can see that I’ll have fewer weeds in the future,’ wrote one woman. Others say worms love cardboard.
Experts say you should remove staples, tape and coloured coatings from the seams of boxes before you use them, as treated cardboard can release chemicals that can harm plants.