This is how we do it - new garden bed

This is how we do it on a Friday night.

Countless how to guides are available on starting a new garden bed. I spent more time than I care to admit listening to online videos of garden bed guides. I wanted to use a method that I already had the materials for. Sheet mulching fits that criterion.

Sheet mulching is a basic method to suppress weeds and build a strong organic foundation for a garden using a sheet of layering. Even within the subcategory Sheet mulching, has an array of different methods. Weeds are suppressed by placing cardboard or newspaper in the area. This removes the light source for the plants while also breaking down and creating organic material. I have an abundance of cardboard boxes right now, so this should work. 

Sheet mulching is about layering. Like I mentioned, the layers have a variety of combinations. The main focus is those layers need to be thick enough to block the light. I chose to layer grass, cardboard, organic matter, mulch.

The first step was to cut the grass as low as possible. I chose not to break or disturb the ground. I already knew some of the weeds like wild lettuce have been producing seeds. I didn't want to give them a chance to make babies. I did not amend the soil at this step either, but that is an option.       

The second step was laying out the cardboard. I opened each cardboard box to make it flat and long. I overlapped the edges so no weed peaking could happen. Around four to six inches of overhang. The shape I created for the garden bed has a curve in it. To create a clean edge, I cut along the folds of the box to allow for the movement.

An optional step is creating an edge to your garden bed. I have an abundance of stone from the original owner to this house. 

By the time we arrived at this home, it was overgrown and made no sense. I am trying to keep the stones from getting lost in the weeds like it was when we first arrived. 

Out of context original garden

Weeds keep creeping

Stones are placed at the edge of the cardboard. This will help keep weeds at bay but not forever. This step will be an experiment.   

I have a leftover bushel of hay from our rabbit. The rabbit does not eat the whole bushel, but it is still more economical to buy a full bushel and use the rest for composting. Your mileage may vary on this part. The goal for this third step is to add a little more health to the soil as the cardboard breaks down. Just an inch of organic matter at the very least. 


The fourth step is mulch. Apply good coverage of mulch wither it is leaves or woodchips. Make it about two inches deep. If I had opted out of the organic matter, this step would be a little deeper. 

The final step is time and weeding the edges. You can plant into the cardboard, but it can allow the plants you are working to suppress a chance to recover. Just be careful and diligent at the weeding. 



So turn on your old school Contemporary R&B and feed that garden bug. 


Update: I should mention the time frame of sheet mulching. A good rule of thumb is the bed is complete when the cardboard is decomposed. This could be as little as 6 months, again mileage may very. If you want to plant in the late fall start this process in early spring. Keep an eye out for weeds in case the coverage wasn't thick enough. 

Be safe and keep growing!