Sheet Mulching

SHEET MULCHING

Sheet mulching is a method you can use to save lots of time weeding by doing these simple steps when preparing your native plant pollinator garden.

Method #1

1. Mow as low as you can.

2. Smother the area with a tarp in order to deprive existing vegetation of light. 6 or 12 months is best, or as long as you can wait. Take advantage of the summer heat to cook those weeds. Start collecting cardboard, remove tape, and don’t use shiny boxes. Store dry.

3. Remove tarp and remove existing clumps of unwanted vegetation.

4. Now begin sheet mulching by laying down cardboard, making sure to overlap edges generously. Weed seeds will find the teeniest tiniest amount of light to germinate.

5. Add wood chips overtop, just enough so you don’t see the cardboard. It’s not necessary to have it too thick.

Use plastic that is UV protected. The cheap stuff will disintegrate. Notice our intense weed pressure.

Overlap that cardboard!

Not too thick with the chips.

You might think it’s crazy but we have planted our plants in the full sun in July! The roots are protected by the cardboard and chips which keeps the soil temperature cooler and moist (and happy!). The above ground part of the plants like intense heat and sun. This has worked well for us.

Results after planting plugs and potted plants 1.5 – 2 feet apart.

Results one year later! Dense planting shades out most weeds. In late winter knock dried vegetation flat. You just grew your own mulch in place. The plants with their established root systems will find their way through. The weeds will encroach on the edges, maintenance will be needed. The interior weed pressure is significantly reduced.

Method #2

For existing beds that are already planted, you can sheet mulch around each plant using newspaper or cardboard to prevent weeds and save time. Newspaper should be 6-7 sheets thick. Sometimes you can soak the newspaper or cardboard to make it more pliable and easier to handle. Leave a couple inches around the base of each plant – avoid placing paper and wood chips against the plant.

If you find a weed outbreak, pull any weeds you can and place some more paper and wood chips. Any bare soil left uncovered will produce weeds.

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