Sheet Mulching

SHEET MULCHING

Method #1

1. Mow as low as you can. Start collecting cardboard, remove tape, and don’t use shiny material.

2. Smother area with tarp in order to deprive existing vegetation of light. 6 or 12 months is best, or as long as you can wait.

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

4. Lay down cardboard, making sure to overlap edges sufficiently. Weed seeds will find the tiniest amount of light!

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

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

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 throw down some more paper and wood chips. Any bare soil left uncovered will produce weeds.

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