Cheryl,

I'm here to say that it DOES work. We had a rock hard weed patch next to the driveway last year. Put down 2-3 layers of cardboard, 8-10 inches of tree shreddings (including green leaves).

This spring, there's not a weed to be found, the cardboard has disintegrated and become organic matter, and there's abundant earthworms, who apparently LOVE cardboard boxes and dead weeds. :-)

I have a bunch of daffodils blooming there now (they look kind of lonely) and a load of wildflowers starting to sprout.

BTW, my husband runs a janitorial business so all our boxes are for tampons, kotex, toilet paper, and paper towels. Big boxes. Once in awhile we'll have a computer paper box.

I use this method too and it works great. I stopped the tree trimming truck that was on my street and asked them to drop a load off in my yard. I'm on my second year of using those wood chips over newspaper and cardboard.

Because we must haul all our garbage, all paper products (even cream cheese boxes and pantyhose cardboard) go under the wood chip mulch. You get the most glorious soil that is enriched by worms which in turn "till" your soil and make great soil ammendments. So I'd forgo the gravel that you have to pay for and adds nothing to the healthiness of your soil.

The gravel is more for security - there are several windows and a glass sliding door on that side of the house - I want to hear if anyone is in that area. There's only about 3- 4 feet to the fence line and it's on the south side of the house and gets no sun. I'm in Australia and the sunny side of the house is north - opposite to the northern hemisphere. I won't use mulch for fear of termites getting to the house. I am thinking of using sandstone bits and pieces - a small boulder here and there. I can get those for free - SIL has a good crop of those on her bushland property.

Hi ya'll....my DH used to laugh at me for doing this - but no more! He has seen the proof! I also put 10 piece layers of newspaper under the cardboard - wet it - then wet the cardboard under the mulch. works great!....and I am slowly getting him convinced to just pile up leaves in spots, and keep them wet - turn it into leaf mold. He is a vol fireman - and LOVES to burn - but I am breaking him, slowly....now if i can just convince my sister to do the cardboard thing in her yard too!

Cheryl, How wide of a border would be needed between the house and mulch to protect it from termites?

Is it safe to put boxes with color ink in your garden? I've used regular brown boxes but I was always afraid of using anything with color ink on it because I didn't know if it was toxic.

According to the Compost Wackos over in Soil, Compost & Mulch, it's fine to put them in... Except for the ones that have metallic inks (gold and silver) cuz heavy metals are used in those. Some of the wackiest Wackos like to make sure that the ink is soy ink, but most seem to think it's fine anyway.

Hi All,
Part of my wondering has been answered, using newspaper and card board. But, wondering if i took sherdit paper and mixed with Peat, half an half,with water,blended with my drill paint thingamajig, would that tame down the peat and still provide a good mulch? Non would blow away in the wind and still keep the moisture for the plants. Any thoughts on this mixture? Thanks Windys__wonder

I use newspapers colored and b & w to lasagna mulch in the garden all the time. It's true stay away from the metallic inks, but most anything else is ok. Even glossy stuff is usually fine, as it's usually made with clay based materials as far as I know. I put the newspaper down first, then a layer of cardboard (PRINT SIDE DOWN, BROWN SIDE UP) and then put some compost or other type of mulch on top of that. As far as the last post goes asking about shredded paper, just be careful of what the paper source is.

I use all cardboard and colored and glossy stuff, what I DO NOT USE anything from a laser copier or any carbon paper--which is common in shredded paper mixes, if it comes out of any office that is.

Pura Vida

Here is a link that might be useful: garden blog and picts