I use either free wood chips or bought wheat straw. The wheat straw is good habitat for ground spiders, which control aphids and small sucking insects. You could put sheets of cardboard down under the organic stuff if you like
I have found that I need to let the wheat straw rot a while first. If I don't I get wheat straw popping up everywhere (which is almost as bad as the weeds) I have a pile of freshly ground wood chips from 9 trees that we took down this fall. I guess I better get to hauling before the weeds have a chance to get ahead of me.
You can usually pick up free cardboard boxes at the local liquor store on mondays or tuesday....many of them just put them out front for people to take...or ask. There are aalways positives and negatives to everything. I normally would put down black plastic on the trails but Walter can tell you the negative to that. Happy gardening!
Today I read Birds & Bloom & they suggested cardboard. In the past I have used newspaper & covered it with mulch and that worked pretty good. I'm going to try the cardboard very soon. Amazing how we can recycle, isn't it?
I think that I am going to go with the cardboard with woodchips on top. Mostly because I have both of those items readily available.
As for what I am planting in the beds....I already have garlic in the beds and cilantro. I planted the galic last fall and the cilantro comes back from seed that I let reseed. There is also Tarragon and Rosemary in the beds. I planted snap peas in pots before the beds were finished. I
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have 24 tomato seedlings and 12 pepper seedlings in my greenhouse waiting to find their home in the garden. Our last frost date is usually April 15th, but this year I am not sure that we will get another frost. Anyway, I plan to also plant lettuce cucumbers and onions. Not necessarily in that order.
Good choice Gladys...I also put it between my plants in the garden and it eventually turns into mulch and can work in soil and do it all over again. Takes a few years for it to break down though..
Gladys I am planning to make the same type of raised beds and I am planning to put down the cardboard. You can also spray any weeds that come up with vinager and dish soap! Organic and they die right out! No harmful chemicals! Tons of helpful recipes on Pinterest!
As for what I am planting in the beds....I already have garlic in the beds and cilantro. I planted the galic last fall and the cilantro comes back from seed that I let reseed. There is also Tarragon and Rosemary in the beds. I planted snap peas in pots before the beds were finished. I ...»