HOUSTON (CW39) – If you are building a raised bed or prepping a new garden space, one of the first questions you’ll face is what to put down first to stop weeds in their tracks.
Have you ever heard of using cardboard as a weed barrier?I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first. I saw it all over my social media feeds: Gardeners laying down sheets of cardboard to smother out grass and weeds. I decided to give it a try when I built my first (and much smaller) beds in 2023. And you know what? I never saw a single weed.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but by using cardboard, I was doing a lot more good for my garden’s micro-habitat than I imagined.
In this episode of Growing Together, I chat with Texas Master Gardener Program Coordinator Jayla Fry. We explore:
- The different types of weed barriers available to homeowners.
- Why cardboard is the go-to answer for organic or sustainability-conscious gardeners.
- Which cardboard is worth saving and which pieces belong in the recycling bin.
- The most effective ways to maximize weed-blocking power based on your garden box size.
- The “hidden” benefits cardboard offers for beneficial organisms and soil health.
For gardeners here in Houston, cardboard is a simple, practical option for weed suppression. It blocks unwanted growth, breaks down naturally over time, and supports soil health—all while costing next to nothing…