Redoing raised beds- still use cardboard as a liner?

dvingin 3/25/2013, 7:42 am

Good morning! I'm in the process of replacing my beds and was about to buy weed cloth as a line when I Googled and saw this forum. I've broken down the old beds and tilled the old weed-infested soil level. I see cardboard is recommended by the forum. What happens when it deteriorates? Do you replace it periodically?

Thanks in advance,
Dana

yolos 3/25/2013, 10:52 am

I personally do not replace the cardboard. I assume that after a year or two before it breaks down, all the weeds below it will be dead. I hope I am correct in this. Unless you have some very invasive weeds underneath the bed or growing at the edges.

cheyannarach 3/25/2013, 11:06 am

The one time cardboard should be good! If you want you can always double it up too! And Welcome to the forum!

GWN 3/25/2013, 11:19 am

WELCOME Dana
I am on a small acreage that was covered with horrible quack grass, my first year (2 years ago) we had just moved here and had lots of cardboard from the move.
I put it everywhere, and under the beds. The quack grass came up through 12+ inches of soil. Then last year I switched in many beds over to SFG and took out much of the soil, laid down cardboard and then Mels mix and the weeds came through. I bought the heavy heavy fabric and the weeds even came through that. HOWEVER.... less.

jazzycat 3/25/2013, 4:34 pm

What is "quack" grass? thinking

happycamper 3/25/2013, 4:58 pm

Cardboard is what I have used, it takes over a year to breakdown and provides food to worms that will work their way into your garden bed. If you use it, make sure you have it extended several inches out the sides of your bed or it will grow up the inside walls of your garden.
Quack grass is terrible stuff, my cousin battled it for several years, use two layers of cardboard not just one if you go that route.

**camprn** 3/25/2013, 5:10 pm

jazzycat wrote:What is "quack" grass?

Quack Grass

victoria 3/25/2013, 5:59 pm

Just wanted to throw in my two cents - Cardboard and newspaper is not one of the suggested items to use when you are taking the time to place raised beds on the ground. While it was suggested in the Original book - Mel then realized that not only did it only provide protection for possibly one or two season - it was not as effective as the weed cloth. The Mel's Mix is the most important portion of the SFG system. When done correctly EVERYTHING loves it - including weeds. If you are going to the trouble and expense of re-doing your beds - to the best thing for your beds ( and your back )- and replace the cardboard with a great landscape fabric - this will then make sure you are following SFG principles and giving yourself the greatest chance at success. No weeds is one of the things we strive for.

**donnainzone5** 3/25/2013, 7:38 pm

When I started my new SFG last July, I first poured boiling water on the 16 square feet where my first raised bed would reside. I then put down the weed cloth from the Foundation.

Since then, it has been an interesting task to pull out the grass that actually grows up through the weed cloth.

As I prepare to expand my SFG, I'm considering using cardboard, then weed cloth. Does anyone have further suggestions?

**camprn** 3/25/2013, 7:51 pm

I pull up the sod then lay down the cardboard. I also use an edging tool around the base of the bed to cut off any renegade roots going for my Mel's Mix. Has worked well for the beds without any tree roots underneath. There are several beds I am going to raise just above ground level where I have had persistent trouble with tree roots.

**llama momma** 3/25/2013, 8:57 pm

donnainzone10 wrote:As I prepare to expand my SFG, I'm considering using cardboard, then weed cloth. Does anyone have further suggestions?

I know this works though probably not practical for many...
When I pile up manure to be used later in the compost heap it will be in several piles maybe a foot or so deep. Nothing grows through it. I'm just saying it smothers very well, not saying it's the answer for everybody, it would need to be placed and then removed, lots of shoveling.

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