What is no-dig gardening? With this method, you build a garden on top of the ground that is already there, without digging to get rid of the grass, plants, or weeds that are there. No dig gardening benefits the soil by not upsetting the soils existing microbiome. Have you ever thought about why it seems like plants grow so easily in the wild with no help from people, but you have a hard time growing the same plants when you water and care for them every week? This important soil microbiome layer is one reason.
If no dig gardening sounds too easy to be true, I promise I am not pulling your leg. Building a no dig garden bed works amazingly well and requires minimal effort. As well, it is better for the soil. Check out this video to learn how to use cardboard and compost to make your own no-dig flower or vegetable garden.
No dig gardening using cardboard is an eco-friendly, low effort way to set up new beds or revitalize old ones. Cardboard sheets suppress weeds and grass so you can plant directly into compost placed on top. Follow this simple process to enjoy weed-free, lush gardens!
Benefits of No Dig Gardening with Cardboard
Converting to no dig gardening offers these advantages:
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Saves time and labor – Avoid endless digging, tilling and weeding.
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Improves soil – Microbial life and structure is undisturbed Earthworms thrive,
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Suppresses weeds – Light-blocking cardboard smothers existing vegetation
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Recycles waste – Repurpose old boxes and sheets that would otherwise go to landfills
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Reduces costs – No need to purchase plastic weed barriers or landscape fabric.
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Conserves moisture – Mulch layered on top slows evaporation and retains water.
For raised beds or in-ground gardens, using cardboard is an easy no dig route to healthy, productive plants!
Selecting and Preparing Cardboard Sheets
For best results, gather and prepare cardboard as follows:
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Source clean, corrugated cardboard – Avoid cardboard contaminated with chemicals, dyes, or food waste. Corrugated cardboard is sturdier than paperboard.
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Remove tapes, staples, plastic – Metal, tape and other materials won’t decompose. Pick these off carefully beforehand.
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Avoid treated or glossy cardboard – Wood pulp or untreated recycled materials work best. Avoid wax or plastic coated cardboard.
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Cut cardboard to fit beds – Measure and cut pieces to closely fit the footprint of beds with minimal gaps.
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Layer overlapping sheets – For faster grass/weed suppression, overlap seams by 6-12 inches.
With prep complete, it’s time to put down the cardboard and stack compost above.
Laying Cardboard in Beds
Follow this straightforward process to put cardboard sheets in place:
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Mow or weed whack existing vegetation very short so cardboard has flat contact with the soil.
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Water the area thoroughly before laying cardboard. This helps the cardboard adhere and suppresses regrowth underneath.
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Place cut cardboard pieces edge-to-edge to cover the bed footprint.Overlap seams by 6-12 inches.
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Wet the cardboard after placing it to keep it weighed down. Avoid gaps where weeds/grass can poke through.
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Use a Biodegradable pins, rocks or bricks as needed to hold overlapping edges if necessary.
That’s it – your no dig weed barrier is now set! Next comes the fun part of piling on compost.
Adding Compost Layer Above Cardboard
With cardboard laid, build layers of compost and mulch:
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Pile on 6+ inches of finished compost, well-aged manure, leaf mold or a compost-soil blend. Wet compost as you go to avoid drying.
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For clay soils, add a thin layer of compost directly on the cardboard, then build up with good topsoil.
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Shape beds and smooth compost layers before planting. Mound compost higher for root crops.
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Top off beds with 2-3 inches of shredded leaves, straw, or other organic mulch after planting.
The compost layers feed plants while breaking down the cardboard. Just keep piling it on yearly!
Direct Planting Into Compost Layers
Thanks to your no dig prep, planting is simple:
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Move compost aside and cut X-slits in the cardboard where you want plants. Pull soil up through slits.
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For seeds, clear small patches of cardboard and sow seeds directly in the compost layers according to packet directions. Cover seeds and firm gently.
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Water in new transplants deeply, keeping compost consistently moist around new plants for the first few weeks. Add more compost around plants as it settles.
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Use cardboard around new plants to suppress surrounding weeds/grass. Pile compost on top.
The cardboard will decompose, enriching your soil. Just keep piling on compost annually to maintain thick, weed-free layers.
Troubleshooting No Dig Garden Beds
Having issues? Here are some common problems and solutions:
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Weeds/grass poking through – Mow very short before laying cardboard and ensure complete coverage with overlapped seams.
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Cardboard drying out – Water thoroughly after laying cardboard. Wet compost layers as you add them. Don’t let cardboard dry out.
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Nutrient deficiencies – Test soil pH and amend if needed. Mix in balanced organic fertilizer or compost tea to enrich compost layers.
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Cardboard slow to break down – Use corrugated, untreated brown cardboard. Avoid heavy plastic coatings. Maintain moisture; consider biochar or fungi to speed decomposition.
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Pests like slugs – Create needed habitat for predators; avoid thick mulch right around plants; hand pick pests.
With attentive care, your cardboard garden beds will provide lush, thriving plants season after season.
Enjoy the Benefits of No Dig Gardening
Converting to no dig methods using cardboard and thick compost layers eliminates weeding and digging busywork. Follow the simple steps here and you can kiss weeding woes goodbye! Sit back and enjoy more time actually gardening versus prepping garden space endlessly. No dig gardening offers healthy soil, fewer weeds, less work, and bountiful harvests – get ready to reap the rewards.
How to Make a No Dig Raised Bed
If you want to build a raised garden bed, you can use the “no dig” method to make the perfect base. Just wet down some cardboard and place it on the ground. This will keep weeds from growing from the ground up. As before, put down 10 to 12 inches of compost and then a few inches of top soil on top of that. You may also want to add a layer of peat moss, depending on the quality of your compost. If your compost is light and airy, not compact and dense, you can skip the peat moss. Otherwise continue the layers in this order: compost, top soil, peat moss. Continue until your raised bed is filled, then top off with 2 to 4 inches of straw.
If your raised bed is deeper than two feet, add branches and compost that has not yet broken down to the base. This provides a hugelkultur type base that will break down and provide nutrients to the soil over time.
How to Make a No Dig Garden Bed
The first layer of your no dig garden bed should be cardboard or layers of newspaper. You need to make sure there are no gaps in the layer so that whatever is growing below can’t stay alive. I used one layer of cardboard in my no-dig garden beds, but I made sure it overlapped by three inches with the cardboard next to it. Spray water on the cardboard until it’s completely wet after putting it down. This will help it stick to the ground and start to break down.
As this organic material under the cardboard breaks down it will add nutrients to the soil. Over one to three years, the cardboard or newspaper will break down as well. Once the cardboard layer is broken down, your garden will have access to the nutrients below it.
The next layer of your no dig garden should be 10 to 12 inches of compost. (It will compact when you water it. Aim to have it 6 inches deep once wet. ) Once the compost is added, give the bed another good soak with water. The compost will start the process of breaking down the cardboard and ground beneath it.
You can leave these two layers off and plant right into the ground if all you want is a slightly raised garden bed. Once your plants are a few inches high, add a thick layer of straw. The straw will help your plants get more even moisture and will also help your garden hold on to water, which will save water.
No-Dig Gardening for Beginners: Step-by-Step Guide with Cardboard and Compost
How do you make a no dig garden?
Share your tips for using the no dig gardening method in the comments section below. You can create a no dig garden anywhere you want. Including over an existing plot, in raised beds, or right on top of grass and weeds. Step 1: Knock down the weeds and grass – First, mow the area using the lowest setting on your lawn mower.
Can you use cardboard in a garden?
A clever hack using cardboard allows you to avoid all the effort normally associated with creating a new garden spot. Referred to as “lasagna gardening” by many gardeners, this organic method involves using cardboard layered on top of the spot where you want to grow plants. This deprives the grassy, weedy growth of sunlight.
Can you use newspaper instead of cardboard in a no-dig garden?
If you opt for newspaper instead, use several layers to get the same benefits of cardboard. How long does it take for cardboard to break down in a no-dig garden? In most cases, the cardboard layer will break down within 2 to 3 months.
Is no dig gardening a good idea?
If you have ever built a garden bed from scratch, you know that it is hard work. And maintaining it is just as tiring. Instead, try no dig gardening! Rather than relying on manual labor to manage weeds and fertilize the soil, no dig gardening uses nature (and a bit of time) to do these tasks.