I'm new to gardening and considering using cardboard and wood as filler for my raised beds. I want to optimize the use of these materials to cut down on soil and compost expenses. What are some effective tips or instructions to ensure I can do this properly? Thanks for any advice!
1 Answer
To start off, lay down the cardboard over your grass, covering it well to prevent any from poking through later. If necessary, don't hesitate to use multiple layers of cardboard. For the wood, break it down into smaller pieces as much as you can. Larger pieces can take forever to decompose and might steal valuable nutrients from your plants. A good idea is to fill your bed about halfway with the wood. Just remember to top it off with compost and quality raised bed soil so the dirt settles around the wood, allowing roots to move freely. Additionally, each spring, you can add a few inches of soil on top, and consider tossing in sticks and twigs throughout the year to help minimize soil needs. And hey, have you thought about composting? It's a great source of free soil!
Just a heads up, since your beds are 12" high, stick to thinner sticks and twigs, no bigger than your thumb, and limit the layer to around 3". This way, you still have a decent 9 inches of soil for your plants.