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Fri, May 25, 12 at 14:11
| I tried beer cartons under mulch last year. I got all that I needed from a store down the road. They kept down the weeds but they haven't broke down at all.
They might be OK for a raised bed, but I plow under and plant in rows. I have them sticking up all over the place and had to hand pick them out of the rows. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Thanks for the warning! We go through some serious beer cartons. ;) |
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| That is probably an indication that the soil you have does not have an active enough Soil Food Web. |
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- Posted by tropical_thought San Francisco (My Page) on Sat, May 26, 12 at 9:13
| I found the same problem with using cardboard and newspapers. It just turns into a sticky mess that I have to dig out later on. It is work to put it down and more work to dig it up and put it in a bin. That is why I don't use newspapers in the bin. I don't get a local newspaper and the free ones have a funny smell that bothers my allergies. Sorry that is bit off topic, but I don't want my allergies made worse when I turn the pile. It does not seem to block weeds. It did not kill off my weedy grasses that grow from under the fence. I found not round up, but digging them all up and applying woody mulches works. Then you have to keep digging them up when as they come back and it is much less work then using cardboard. Weeds mock cardboard. Once you have a lot of woody mulch in the soil, it's is easy and quick to dig up and apply more woody mulch. |
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- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Sat, May 26, 12 at 9:18
| I wonder if those beer cartons have a bit more water resistance to them than the average cereal box. That could explain it. |
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| that's new to me, not that we use many beer cartons these days but have in the past with no issues, all cardboard and newspaper we use rots away generally in about 6 to 12 months. got lots of solid type cardboard that is not flimsy beer carton stuff for our new gardens len |
Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page
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- Posted by lazygardens PhxAZ%3A Sunset 13 (My Page) on Sat, May 26, 12 at 16:56
| They are more water resistant then the average box, as are fruit boxes. that means they would be REALLY GOOD for using under permanent paths. |
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- Posted by tn_gardening (My Page) on Tue, May 29, 12 at 19:26
| Same goes for newspaper, leaves, wood shavings, mulch, sawdust, manure and grass clippings. It will all break down and contribute to a healthy garden, but it takes time. I suspect it helps to have the right mix of browns n greens. In my garden, it's not really a big deal because I just tilled it under in the Fall and added compost so it's not noticeable. |
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- Posted by ssmdgardener 7a (My Page) on Tue, May 29, 12 at 21:56
| In my garden, cardboard boxes break down completely in about 3 months. I've never tried beer cartons, but I generally avoid using cardboard that has any kind of coating on it. |
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| Impatiens good, impatience bad. Come back in 6 years and I guarantee you they'll be broken down. That is, unless you live in the desert. Then you'll need to come back in 600 years. |
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| Mine break down in no time in Minnesota. |
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