Garden Bed Tip: Cardboard

Use cardboard to start an organic garden bed. This bed is in the back of my yard (more neglected part which doesn't get watered during drought). It has gone underdeveloped for several years.

There's a hidden clue in this picture.
Check back to find out what it is.

Now that I am on the "Butterfly Garden Path" I wanted to prepare more beds in addition to the Curbside Butterfly Garden in my front yard.

I saw a Pinterest post with a photo of this same principle and it was reiterated when speaking with Plant-A-Habitat Owner, Kim Ellis.

After weeding the bed on a Saturday, leaving behind the "Rain Lily" leaves that come back during the right combination of heat and rain in the summer, I let the bed stand for a day.

I was putting some boxes into the recycling bin Sunday and remembered the Pinterest Post and Kim's advice.

I flattened the boxes and spread them out. I laid them out on the bed and placed some bricks to keep them from flying away. A few days later I added another cardboard and newspaper to fill gaps. It doesn't have to look pretty (obviously), it just needs to block out the sun and eventually decompose.

Kim's advice is the tip that will make your bed successful. She says to bring in organic soil (that can be mixed with some mulch) and add 2-3 inches of soil on top of the cardboard. Done. You can wait a couple of weeks before you add the soil and weed again (optional) before you cover everything up. Tamp down the soil and your organic soil bed is ready for plants.

Since April is getting late in the 2-inch pot planting season, choose plants that are a bit larger or transplant from another (maybe a little neglected bed in your yard) so you don't have to wait too long for gratification, or before the summer sun wilts tender, tiny plants.

I've mention my front yard butterfly garden often. Check back for photos of it now as it is blooming and butterflies have found it!

Below are the magical rain lilies I referred to. They border the bed and look like a Fairy Ring when they are blooming. Last year I counted 60 when the elements came together. Delightful.