Cardboard weed guard ?

[White Oak]

I saw this on another forum. Is this a good or bad idea , using cardboard as a tree weed guard and putting mulch on top of the cardboard ?

 

[Chainsaw]

Newspapers and cardboard with a few inches of mulch on top are used as seed barriers in my daylily gardens. Either medium has kept gardens weedfree for a year and not too bad on the first half of the second year. Then it needs to be weeded and done again.The cardboard did tend to have rodent trails under it whereas the newspapers did not. The newspapers are water soaked before putting them down and the paper tended to conform to the soil unevenness whereas the cardboard did not. Both mediums helped hold moisture and both protected the soil from the scorching sun.

 

[trampledbyturtles]

Use it all the time with wood chip mulch with no problems. Only use them on quick rooting species that I dont want to have to come back to and remove a more long term barrier like tree fabric from.

 

[sandbur]

Newspapers and cardboard with a few inches of mulch on top are used as seed barriers in my daylily gardens. Either medium has kept gardens weedfree for a year and not too bad on the first half of the second year. Then it needs to be weeded and done again.The cardboard did tend to have rodent trails under it whereas the newspapers did not. The newspapers are water soaked before putting them down and the paper tended to conform to the soil unevenness whereas the cardboard did not. Both mediums helped hold moisture and both protected the soil from the scorching sun.

I have had the same experiences around apple trees. I will use 2-6 layers of cardboard. Sometimes mulch under them. Rodents do like that set up, including rats at one time, one tree.


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[Telemark]

I use it around my trees every year and in my no-dig vegetable beds. Works well for what I pay for it.

 

[Charles Clear]

I have been using cardboard for years. It's free and I'm cheap. It needs replaced every other year because I only use a single layer. I like the idea of using multiple layers! I may have to try that!

 

[sandbur]

I have been using cardboard for years. It's free and I'm cheap. It needs replaced every other year because I only use a single layer. I like the idea of using multiple layers! I may have to try that!

The cardboard with a glossy surface last longer and probably carries more chemicals


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[Tree Spud]

I put 3' x 3' black weed fabric down. It does heat up soil but my understanding it will also produce condensation under the mat as evening temps cool.

Pros cons with this approach?

 

[White Oak]

I put 3' x 3' black weed fabric down. It does heat up soil but my understanding it will also produce condensation under the mat as evening temps cool.

Pros cons with this approach?

I've used the black weed fabric with much on top , can't say I've noticed any cons. I'm just looking for a cheaper alternative....Not that I have as many trees as some of you'all...I probably only 25 pears and Crabs to take care of.

 

[Tree Spud]

I've used the black weed fabric with much on top , can't say I've noticed any cons. I'm just looking for a cheaper alternative....Not that I have as many trees as some of you'all...I probably only 25 pears and Crabs to take care of.

I am thinking of adding mulch also. July/Aug here can get 3-5 weeks of drought like conditions so anyway to retain moisture would be good.

 

[yoderjac]

I had been using water/air permeable landscaping material with quarry stone as permanent mulch. Rodents don't like it and it works. Lately, I've been lazy and more cost conscious. I've started making smaller diameter cages. I use remesh. It stands on its own and a single T-post holds it in place. The cage is heavy enough itself to keep the landscaping material in place, so I've just let it exposed. So far, it seems to be working just as well.

Thanks,

jack

 

[rocksnstumps]

^^^ I have done the same but will caution against going too small in cage diameter with concrete remesh. Had some of my caging down to 2 ft maybe a little less and found leaders clipped off on new plantings from the younger deer able to stick most of their head thru that 6" opening. Using smaller diameter cages with the 2" x 4" fencing seems to work ok however. With the remesh thinking gotta stay 3 to 3-1/2 ft dia anyway.

 

[yoderjac]

^^^ I have done the same but will caution against going too small in cage diameter with concrete remesh. Had some of my caging down to 2 ft maybe a little less and found leaders clipped off on new plantings from the younger deer able to stick most of their head thru that 6" opening. Using smaller diameter cages with the 2" x 4" fencing seems to work ok however. With the remesh thinking gotta stay 3 to 3-1/2 ft dia anyway.

Good Point! By the time I plant my rootmaker trees, the smallest are close to the top of the cage. By crisscrossing some rope through the cage, I can create a square around the trunk. This lets the tree move in the wind but limits the movement so it does not end up near the side of the cage. Most of the trees I plant are above the top of the cage. Apples grafted to rootstock that live in rootmakers for one growing season are probably the shortest trees when planted. So far, I have not had an issue. However, I've gone to 4' landscaping material so I can make larger cages if I wish. So far, the newer cages are just under 3' in diameter with no issues to central leaders. As always, my fingers are still crossed.

One final regional note: What works for me may not work for everyone. We have a pretty good handle on deer numbers at this point. Deer avoid our caged and tubed trees for the most part, but when deer numbers get high and food gets scarce, they will go to greater lengths to get at quality food.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[OakSeeds]

If you want some nice sized pieces of wax coated cardboard, visit your local bicycle shop (especially upscale bikes). Expensive bikes get shipped in sturdy cardboard boxes that have 2 sides that are around 3 x 5 foot long.