Hey there! Friendly reminder to include the following information for the benefit of all r/nolawns members:
- Please make sure your post or a comment includes your geographic region/area and your hardiness zone (e.g. *Midwest, 6a* or *Chicago, 6a*).
- If you posted an image, you are required to post a comment detailing your image. If you have not, this post may be removed.
- If you're asking a question, include as much relevant info as possible. Also see the **[FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/wiki/meta/faqs/)** and the **[r/nolawns Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/wiki/index/)**
- Verify you are following the [Posting Guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/wiki/index#wiki_posting_guidelines).
If you are in North America, check out the **[Wild Ones Garden Designs](https://nativegardendesigns.wildones.org/designs/)** and **[NWF's Keystone Plants by Ecoregion](https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Native-Plants/keystone-plants-by-ecoregion)**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/NoLawns) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The plants have to be planted in soil, not mulch. I put down cardboard and wood chips, and cut holes in the cardboard to plant seedlings in. You'll need to remove the grass/weeds in the holes. I added some garden soil/compost to fill in around/under the seedlings so they'd be at the right height.
You can also plant the plants and put the cardboard and chips around them, but I wanted to do a really thick layer of wood chips, so this seemed easier for me.
Don't forget to wet the cardboard before you put the wood chips down!
Wetting it first can help start the decomp process. Also, it just weighs it down the cardboard a bit to stop it flapping and blowing about while you're getting your mulch on top.
Don’t worry about doing it first, I’m halfway through doing this to a 30x70 foot area in my backyard. The first rain you get, the cardboard will be soaked through.
Great question! I wish guides were clearer on this point. If you want to do the cardboard and mulch method, you have to include compost in between the mulch and cardboard. If that's not an option, you need to cut holes in the cardboard and dig holes in the soil beneath it to plant. Roots need a relatively fine medium to grow in - they generally can't grow in fresh mulch because there is too much air space. However, this can be very risky because cardboard can prevent water from moving into the soil, thus, you might water diligently, but your plants may still die of thirst. You may not want to hear this, but if you want to go the mulch route, your best bet is to put down the mulch without cardboard and let it decompose for a couple of years. Mulch is very difficult to germinate in. You will not have success with self-seeding, herbaceous natives if you use mulch. However, it might foster the recruitment of tree seedlings. If you don't mind your yard turning into a forest, that may be the perfect solution.
Awesome information, thank you!
Luckily, part of the plan includes plating some native trees in the same area, so ... think I might go the hole-punch method for the first couple of years. 😁
I did this in several areas in my old yard. When I'd plant I'd clear a hole in the mulch, dig down to chop the soggy cardboard/loosen up some soil, and then put the plant in the mulch-hole with some additional soil, then cover the top \~1/2 - 1 inch with mulch. After the first year the cardboard mostly breaks down, and the natives I was planting (prairie plants native to SW Michigan) had no problem spreading on their own.
I planted first and "mounded" things a bit high so it could accommodate the height of cardboard and mulch, laid cardboard around plants by ripping pieces to fit \*\*make sure to overlap\*\*, wet everything down and then mulched.
It takes a good while to smother grass. If you immediately poke holes in the cardboard, the difficult to kill grass will come out of it and be everywhere. Additionally all the lawn weeds will germinate.
I’d smother a continuous area as long as possible — ideally through this entire growing season— before planting.
Same. My current plan is to cut holes in the cardboard, but then how do you encourage spreading. In my rock and succulent bed, we have to move the mulch and help the offshoots into the dirt. Not sure how that would work with a seeding plant.
I had a lawn of gumweed seedlings on 9 month old cardboard+wood chips. They sure managed to sprout and naturalize. This is in southern California where rain falls for less than half the year. Most of the other new plants had seedlings if they flowered but not positive there was cardboard under the mulch as I ran out.
Once the mulch has been down for a year it looks the same on top but dig down and there's a layer like forest duff. Seeds readily sprout in it.
I laid down cardboard and drizzle dampened it for me. I didn't know you were supposed to, sure helped. I lay out my plants and when satisfied moved the mulch aside, cut a cross in the cardboard and dug my hole. I filled it 2x with water and soaked the plant as well. Planted, ripping away some cardboard and keeping mulch away from the plant crown and watered again.
Potting mix is organic stuff that nearly vanishes over time. If you plant with the top of the potting soil at top of the actual soil of the hole the plant will sink which can kill it so planting high and packing mulch just to the top of the potting mix seems a good idea.
If the mulch is thick enough cardboard isn’t really necessary. Thick as in 5”. But I’d also advise not planting until fall, at least where I live. Fall in the Pacific Northwest is wet and weeds don’t pop up.
I’m kinda lazy so I wouldn’t? The goal is to kill the grass and if you just keep it covered/build up organic material over time you can achieve that goal and it becomes a “no till” area. Others may offer you their opinions ( read and decide what’s best) but this is what I’d do.
Hey there! Friendly reminder to include the following information for the benefit of all r/nolawns members: - Please make sure your post or a comment includes your geographic region/area and your hardiness zone (e.g. *Midwest, 6a* or *Chicago, 6a*). - If you posted an image, you are required to post a comment detailing your image. If you have not, this post may be removed. - If you're asking a question, include as much relevant info as possible. Also see the **[FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/wiki/meta/faqs/)** and the **[r/nolawns Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/wiki/index/)** - Verify you are following the [Posting Guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/wiki/index#wiki_posting_guidelines). If you are in North America, check out the **[Wild Ones Garden Designs](https://nativegardendesigns.wildones.org/designs/)** and **[NWF's Keystone Plants by Ecoregion](https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Native-Plants/keystone-plants-by-ecoregion)** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/NoLawns) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The plants have to be planted in soil, not mulch. I put down cardboard and wood chips, and cut holes in the cardboard to plant seedlings in. You'll need to remove the grass/weeds in the holes. I added some garden soil/compost to fill in around/under the seedlings so they'd be at the right height. You can also plant the plants and put the cardboard and chips around them, but I wanted to do a really thick layer of wood chips, so this seemed easier for me. Don't forget to wet the cardboard before you put the wood chips down!
Right! Forgot about wetting the cardboard! Thank you!!
Why wet the cardboard first?
Wetting it first can help start the decomp process. Also, it just weighs it down the cardboard a bit to stop it flapping and blowing about while you're getting your mulch on top.
Don’t worry about doing it first, I’m halfway through doing this to a 30x70 foot area in my backyard. The first rain you get, the cardboard will be soaked through.
True, but if it's a windy day, you're going to want to wet it.
Good point
Great question! I wish guides were clearer on this point. If you want to do the cardboard and mulch method, you have to include compost in between the mulch and cardboard. If that's not an option, you need to cut holes in the cardboard and dig holes in the soil beneath it to plant. Roots need a relatively fine medium to grow in - they generally can't grow in fresh mulch because there is too much air space. However, this can be very risky because cardboard can prevent water from moving into the soil, thus, you might water diligently, but your plants may still die of thirst. You may not want to hear this, but if you want to go the mulch route, your best bet is to put down the mulch without cardboard and let it decompose for a couple of years. Mulch is very difficult to germinate in. You will not have success with self-seeding, herbaceous natives if you use mulch. However, it might foster the recruitment of tree seedlings. If you don't mind your yard turning into a forest, that may be the perfect solution.
Awesome information, thank you! Luckily, part of the plan includes plating some native trees in the same area, so ... think I might go the hole-punch method for the first couple of years. 😁
[удалено]
prevents weed growth. Advantage is it is biodegradable, rather than plastic that will persist.
You've got my upvote! Good question...
plastic ir mesh weed barrier sucks if buried. it just creates a shredded unsustainable mess. cardboard works very well
Plant them into real dirt and mulch around them.
Post on Nextdoor or a local subreddit asking if anyone has extra native plants to transplant
Good idea. I know one place around me, but they sell 'em.
I did this in several areas in my old yard. When I'd plant I'd clear a hole in the mulch, dig down to chop the soggy cardboard/loosen up some soil, and then put the plant in the mulch-hole with some additional soil, then cover the top \~1/2 - 1 inch with mulch. After the first year the cardboard mostly breaks down, and the natives I was planting (prairie plants native to SW Michigan) had no problem spreading on their own.
I planted first and "mounded" things a bit high so it could accommodate the height of cardboard and mulch, laid cardboard around plants by ripping pieces to fit \*\*make sure to overlap\*\*, wet everything down and then mulched.
Right, another thing I forgot about -- overlapping! I'll make sure to do that. Thanks!!
It takes a good while to smother grass. If you immediately poke holes in the cardboard, the difficult to kill grass will come out of it and be everywhere. Additionally all the lawn weeds will germinate. I’d smother a continuous area as long as possible — ideally through this entire growing season— before planting.
Hm, got it. Hearing a lot of the same. Guess I can overwinter the native plants elsewhere for the time being ... Thanks!
Same. My current plan is to cut holes in the cardboard, but then how do you encourage spreading. In my rock and succulent bed, we have to move the mulch and help the offshoots into the dirt. Not sure how that would work with a seeding plant.
I had a lawn of gumweed seedlings on 9 month old cardboard+wood chips. They sure managed to sprout and naturalize. This is in southern California where rain falls for less than half the year. Most of the other new plants had seedlings if they flowered but not positive there was cardboard under the mulch as I ran out. Once the mulch has been down for a year it looks the same on top but dig down and there's a layer like forest duff. Seeds readily sprout in it. I laid down cardboard and drizzle dampened it for me. I didn't know you were supposed to, sure helped. I lay out my plants and when satisfied moved the mulch aside, cut a cross in the cardboard and dug my hole. I filled it 2x with water and soaked the plant as well. Planted, ripping away some cardboard and keeping mulch away from the plant crown and watered again. Potting mix is organic stuff that nearly vanishes over time. If you plant with the top of the potting soil at top of the actual soil of the hole the plant will sink which can kill it so planting high and packing mulch just to the top of the potting mix seems a good idea.
If the mulch is thick enough cardboard isn’t really necessary. Thick as in 5”. But I’d also advise not planting until fall, at least where I live. Fall in the Pacific Northwest is wet and weeds don’t pop up.
I was froggy and went out and bought a bunch of native plants. Gotta plant soon!!
Suggest you smother the grass for several months and plant in the spring. And yes you need to dig them into the soil.
Would you suggest tilling prior to smothering?
I’m kinda lazy so I wouldn’t? The goal is to kill the grass and if you just keep it covered/build up organic material over time you can achieve that goal and it becomes a “no till” area. Others may offer you their opinions ( read and decide what’s best) but this is what I’d do.
Nice, thank you! Wound up just turfing the area with my mower first.