Gardening expert shares ‘cardboard’ hack for clearing ‘lots’ of weeds – ‘keeps weeds down’

Monty Don suggests pulling garden weeds this autumn

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Gardening expert and author Ellen Mary has shared her methods for preventing weed growth exclusively with Express.co.uk. Ellen, who presents The Plant Based Podcast, said although we should be learning to live with weeds, there are certain situations where people might need to clear them to plant something. For example, when gardeners are cultivating their gardens for crops, weed growth can take nutrients away from crops as they compete for light, water and nutrients.

Rather than using chemicals or harmful sprays that can impact the surrounding environment, Ellen suggested hand-weeding.

She explained: “For me, it’s all about hand-weeding, which is what I mainly do.

“I don’t use anything on my garden or allotment at all. I don’t use any sprays, I just hand-weed.”

Another technique Ellen uses is what is known as “no-dig” which she claims “really helps to keep the weeds down”.

The technique involves layering a mulch on top of the surface of the garden once a year.

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Ellen said it stops light from getting to the weeds and therefore they don’t really grow.

She continued: “Any seeds that are blown in the wind that land on top of the mulch can just be hand-weeded out.

“If you have a lot of weeds that you do need to clear because you want to grow something, I’d recommend laying cardboard and a really thick layer of well-rotted organic matter on top.

“Then, just plant through that. Each year, add another smaller layer of mulch.

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“That’s the basics of no-dig gardening but it really helps to keep the weeds down.”

Many weeds are highly nutritious and can be used for their health benefits.

However, Ellen said many gardeners have decided to call a plant a weed because it’s “invasive or annoying” or it doesn’t look attractive.

A weed is just a plant that’s growing in a place where a person doesn’t want it.

The gardening author said gardeners need a “change of mindset” when it comes to weeds.

She continued: “It doesn’t matter what we’ve been told to call them.

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“A nettle is a plant, chickweed is a plant – all of these different ‘weeds’ are just plants.

“Many of them are highly nutritious and good for you as well.

“I think we just need to re-think our clarification of weeds in that sense.”

Nettles, for example, are loved by ladybirds and ladybirds eat aphids.

Nettles can also be used to make tea and to make plant feed.

“Everything has a use,” Ellen added.

Dandelions are also known as a “classic weed”, but they are actually one of the earliest sources of nectar for bees.

Leaving dandelions will ensure pollinators get to them.

Dandelions can also be used to make tea and coffee.

Ellen said gardens also don’t need to be perfect.

It’s more beneficial to have wilder areas in the garden.

She urged gardeners not to “sweat weeds” as much.

Ellen’s first book The Joy of Gardening: The Everyday Zen of Mowing the Lawn was published in May 2021.

Her second book, How to Grow a Garden: From balconies to Back Garden Plots, the Complete Guide to a Thriving Outdoor Space, is due to be published later this year.

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