Using cardboard to suppress weeds

[MidLifeCrisis2017]

Has anyone tried this? I had a raised bed built last summer and couldn't afford to plant anything. My garden is bordered by fields and I now have a healthy crop of weeds. I'd read that you can lay sheets of cardboard down then cover with topsoil/compost. I can still only afford to use seeds this year but wondered if this might be a good solution after I've weeded (again).

[TheSpottedZebra]

Yep, I do this - it works well for me.
NB I grow most things from seed and plant them out as small plants - I just make holes in the card.

I do dig out any 'bad weeds' where I can, so couch, bindweed, dandelions, brambles etc, and just leave the annual weeds to get smothered and die.

[TheSpottedZebra]

What are you planning to plant?

[MidLifeCrisis2017]

Just annuals, maybe one of those wildflower mixes

[ChuckDaffodils]

No not with wildflowers - they need very careful preparation of the soil

Grow spuds under the cardboard, let them take nutrients out, dig them all out leaving none, then keep it weed free next winter and then you can put wildflowers in.

[MidLifeCrisis2017]

That's interesting, I thought wildflowers would just grow anywhere vaguely uncultivated.

I'm after a quick, cheap solution to get me through the summer as I won't actually be here - any recommendations?

[AlternativeTentacle]

When are you going and when are you back?

[MidLifeCrisis2017]

Going in May, back September but my mum will be here