The cheapest way to cover ground is cardboard layered with free wood chips, and the total cost can be zero dollars. This combination smothers weeds, holds moisture in the soil, and breaks down into nutrients your plants can use. No other ground cover method gives you this much value for this little money.
When I first tried this method, I covered a 400-square-foot side yard two summers ago. I collected cardboard boxes from a local appliance store over two weeks. They were happy to hand them over since it saved them recycling fees. For the wood chips, I signed up on ChipDrop and had a tree service dump a full truckload in my driveway within a week. The whole project cost me nothing except time and sweat. It took one afternoon to lay the cardboard and spread the chips.
This works because of simple science. Overlapping cardboard blocks all sunlight from reaching the soil surface. Existing weeds underneath can't photosynthesize and die within weeks. The wood chips piled on top hold the cardboard flat against the ground and add a second barrier that new weed seeds can't push through. As both layers break down over the following year, they feed earthworms and soil microbes that improve your ground from the top down.
Finding free mulch for garden projects is easier than you might expect. Many cities and towns run composting programs that give free wood chips to residents. Tree service crews need spots to dump chips after jobs. They will drop a full load at your house for free through services like ChipDrop. Your neighbors rake bags of leaves every fall that make great mulch once you shred them. Grocery stores throw out stacks of cardboard boxes every single day and are happy to let you take them.
Each budget ground cover option has a sweet spot. Cardboard with free chips wins for large areas where cost matters most. Shredded leaves work best for garden beds in the fall when supply is unlimited. Pine straw fits slopes where round mulch chips would roll away. Bagged mulch from the store makes sense for small, visible areas where you want a clean look fast.
Start collecting cardboard now and sign up for a free chip delivery service in your area. Lay the cardboard at least 2 layers thick with overlaps of 6 inches between sheets. Pile 3 to 4 inches of chips on top and let nature do the rest. You'll have clean, weed-free ground that costs nothing and improves your soil at the same time.
Read the full article: Landscape Fabric: Pros, Cons, and Uses
