Knowledgebase

Cardboard under my mulch in my permascaped front yard?! #749467

Asked May 12, 2021, 12:17 PM EDT

My friend, John Anderson in Fort Collins, helped turn my front yard from a grassy mess (boring, with lots of burned spots due to bad underground watering system and someone who doesn’t want to spend too much time taking care of / watering the spots daily...me) into a beautiful permascaped yard with a lovely pathway and nice accented areas of different plants to feed the insects & critters. Part of my reason was also to cut down on water waste and avoid herbicides and pesticides. Unfortunately since John’s VERY organic in his approach we put cardboard down over the grass and mulch on top. It has been a few years now and the bindweed is having a heyday! I’m ready to pull up all the mulch and put down a weed barrier but see that you don’t recommend that. You say “just mulch...3 inches preferably.” What? That’s even less than what I have now, and with all the rain we’ve had lately the brand new mulch I got on May 1st is dotted with new growth, of bindweed!! NO! HELP! Please let me know if there is anything I can do to make my life easier on this count. I’m retired, older, and have lower back issues. And I don’t have the money to pay someone to weed for me on a regular basis. I really would like my front yard to look good for the neighborhood. Thanks! Elizabeth H

Larimer County Colorado

Expert Response

Hi Elizabeth,

Are there desirable plants in the area near the bindweed? Are you opposed to using herbicides?

I would actually recommend a thicker layer of mulch--4-5" thick AND continually pull the bindweed. You have to wear it out, so persistence is key. Every time you see it, pull it out. It will take a great effort on your part and a lot of time (its root system is impressive), but it will work...if you keep up with it.

So you can do this: smother the area with mulch. As the bindweed starts to grow through the mulch, pull it. Or spray it with glyphosate (Roundup, Kleenup). You must be careful using these products because they are non-selective and will damage desirable plants. But you can use a directed shot. If you want to try organic herbicides, you can, just be careful and read the directions on the label to apply them. 

If you don't want to use herbicides, then pull, pull, pull, and pull some more. Persistence is key! There's no easy solution with this, but if you can do it for the summer, you'll see a noticeable difference.

Tell John "hi" the next time you see him :)

Alison O'Connor, PhD Replied May 12, 2021, 7:29 PM EDT

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