Cardboard Comeback: Amazon Boxes Revive "No Dig" Gardening

As of October 2025, US homeowners have discovered a clever way to repurpose their old Amazon boxes to help their "no dig" yards thrive. The discarded packaging is proving to be a valuable resource, as it can reduce weeds and serve many other purposes for the garden.

The benefits of putting cardboard in flower beds are significant. Due to its high carbon content and lack of chemical contamination, Amazon boxes can help plants flourish. The cardboard creates a great starter for new beds, eliminates pesky weeds, and even protects weak or young plants from the elements. The carbon in the boxes combines with nitrogen in the dirt to create healthy, nutrient-rich soil.

This "no dig" gardening method, which involves layering natural materials instead of digging down, is gaining popularity among homeowners. It promotes a healthier biodiversity in the soil and encourages the presence of beneficial insects in the compost. Reddit users have described this technique as "cheap and eco-friendly," praising it for its effectiveness in weed prevention.

In addition to their use in gardening, Amazon boxes have several other repurposed applications. They can make great containers for seedlings, serve as garden kneelers, and even provide endless fun for children through fort-building and art projects. If no other use is found, the cardboard can be added to the compost pile, as its high carbon levels make it ideal for decomposition.