I’m a heavy metal gardening fan & transformed my yard with a no-dig hack – the naysayers were wrong, there are no weeds
A METAL fan has taken the heavy guess work out of building a luscious outdoor space.
He said his no-dig hack transformed his garden, proving the haters wrong.
Heavy metal fan and UX director Brandon Gentry (@brandontgentry) of Nashville, Tennessee, 42, filmed himself demonstrating the tip in a video on TikTok.
He said that his interest in gardening came after searching for a unique way to DIY his lawn.
“We like to look for something a little different. Our landscaping isn’t all black plants, but we like things with an interesting shape or color,” he told The U.S. Sun.
“We do tend to stick to green, black, white, and purple. We find plants with different textures and heights, creating levels and layers. And we know our limitations.
“We know we aren’t going to be out there tending to them every day.
“So we keep the beds neat and tidy, rather than having an overflowing English garden look, which we like but know we can’t maintain at this point in our life.
“I also like to experiment with low-voltage outdoor lighting. Our outdoor lights are on smart switches and timers.”
NO HEAVY LIFTING, JUST HEAVY METAL
First, he laid out deconstructed Home Depot boxes throughout the yard.
Gentry sprayed the cardboard with water, adhering it closer to the ground.
He then placed dirt on top of the boxes, topping it off with black mulch.
Gentry also confirmed in the comment section that he punched holes into the cardboard to allow plants to grow through for a flawless flower bed.
He also specified that he never needs to re-do the job completely, just refreshing the mulch as needed.
NOT DIGGING IT
The gardening method, which skipped digging altogether, drew in some skepticism from viewers.
“What’s the point of doing this?” one wrote in the comment section. “I’m being serious.”
“So you don’t have to dig up all that grass,” Gentry replied.
“How did you get the plants in and growing without digging?” another inquired.
“I mean, those are dug haha,” Gentry said. “The ‘no dig’ part is not having to dig up all that sod. That’s the hard part.”
A few supporters said that they stand by the tried-and-true gardening hack.
“This is a very old and underrated method,” one said. “We do it every year.”
“Been doing this for a while, plus I put a layer of landscape paper over the cardboard to hold it all together,” another wrote. “Lol I hate weeding.”
STILL GROWING STRONG
In yet another video, Gentry gave a two-year update on his “no-dig gardening hack.”
He filmed the flower bed, which clearly appeared lush and thriving.
“First of all, the naysayers were wrong,” he said. “It wasn’t overrun by weeds or grass and that cardboard is completely decomposed.”
More viewers flocked to the comment section to weigh in on the method.
Easy gardening tips to save money, maximize space, and repel pests
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- Banana peels, vinegar, and coffee grounds are often recommended as natural fertilizers.
- Dollar Tree sells four packs of seeds for $1.25.
- Try a vertical planter like Amazon’s Mr. Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Planter, $35 to make more use of a small space.
- Use netting like the Garden Netting Pest Barrier, $8, from Amazon to keep away bugs that eat your vegetables.
- Try sacrificial planting to reduce the use of pesticides and keep pests away from your garden. Deliberately growing certain plants to attract agricultural pests can keep them away from the plants you want to protect. Examples include marigolds, lavender, catnip, and chives.
- For pesky weeds in your garden, the Grampa’s Weeder – The Original Stand-Up Weed Puller Tool with Long Handles, $45, from Amazon is a helpful tool you can use without having to bend over.
“So I have a legit question. Not being rude. Just wondering — I’ve heard that cardboard attracts cockroaches?” one wrote. “Did you have that issue?”
“No issues with bugs,” Gentry replied. “Most 100% recyclable biodegradable cardboard uses soy inks and natural glues these days. It’s totally fine.”
“I did this last year after seeing your video and it worked amazingly well,” another said. “Thank you.”