The paper mulch we provide was designed especially for encouraging good yields, establishing healthier plants, to weed less and grow more. The innovative paper mulch retains moisture, moderates temperature, improves soil structure and offers an alternative to microplastics in your earth.
The manufacture of the paper mulch ran some test comparisons between the mulch and cardboard. The data showed that a cardboard box wasn't as good a mulch material compared to ones that's specifically formulated to be a mulching material and to function solely as a mulch.
Corrugated cardboard is made of 2 liners (top & bottom) sandwiched over fluted kraft. Cardboard boxes that have 3 layers is even more difficult for water to permeate. It is common that a box is also treated and if so, it is water resistant.
Regarding Permeability
One of the pictures shows a water drop test on an Amazon Box. It will take considerable time for the drop to permeate 3 layers even after many months of field use. Note the light stripe on the Amazon box - that is adhesive residue from the box tape.
Another picture shows the EcoMulch with the same water drop test: The paper mulch has an initial tight fiber (cellulose) formation (for improved handleability) after the mulch has some exposure to air, sunlight, water, the fibers loosen up and permeability
is excellent as the lower picture (after 10-15 days use) illustrates.
Regarding Sunlight
One of the pictures illustrates new / fresh EcoMulch vs in-use EcoMulch, the used mulch is notably lighter (from sun bleaching). This is a unique characteristic. As the season progresses, the colour goes from dark to light, becoming more reflective than absorptive of heat. When hot field temperatures arrive, it's common to see plants exhibiting heat stress, which isn't good. Because of the lighter colour, the paper mulch plants and root systems are not exposed to these extremes; the paper mulch creates a very comfortable microclimate around the plants.
A cardboard box is more difficult to make plant holes in and manage placing on a vegetable bed as well, also some boxes have lots of ink.
Cardboard can come in handy when it's being recycled and you're not sure what to do with it but if you are thinking about buying it new, please consider using paper mulch instead. This is what many commercial growers and market gardeners use to save time and money weeding and to help their plants have optimum growth.