She did indicate that cardboard was okay in decorative beds that were tended regularly. And I would think that punching a hole in it would get around the problem of layering that she says causes the problems. So you are saying to put the cardboard and newspapers on the bottom layer? then soil, compost material, then planting soil?
And apparently she is primarily a tree person. She definitely gets her nails dirty where trees are concerned judging by slides she showed. Well, I will read her books with a very open and thoughtful mind.
