How to Protect Your School Garden from Caretaker Conflicts (Without a Single Argument)

If you’ve ever put time, heart, and curriculum hours into building a school garden—only to have it damaged or neglected because of misunderstandings with caretakers—you’re not alone.

It’s a frustratingly common scenario:
You carefully plan out your raised beds, your students plant seedlings with enthusiasm, and everything’s finally growing beautifully… until the caretaker cuts the grass too close, accidentally damages a planter, or decides it’s “not their job” to mow between your garden beds.

Even when intentions are good, miscommunication or differing responsibilities between educators and caretakers can turn a garden into a source of friction.

But what if there were a simple, low-cost, and student-led method that could prevent these issues entirely?

Good news: There is.

It’s called sheet mulching—a technique borrowed from Permaculture that not only helps grow gardens but also helps protect them.

💬 Real Talk: Why Garden-Caretaker Conflicts Happen

Let’s start with the reality on the ground (sometimes literally):

• Caretakers are often unionized, with very clearly defined job descriptions. Anything that adds “extra” work—even something as simple as navigating a lawnmower around garden beds—can be flagged as a problem.

• Different personalities = different outcomes. Some caretakers are enthusiastic allies. Others may feel that school gardens are inconvenient, or worse, disruptive.

• Lack of clarity leads to inaction or overcorrection. Some caretakers might stop maintaining certain areas to avoid conflict. Others may accidentally damage beds, seedlings, or even trees simply because the boundaries weren’t clear.

Here’s a quick story from a school I recently visited:

The daycare center, which runs a Reggio-inspired program and participates in my Oasis Classroom program, had thriving garden beds—but this year, the caretaker decided he wasn’t going to mow the grass between them.

The teachers tried to take care of it themselves. One even mowed the grass personally, just to keep things tidy… and got in trouble for “doing the caretaker’s job.” Someone reported her to the school board.

It’s a lose-lose for everyone—unless you change the system.

🌿 Enter: Sheet Mulching

Sheet mulching is a powerful yet simple gardening method that suppresses grass and weeds by layering cardboard and mulch directly over existing lawn. It's typically used to convert grassy areas into garden beds—but it works beautifully for garden paths, too.

Why does this matter in schools?

Because no grass = no mowing.

And when there’s no mowing, caretakers don’t need to navigate tight corners, dodge planters, or risk damaging your students’ hard work.

🔧 How to Sheet Mulch Garden Paths (and Beds)

Here’s what you need to create a sheet-mulched path (or prep an area for a garden bed):

🧰 Materials:

• Cardboard (no tape or glossy coatings)

• Water (a hose or watering cans)

• Wood mulch (shredded bark works well)

• Optional: Soil and compost if building a new garden bed

👩‍🏫 Step-by-Step:

1. Soak the area: Water the grass or soil thoroughly. This helps kick-start the decomposition process.

2. Lay cardboard: Cover the area completely with overlapping sheets of cardboard. Make sure there are no gaps.

3. Soak the cardboard: Water it again until it’s thoroughly wet and pliable.

4. Add mulch: For paths, top the cardboard with 4–6 inches of wood mulch. For beds, add a mix of soil and compost, then mulch over it.

That’s it!
No digging. No tilling. No machinery.

🙌 Why Sheet Mulching Is Perfect for Schools

Let’s break down the benefits:

✅ No special tools or contractors required

Students can do the entire process themselves (yes, even the younger ones!) with supervision. It becomes a hands-on activity that builds ownership and joy.

✅ Budget-friendly

Cardboard is free, mulch can often be sourced at low or no cost (local arborists sometimes donate wood chips), and it all eliminates the need for ongoing lawn maintenance around your garden beds.

✅ No approvals needed

Because you’re not installing permanent structures, there’s no need for lengthy approval processes from your school board. You’re simply adding mulch.

✅ Prevents accidental damage

No more weed wackers snapping planters. No more trees mowed over. Sheet mulching clearly defines spaces and eliminates the need for lawn equipment in your garden zone.

✅ Reduces caretaker involvement

Since there’s no grass to cut, you completely remove the expectation—or confusion—that caretakers need to maintain that area. It’s out of their hands and into yours (and your students’).

✅ Supports long-term sustainability

The mulch layer will need to be topped up every couple of years, which is a perfect annual student activity. Over time, the decomposing cardboard and mulch enrich the soil below.

🍎 A Classroom-Friendly, Conflict-Free Solution

School gardens should be sources of joy, learning, and connection—not stress.

Sheet mulching offers a practical, peaceful, and regenerative way to reduce garden-related conflicts at your school. It gives you more control over your space, removes barriers, and turns garden prep into a teachable moment.

Whether you’re protecting a few raised beds or designing a full garden ecosystem, this technique can make a world of difference.

🎧 Want to Hear the Real Stories?

In Episode 53 of my podcast School Gardens with Ease, I share a few behind-the-scenes stories about caretaker conflicts I’ve seen firsthand—and how sheet mulching could’ve saved the day. I also explain why this method is my go-to solution whenever friction arises.

Give it a listen if you want to hear more about the challenges schools face and how we can keep gardens growing—without the drama.

Looking for more garden-friendly teaching tips?
You’ll love my free guide on school gardens with almost no summer maintenance.

And if you're planning next year’s classroom garden, my Oasis Programs are here to help—step by step, seed by seed.

🌱 Happy gardening,
Leila