Cardboard as a mulch

The market gardeners have a special fork the width of the beds (in my case 2 foot wide) which has two handles. The fork is inserted then eased back and moved along the rows whilst walking backwards, which in my case is quite easy as I have beds either side. I will probably make my own from scrap metal and use it to 'ease' the soil through the cardboard and organic mulch before planting. In this way it will still aerate the soil a bit, relieving compaction at the same time.

The tool I will make will be summat like this as I am too tight to spend this amount on one! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spear-Jackson-8...th=1&psc=1