How to Use Newspaper as Mulch in the Garden

[joyce]

How to Use Newspaper as Mulch in the Garden

1. When using newspaper as mulch in the garden be sure to use several layers, three to four sheets should do the trick nicely.

2. Place the sheets of newspaper, flatly down, at least two inches away from the stems of your plants to prevent them from rotting which can occur when the stem is kept constantly wet.

3. Be sure to cover all areas of your garden.

4. Soak the entire newspaper-lined area with water from your hose.

At this point you can add a top layer of mulch, such as day-old, seedless, grass clippings, (also free) straw, or store-bought mulch. I don’t recommend using bark chips as mulch in your vegetable garden as the rough texture can damage your delicate plants.

Why it Works

Most weed seeds need sunlight to germinate. The newspaper keeps the sunlight away while also helping to preserve the moisture in the soil that your vegetable plants, and seedlings, need so desperately - especially on those hot, summer days when evaporation happens so quickly.




Wonder where I can get some extra newspapers at??

[CuPcAkE]

:-\ Someone is going to be short a paper a night

[hootnannie]

SO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS, IFIN I USE NEWSPAPER IN MY GARDEN, I WON'T HAVE TO PULL WEEDS ALL SUMMER, AND I WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO GO FISHING? ;D ;D

[joyce]

cupcake21783 said:

:-\ Someone is going to be short a paper a night

Now I wouldn't dream of ever doin' anything like like that

[joyce]

hootnannie said:

SO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS, IFIN I USE NEWSPAPER IN MY GARDEN, I WON'T HAVE TO PULL WEEDS ALL SUMMER, AND I WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO GO FISHING? ;D ;D

Maybe not as many weeds. Yep more time for fishin' ;D

[olhillbilly]

If Joyce services any machines on her route, I can bout guarentee she has tons of papers.


Prolly wouldnt hurt to dampen yer garden a bit fore ya put them papers down. Least if its perty dry dirt.

[cenaub4]

Having rocks around is a good idea too.

We have on shore breezes that kick up regular, and no rain, ever for the most part. So, even though you put the paper down several sheets thick, and wet them down good... but next after noon, my papers are all slammed up against the brick wall farthest in the direction the wind was blowing. Then I gotta go chase 'em all down, stack 'em up, lay 'em back out, wet 'em down, smack rocks on the corners... It is just easier to compost the papers, and put out compost a couple of inches thick.

I've done a much better job weedin' this year. Soon, things will be hoppin to fast to hand pull, plus we just got the last of our rain for this year. Now, weeding will only happen right after watering.

I do like the newspaper to layer under lasagne beds. It works well as a weed/light barrier on the bottom. It makes fine worm food for getting microbial life in there (other wise know as the micro herd, or just the herd). I have great luck prepping with it on the bottom, then slinging kitchen scraps and leaves on top of that. We have no 'coons or such to dig anything up, and the possums seem only interested in certain stuff. If there is a lot of fruit in the kitchen scraps, the possums can make a mess of that.

Sure wish't we have fishing to be done around here other than in the bays and the ocean. You have to stand on a pier for either, seaweed STINKS, much different odor than fish washed up in the sun. Two hour drive (1 way) with renting a boat on top of for any other fishing.

Somehow I got a penny in my shredder, so it doesn't work anymore. My brown grocery bags were going into my compost too. You can tear 'em flat and use them just as well as newspapers. They stay put a bit better, too.