before putting down wood chips
2006-12-13 03:48:56 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
I used 10 layers a few years ago and it worked wonderfully to smother weeds. It eventually breaks down into the soil (unlike plastic or landscaping fabrics) but by the time it does, most of the perennial weeds will have been killed, so all you'll have to worry about are new seedling weeds. And if you keep down a layer of wood chips, they won't be much of a problem either. Don't use newspaper sections with lots of colored inks, though. Sometimes they contain icky things that are bad for the soil.
2006-12-13 05:05:13 · answer #1 · answered by Sharon 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have used this successfully for many years and use whole unopened newspapers and just overlap them by a couple of inches to stop any weeds getting between them. I then cover with 4 inches of wood chip.
Very good for shrubs and trees (don't put up against the trunk though- can cause collar rot). Perennials etc not so successful because they need regular applications of manure etc to grow well.
Plastic is no longer used under mulch because it sours the soil and doesn't allow enough moisture penetration, and they are now finding the weed mat has got similar problems with water penetration.
2006-12-13 21:06:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been learning a lot from Homesteadingtoday.com and they say it works great. I am going to try it this year in the garden, but I am going to put it down thicker than that. I know worms will grow underneath paper and all plants love those little critters.
Before I lay the paper this year I am going to powder it good with corn meal and buy a few containers of night crawlers and turn them loose before I layer the paper in each row. That may be a good idea for your plants also.
2006-12-13 04:21:12 · answer #3 · answered by dennis_phillips7 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but use at least 2 or better yet 3 layers of paper. It will mulch in the garden over time, but works well to prevent weeds.
2006-12-13 03:53:58 · answer #4 · answered by Tweet 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You bet!! Lay down 7 to 9 layers of paper, mulch over. My flowerbeds (and back) thanked me, personally.
2006-12-13 04:23:12 · answer #5 · answered by reynwater 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can use newspaper it just doesnt last aslong as weed block material,probably blocks for about one growing season and then it starts falling apart .
2006-12-13 12:01:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
why not use a weed barrier purchased from a nursery?
2006-12-13 03:50:20 · answer #7 · answered by Frances 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
go head and give it a try, I've seen people use plastic sheets
2006-12-13 03:51:11 · answer #8 · answered by Monet 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋