whenyou are using newspaper to stop weeds in your garden do you put a layer of dirt on top or just wet it?

Answer 1

Wet it then a very light amount of soil on it, but I really wouldn't use news paper at all. After a few weeks, it breaks down to the point that it really doesn't help at all.

Good luck.



bwg

Answer 2

I have used newspaper to stop weeds too. I put down many layers, water it well and then put grass clippings on top. This will stop the weeds and the grass clippings will help with the breakdown of the newspaper. In my experience, the newspaper has broken down into the soil by the end of the year. Most newspaper is printed with soy based ink on biodegradable paper, so it will not harm the soil.

Answer 3

We used newspaper, more than two Sunday papers worth, minus the ads, for an area of 6' x 10'.

We had to wet the paper as we were laying it, but as we laid and watered we also added wood chips to hold it down.

We are more organic than most, and we did this three years, it WILL turn into compost, which is good.

Answer 4

Good idea to put some type of mulch on top of it or it will possibly blow away. If you put dirt on top of it, you just give the weed seeds another place to grow.

Mulch or pine straw would be the way to go.

Answer 5

Hi tksteele26

I use about four thicknesses of paper, avoid the colored pages and then scatter a very thin layer of dirt on it. That way it won't blow around.

Norm

Answer 6

I never heard of using newspaper before, never even thought of it really, but what I use is cardboard to me that works great.

Answer 7

I have never heard of newspaper stopping weeds one reason i would not use it is because it is going to disintegrate fast and weed are always coming. I would use mulch or plastic.

Answer 8

just wet it --- it's only to save the paper blowing away --- but try not tear the paper or get holes in it .