Is it OK to use shredded newspaper in my garden, either as a weed deterrent or tilled into the soil?

Answer 1

Newpaper can turn into soil in due course of time but it will make garden dirty. Better to use tiles as weed deterrent.

Answer 2

Yes, but there are better uses. If you can, just lay the sheets of newspaper on the ground. I use about a 6 sheet layer. Then you can put mulch or other organic material, like grass clippings or straw over the top of the paper to make it look a bit nicer and to keep the paper from blowing away. I found that soaking the paper with water before I put it out, keeps it in place better. This will keep weeds from growing, and at the end of the season you can till it all right in. If you already have shredded paper, I would recommend you compost it before you till it into the garden. Paper counts as a brown, or more carbon based material. Add a green, or nitrogen based material, like grass clippings. Mix them all together, keep it moist, turn it over and mix it up every week or so, and eventually you will have compost.

Answer 3

I shred all my mail and other papers I then always add it to my flowers and I also have a big veggie garden in which we always till the shredded papers in our garden does great and now the soil has become richer and is nice and dark the soil is nice and loose it only takes a few months for the paper to break down I work it in around my flowers also they are doing good. One word of caution do not shred them envelopes with the little plastic window the paper will decompose but not the the windows learned the hard way LOL.

Answer 4

As a weed mulch I think you will find it prone to blowing away. You could till it into the soil but in any significant quantity this will reduce the soil quality for plants while it is rotting down and the visible shreds of paper will look unattractive. The best option is to compost it, together with other organic material, although I find that paper takes a surprisingly long time to rot completely away so I tend not to include it in my compost, I burn it and then spread the ash.

Answer 5

I wouldn't shred it if you're using it for mulch. Unless you keep it constantly wet, it will be flying all over your yard.

If you are using it as mulch, just take several sections and lay it down around the plants. I know that most of the print section is safe, but they still recommend that you don't use the sales flyers, the "glossy" paper, that's where if your paper hasn't switched to biodegradable, it will be in those sections.

I asked my husband who's a landscaper about tilling it in and he said he would prefer to us something that breaks down a little easier like leaves. You can use newspaper, but if it gets wet, it clumps together and hardens when it dries and you could make artificial rocks with the stuff.

Answer 6

Yes !!
And it's great to promote more worms in your garden too !!

But as a weed deterrent, use newspaper in heavy layers, not shredded !!

EDIT* - I had a feeling that someone would warn of the ink in the paper, but don't worry about that as most printers have switched to biodegradable ink that's perfectly safe .

Answer 7

If its a fruit or veg garden then donot use it but if its s flower or plant garden then it will create good mulch/pulp also you will save lots of water and it will help keep your soil moist and garden weedfree.

Answer 8

I think it would be ok. I have used newspaper 3-4 sheets with dirt on top to deter weeds and it worked and my flowers and shrubs were fine.

Answer 9

They never use poisonous ink any more. I wouldn't bother to till it in because it won't decompose fast enough, but it sure makes a great mulch. Just water it once and it will stay put.

Answer 10

Yes, as long as you are sure there are no toxins in the newspaper. Stay away from the colored pieces as they contain metals that are toxic to your vegetables and plants.