How to Use Newspaper to Prevent Weeds
If you’re up to your elbows in autumn planting time, then you’re probably looking for an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to prevent weeds from taking over your garden. And you’re in luck. That newspaper that you read and then deposit in a recycling bin every day? The key to free weed prevention.
Photo by {link:http://www.flickr.com/photos/35110249@N05/3274093725/}Martien Uiterweerd{/link}.
Recently, Anne Rave of The New York Times reported on her somewhat unconventional use of newspaper in her garden.
Simply spread newspaper four sheets thick across the ground that you plan to plant. Wet it. Cut a hole large enough to accommodate the roots of the plant that you are planting and spread a layer of soil or compost over the paper once you are finished.
Of course, no anti-weed method is foolproof. But Rave has a solution: “When weeds do grow — as they inevitably will, blowing in on the wind, or sprouting from less-than-perfect compost — [Lee Reich, a soil scientist in upstate New York,] suggests spritzing them, while they are still sprouts, with a homemade solution: a gallon of vinegar mixed with 2 tablespoons canola oil (other oils will gum up) and 1 tablespoon liquid Ivory dish detergent.”
Comments
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October 1st, 2010
Can’t believe there’s such a way to prevent weed. It surely can be useful.
We must use newspaper to prevent weeds. That is our future.
This is a method I have been using for some time in a rock garden. I put the newspaper under the rocks, cover in mulch, and it lasts for about 1 season, before decomposing and needing replaced. But, it keeps the weeds away, is a product I already own, and I like the natural decomposition. I recommend it.
I had no idea about the vinegar and canola oil method. I was at a friend’s home a while back and he was complaining about the weeds. I will suggest this method to him.
That’s awesome, more people should become aware of this, and we’d be much better off
@Sikis not sure if its our “future” but it certainly will help the future.
Till then,
Jean
I understand the process, it seems simple and effective. I was just thinking another aspect of it. Don’t you think that the newspaper will stop air contact of the ground to the air. Soil needs air for oxygen. Is’t it.
Recycling of everything is always the hectic task.
Nowadays the generation of computers, most of the task perform by machines. Less paper work performing everywhere..
Reusing trash like this is even better than recycling. This way you get an effective use out of it without the need for extra energy to process it. If I ever have a garden I’ll have to remember this tip.
@Aluminum, great point and to extend that.. in my opinion its even better way to feel like you are doing something because you are putting the work in, where as normal recycling you are just taking it to others.
-Jean
I had no idea about the vinegar and canola oil method.
)
This sounds like a great method to prevent weeds from growing in my garden. So, how does the newspaper do this? I guess it prevents the weeds by blocking them (isolating) under the ground.
Superb web page with some excellent content, maintain the great effort. I may save the website and save for future information.
I really had no idea about this method of using newspapers to curtail weeding before. Although it does make sense as vinegar is so acidic, but never even thought about canola oil being a deterrent as well.