How to Use Newspaper As a Weed Barrier

Use your old newspapers to block weeds in your garden.

Newspapers are not only recyclable at your local recycling center. They can also be recycled at home when you use them for a new purpose. After you collect your read newspapers for a few weeks, you can use them garden. Old newspapers will not only deter animals from digging up your flowers and vegetables, but they also make an excellent weed barrier.

Things You'll Need

• Lawnmower
• Water
• Composted manure
• Shovel
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Designate where you want your flower or vegetable garden to go. Do this in early spring, or late summer. If the area has grass that is taller than 5 centimeters, the website Canadian Gardening recommends you mow the area.

2. Cover the designated area with sheets of newspaper. Water the area until the newspapers are thoroughly wet.

3. Add another layer of newspaper sheets. Water until the new layer is thoroughly wet. Repeat until you have a pile of wet newspaper sheets that are 2 centimeters thick (a little over 1/2 inch).

4. Shovel composted manure on top of the wet newspapers. Composted manure is rich in nutrients and will work to keep the newspapers in place. The manure must be at least 4 centimeters (1 1/2 inches) thick.

5. Add a layer of mulch to your garden area. The mulch needs to be 5 centimeters (2 inches) high and moist from a watering.

6. Water your garden every couple of days to keep the mulch moist. After a period of six weeks, your garden will be ready for planting.

Tips & Warnings

• Never use newspapers that contain colored ink. You also don't want to use newspapers that have a gloss or shine to them. This means you cannot use the inserts within the newspapers either.

References

• Canadian Gardening: Create a New Flower Bed Using a No-fail Technique
• University of Florida: Recycle-Repurpose-Reuse
• UC Davis Master Gardener Articles: Paper Your Lawn and Garden