How to Make Newspaper Mulch in the Garden

Every year, 24 billion newspapers are printed in the United States. Instead of throwing away newspapers, recycle them as mulch in your backyard garden. It can benefit your soil in several ways, such as by restricting weed growth and trapping more water in the soil. However, only use black-and-white newspaper, as colored and glossy paper makes poor mulching material and may leach chemicals and dyes into your soil.

Things You'll Need

• Black-and-white newspaper
• Paper shredder
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Remove all the surface weeds from the area in which you wish to lay the newspaper mulch. Remove any large pieces of debris, such as rocks or sticks.

2. Shred the newspaper by feeding the sheets of paper through any standard paper shredder. You'll need approximately 125 lbs. of shredded paper for every 250 square feet of surface area that you wish to cover in mulch.

3. Spread the mulched newspaper in your garden. Create a layer that is four to five inches thick.

4. Add more newspaper mulch when the original layer thins out.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply newspaper after the soil reaches 73 degrees F. Newspaper mulch will lower the soil temperature slightly. Apply the mulch once plants are five inches high.

References

• University of Connecticut: Mulch Basics
• Washington State University: The Myth of Paper-Based Sheet Mulch
• West Virginia University: Recycling Newspaper for Mulch in Home Gardens
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Paper Recycling