Easy Organic Weed Control With Newspaper & Mulch - AnOregonCottage.com

[@kevinwasilewski9754]

I do this exact type of mulching and it works fantastically. I actually take it to the next level and even add my junk mail to the mix also. Just make sure to not include anything glossy or “plasticly” and it will disappear after several weeks. As long as you soak the cardboard down well before covering it, even the thickest cardboard will break down in just a couple of months.

[@thedungeon1288]

I am glad that someone finally found a use for the wall street journal.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Ha!

[@brewmanism]

Great idea and presentation. A note though. You should avoid using cardboard near the base of your residence, garage or any residence because it will attract termites.

[@AnOregonCottage]

+brewman45 Thanks for the tip - I hadn't thought about that!

[@firesign4297]

@@AnOregonCottage 👍👍

[@carlawilking2317]

So my husbands first response is “you’re just going to attract more bugs”? Does it?

[@Tleepuen]

Brewman556: very good point. But it’s too late for me. I’ll go get cedar mulch to top off tomorrow 😂

[@thandie67]

Thank you!

[@tsmith7242]

Ha -- too funny! As she does the work, he finds interesting articles in the newspaper to read.

[@danielmccurdy9948]

T Smith Hahaha! That's me! I was helping to pull up carpeting in an old house and found newspapers from 1957. "Save all those for me" I said. From then on they were saved for me and referred to as "historical documents."

[@brandonmikulski2700]

Omg this made me laugh so hard

[@Maria-no3ps]

😂

[@garybaker5702]

This works very well. I put fresh grass clippings on top of the newspapers to hold them in place. after you get the grass on top, wet it thoroughly with a garden hose. this will give it weight to keep it from blowing away on a windy day, and it also begins the composting process on the clippings. I never have weeds in my garden any longer.

[@AnOregonCottage]

So glad to know this!

[@luzonvisayasmindanao1354]

Nice husband and wife team. Hubby just being realistic 📰 while wifey helps us in controlling the weeds.🌱🍂🍃

[@AnOregonCottage]

That's right, ha!

[@dennisjc4673]

Thank you for sharing this video to cover the weeds in your garden beds. Now I can also do this in my garden flower beds.

[@AnOregonCottage]

I hope this frees up your garden time like it has mine. :)

[@vanessapereira1793]

My husband has been explaining this idea to me for a while and now I finally found a video that explains his exact theory.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Awesome - I think you will like this!

[@gaylewest9349]

I found this while researching landscaping fabric. There were so many cons to the fabric I was really discouraged. This looks like a great alternative!! I will be gathering up newspapers and cardboard! Thanks so much! (And I love the bit about reading the articles, that is SO me!)

[@AnOregonCottage]

This really was a game-changer for me, Gayle. I hope it is for you, too. And while landscape fabric works for awhile, when it fails (and it will) you will have a much bigger problem...

[@gnssneakersforfunandmore7373]

Thanks so much for posting this video. I've had year after year of garden weed problems. I can't wait to try this.

[@AnOregonCottage]

This should definitely help, Gabe.

[@hearfan]

This is some good advise, thanks. Didn't realise I could also use cardboard.

[@joebrzezicki8638]

Yas cardboard Works wonderful now have cardboard down for 3 years now and very limited weeds pop through

[@Sunny14136]

Wow! This was so so helpful. Thank you. I"m going to try this method on my very weed-filled community garden plot!

[@AnOregonCottage]

Glad it was helpful - I think you will love it!

[@alexisfelice]

wow their garden is gorgeous!!

[@AnOregonCottage]

Thanks!

[@Weddingsandeventsguy]

WOW MY MIND IS BLOWN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO

[@alessa7738]

Thank you. I'm loving this video nearly 8 years later. I wonder if this helps control weeds literally growing through the middle of my plants and bushes!

[@AnOregonCottage]

Sadly, it won't because you can't cover that part. BUT if you're able to keep the weeds down everywhere else, they won't be able to migrate to the bushes, hopefully!

[@alessa7738]

@@AnOregonCottage Thank you for answering!

[@melissamclaughlin3240]

It works I did it last yr. You do have to do it yearly the weeds are back. I used cardboard in some areas that worked a little better it's still holding.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Yes! Every year the weeds will be less and weaker. But yearly is a lot better than monthly (or even weekly during some parts of the growing season). And cardboard for the tougher areas for sure.

[@Michele0403]

Enjoyed your video. I've been doing, both cardboard & newspaper, mulching and your video shows it perfectly. I am gonna share with someone that was trying to figure out how to control some weeds growing near boulders on her property. This will be perfect. Thanks

[@AnOregonCottage]

Michele0403 Thanks, Michele - we appreciate it!

[@silviavozarova8481]

Michele0403 Hello Michele,I was thinking about killing weeds at a portion of our backyard and then removing the newspaper after awhile, After that is done I want to start a lawn in its spot. Do you know how long it will take to kill the weeds this way?Thank you !

[@AnOregonCottage]

Silvia Vozarova Well, I'm not Michele :) but I would say that probably won't work because the newspaper starts breaking down right away and it would shred as you try to lift it later. What we do is use a swath of black plastic (it's how we kill our vegetable plot weeds before layering with compost for the growing season and we have almost no weeds!) to kill weeds - the black holds in the solar heat, frying the weeds. Easy to pull back and will be ready for lawn or whatever you want!

[@andymartin8162]

I saw a similar video with gardeners using the NYT -- and thought this video must be fake news. Then I found these far superior gardeners. I think I'll try this great idea with my WSJ's.

[@ingridferg9779]

We make our own compost from everything in the garden, including weeds. So I did a test area using the newspaper and our compost. I was amazed that after a couple of weeks, not one weed popped up. So now I did a big area and I hope it works. This one area is inundated with chickweed, and even though I weeded thoroughly many time, it pops up in no time. Hoping that I can rest easy now, at least have a lot less weeding to do.

[@AnOregonCottage]

That's great! Our homemade compost always grows tomatoes and zucchini, like clockwork, lol. I think layering like this will really work for you!

[@margielavarias1490]

Wow! Love the after look of your garden 💞

[@AnOregonCottage]

Thank you! 😊

[@Do_not_assume]

wow, your garden beds look so much better after adding the black mulch! And it's a very good idea to use newspaper and carboard to suppress the weeds. Good video.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Thanks!

[@bonnieb8099]

Thanks!! I will use all these tips and my yard and garden will benefit 👵🏻🤗🌱

[@ThatOldBiddy]

Your videos are much enjoyed and appreciated. Thanks for sharing!

[@lovinglife3847]

I’ve been using used carpet for a weed fabric for over 20 years. Place the carpet upside down, cut out holes for your plants top off with mulch or stone.

[@AnOregonCottage]

You must have less aggressive weeds than us - when we tried that I had all the weeds grow through the carpet - especially the edges - and created a huge mess! I talk about this in our video on using black plastic to kill weeds.

[@cliffcarr3632]

Fantastic, I love the video very much. The newspaper or cardboard will compost, which is great for the worms too, how good is that? Very inspirational and so easy to do, so ticks quite a few boxes. Supressing weeds, feeding the soil and worms, and a major plus of doing something for our decaying planet. Thank you both ever so kindly, and best wishes from Durham UK.

[@ankithutch]

Nice idea, it really prevent the weeds & soil on top of it makes the work lot easier...Thanks...

[@deep5inc55]

Hi, I am from the Himalayan region of Sikkim, where I have a farm. I just bumped into your video and I really liked it. My state Sikkim is the only official organic state in India. However, I have a lot of weed problems at my farm garden. We use cow dung as manure for the soil. We grow almost all vegetables at the farm. Now my question is what mulch can I use? Second, is manure and compost the same? Don't you think weed will start growing on top of the cardboard if I used compost? Suggestions please.

[@AnOregonCottage]

How fun that you found me halfway around the world! Yes, you are right - If the manure is well-composted (heated enough to stop weed growth) it could be used as a nourishing compost (vs. compost made from just plant material). If any compost is not heated enough to kill weeds and seeds it can become a base for weed growth. Maybe you are better using a different kind of mulch - something that is easy for you to come by where you are? Do you have grass clippings available? Straw? Chipped yard debris? Some parts of the world use pine straw, cocoa hulls, seaweed, etc. - anything they can get their hands on. See what you can find to attractively cover the cardboard!

[@GaiaCarney]

Thanks, An Oregon Cottage 🌱 Great video! I’m going to do this around my blueberry bushes. Aack, violets 😝 they’re so tenacious!

[@AnOregonCottage]

Oh, I'm glad this was helpful and that it works some with the violets! I will tell you that in areas that they were bad, nothing really worked except smothering with black plastic...

[@jevonwalcott5465]

Hey this is truly interesting. I never knew I can use simple news paper or cardboard to control weed around my plants. Thanks guys, I am sure subscribing to your channel to learn more.

[@AnOregonCottage]

It was a revelation to us, too - so glad you've found it useful!

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

thank you so much for having a video like this. I am a major beginner Gardener and I have terrible luck with weeds and I'm going to use this method!!! do you also recommend doing this to carve out a new area for gardening?

[@AnOregonCottage]

I think you'll love it, Andrea! Yes, we do something very similar for new beds - I wrote about it on my blog: anoregoncottage.com/8-easy-steps-to-a-new-shrub-and-flower-bed/ You'll also find lots of easy-care tips on this page: anoregoncottage.com/how-to-plant-a-garden-the-easy-care-way/ happy gardening!

[@flowersflowers5070]

Awesome... Thanks. I will give t he at a try ..I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We have tons of weeds and a new vine that is is taking over everywhere. It comes up with tons of branches ..don't know how to describe it actually. But when you go to pull it up it isn't in clumps but what I call strings.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Yikes, that sounds terrible actually! That may need full on plastic and solar power to kill it and then use the mulching system.

[@AKIYIAKELLY]

Great info. I wish I seen this before I laid my mulch. Since I added the mulch what can I do now to stop weeds?

[@AnOregonCottage]

Well, definitely plan to do this next year. :) In the meantime in areas where it's pretty weedy through the mulch, I'd rake it aside, lay paper and then rake it over the top.

[@addir9502]

The end result is quite neat 😊

[@AnOregonCottage]

Thanks!

[@mugeninfinite500]

Finally, a video of someone using newspapers and compost as mulch. 👍 I had this in my mind but didn't know if it was practically possible.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Yes - great minds think alike 😀

[@gardeningtipswithphil2244]

I regularly use paper and mulch for weed control. I find that you have to mulch really thick.

[@awsinkujs3511]

I did smile after watching your video, will surly use this method. Thanks for shearing😍

[@yes350yes]

Thanks for the video and suggestions. I used this in my flower bed which is about 12x25'. I used some paper but didnt have enough , but I did have enough cardboard on hand to cut up and use for about 90% of the space. I dont have access to the cheap compost, so had to go with mulch that I found at $1.99 2cu bag nice price. Thanks again now I can sit back and drink my ice tea.

[@AnOregonCottage]

+yes350yes Perfect - enjoy the season!

[@yes350yes]

One thing I would like to add that I dont remember being emphasized in the vid is that all shipping tape and labels should be removed before using it. I know this from having worm bins and if you dont remove that stuff you find it in you worm castings since the worms cant do anything with the tape.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Yes - thanks for mentioning that! We use mainly paper, but have had the same thing happen with shipping tape when we've used cardboard and have learned that you need to remove it (it's either now or later, 'cause it doesn't go anywhere!).

[@Rubicon1954]

This looks like an awesome way to control weeds - I have a terrible weed problem and I think I’ll give this a try! I am wondering about watering the plants though. After you put the newspaper and mulch down, how do you get water to your plants?

[@AnOregonCottage]

I use soaker hoses and the water still gets through the paper and mulch. You just want to make sure the soil is moist before putting it down because it will help keep the soil evenly moist. Then the soaker targets where you want the water, further discouraging weeds. It really works!

[@chanthana7694]

Haha helpful and thank you, but funny at the same time. I can see my self end up reading newspaper and forgot that I have landscaping to finish...lol.

[@AnOregonCottage]

ha!

[@aswathysaseendran]

Thanks for the information. Last year though I laid out cardboard and a thick layer of mulch over it, I could still see few weeds emerging through the mulch this year. Is there any way to eliminate them completely. But yeah, the cardboard has helped to a great extent in controlling the weeds.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Yeah, the cardboard disintegrates over a year mostly and will need to be reapplied. BUT over time, the weeds are less and less - and it's a lot easier still than nothing at all. 😀

[@nancyschaefer9748]

I will be doing this tomorrow, thanks!

[@AnOregonCottage]

Good - you will not be sorry!

[@yes350yes]

Seems like I watch your video every year about this time,, forgot about the wallstreet journal.

[@AnOregonCottage]

:)

[@jenbarry5340]

Can u use the brown grocery bags too you can cut them long length?

[@AnOregonCottage]

Yep, we use all kinds of paper! I just tear the bag down the side and open it up, using it flat like that. The grocery bags are kind of in-between newspaper and cardboard, as far as lasting and ease of planting through.

[@glenorie8530]

Watching from Trinidad and Tobago

[@AnOregonCottage]

Welcome! Hope this is helpful for you!

[@gioknows]

Very informative and well presented.

[@bluenoiser]

we just fished weeding our garden yesterday and planted and also laid newspaper in the rows my mother suggested using paper we we will see truly works to keep weeds at bay?

[@hayleydouse6827]

Can you use this method for preparing an empty garden bed with weeds then planting straight on top?

[@AnOregonCottage]

Yes! I share more on how to do that in flower beds here: anoregoncottage.com/8-easy-steps-to-a-new-shrub-and-flower-bed/ and in veg gardens here: anoregoncottage.com/how-to-plant-corn-weed-free/

[@brittanyo3243]

If I have perennial bulbs in the ground that bloom during the fall time, will they poke through the newspaper? I figured if I have to do this every spring I can just cut holes around the perennials that are poking through the soil then but I’m not sure exactly where the fall bulbs are, which is main concern.. will they still be able to grow?

[@AnOregonCottage]

Yes, by the time fall comes, the newspaper will be soft enough that the bulbs will come through.

[@michaelwarming7820]

I dont think I have ever seen this done in Denmark. SO...Now I will try to teach the danish people how to do it .... Great :-)

[@AnOregonCottage]

Wonderful, Michael!

[@punanamousme8486]

I never knew this. Thank you.

[@RoundheadRecords]

I have tested cardboard, even two layers, news paper but after a test while covered - it lasted about 3 months. I have about 1200sq ft. in two islands. On one island years ago, years ago I had a piece of black plastic and just to test, I covered with mulch. Nothing has ever come up in that area. However we just did a big costly planting and way around the plants, trees I am using just cardboard and landscaping fabric. In the areas where nothing will ever be planted - if it was I would dig out the dirt and replace however I used a left over roll of roofing felt and cardboard. In the back - weed are driving me nuts - all stone and old landscaping fabric - anything you can name pops up. Do you use reemergence on top of the mulch away from plants and let the rain take it down to help with weeds?

[@AnOregonCottage]

No I don't use any reemergence product. I do sometimes do different things like you, depending on the area. If no planting areas (I call them "no man zones"), then I do use plastic and either straw or wood chips. For areas that are more prone to weeds (either blown in from a neighbor or pasture, or wet), then I'll use bigger wood ships instead of the pretty dark feeding compost mulch.

[@araventerpriseservicespllc289]

Does this permanently get rid of weeds? Or should I plant a ground cover plant on top of the mulch as well?

[@AnOregonCottage]

Nothing permanently gets rid of weeds, sadly. Whether you use plastic, landscape fabric, rocks, or this method, the weeds will come again.

[@mountaingirl1797]

For edible garden of course....Have you looked to see if there is lead in the black and white part and the colored pages❓🌸

[@AnOregonCottage]

All newsprint now is soy-based and okay for gardens.

[@mountaingirl1797]

Great to know... thanks a bunch‼️‼️😁

[@jayuppercase3398]

Any issue with the ink from the newspaper? Would it soak into the soil

[@AnOregonCottage]

Nope, ink is now soy-based and approved by Organic Gardening organizations.

[@redemptionsong123]

What are amendments and is it necessary to test the soil prior to starting the project? Can I also use this to grow healthy, weed free grass? What if I decide to put gravel instead of compost, just using the cardboard as an organic weed-free barrier instead of landscape fabric, will it keep the soil healthy and weed-free for a fairly long time? Thanks.

[@AnOregonCottage]

+redemptionsong123 I've never tested soil for flower beds, I just look for plants that do well in our area and native soils. I wouldn't know how to modify this for grass - plant in the compost? Not sure at all for that. If using gravel, the paper will break down after a season and you'll be left with gravel in your dirt. Gravel also wouldn't feet the soil like the compost topping does - you'd probably have to fertilize.

[@sara.cbc92]

Is colored newspaper ok for edible plants? won't the color be absorbed into the soil?

[@AnOregonCottage]

Yes, I don't use the colored paper inserts with shiny finishes. I don't really like to use comics either, but will in a pinch because the ink is still soy based and it's not shiny.

[@AlexaHerrera90]

Great video! What time of year do you lay down the paper?

[@AnOregonCottage]

You can do it at any time, but it's best in spring that way you can smother all those new weeds and then enjoy the results all season long.

[@RTimes1987]

Yes. I have the same problem putting down a barrier with WSJ. ;-)

[@AnOregonCottage]

😀

[@bamir692]

Great education video, really appreciate it...

[@AnOregonCottage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kathleenemillhouse7334]

Hi, if you are going to leave the soil bare after adding compost, you are inviting more weeds in. The ground does not like to be bare. A good rule to remember is, 100% cover 100% of the time. Also, by putting the compost on top you are allowing the release of precious nitrogen and carbon back into the atmosphere and the compost dries out and becomes lifeless. You can put compost down first, then add pre wet layers of newspapers or cardboard then add bark or hay. Using this method smothers the preexisting weeds and reduces reinfestation. The smothered weeds naturally compost down nourishing and enriching your existing soil. Carbon and nitrogen are sequestered, evaporation is reduced and the soil comes alive with microbial life 😊.

[@AnOregonCottage]

This is a long-term solution for us - when applied yearly it does what you're saying and feeds the soil. It allows for continued planting - if you topped with bark, you couldn't add any more the next year to keep feeding the soil. I never had to add any other fertilizer when doing this method.

[@MSDOGS1976]

A week later......I already see grass sprouting upwards. I should have used cardboard I guess. This bed was over run with grass as previous owner neglected it. The work I did will help some I'm sure, but it will take a couple of seasons of doing this to over come my weed problems. In the meantime......I will be spraying chemicals to try and help get it under control.

[@AnOregonCottage]

+Marty W Oh, yeah, beds over run with grass will continue to grow out from under - and any holes that develop as the paper breaks down, especially if you didn't make the paper layers really thick. Cardboard would've been a better bet - I might have even used black plastic to kill as many weeds as possible first and then rake them up, grabbing roots as I could, just to give the paper and mulch a fighting chance. It doesn't so much prevent weeds as to make sure that after weeding, you put a barrier down so that they just don't come back. Sorry that wasn't clear!

[@MSDOGS1976]

+AnOregonCottage To give a little more info......I dug out what appeared to be all the weeds 6 weeks earlier and mulched. Spent 2 days doing that. When weeds appeared again, I raked all the mulch out and weeded again. Then applied the news paper and covered with my old mulch and added a new layer of mulch. Was really surprised to see weeds coming out again. Oh well......as I said I will try and control the best I can with chemicals the rest of the year and try cardboard or plastic next year.

[@stevecarr1992]

@@MSDOGS1976 - The mulch you raked out, then put back, was probably loaded with weed seeds.

[@aileenrodriguez1716]

You guys are so cute. Thank you so much .

[@AnOregonCottage]

Thank you!

[@jmrah]

Does all the newspaper and mulch added over the years make the garden bed really high? Do you have to remove mulch yearly as well before doing this?

[@AnOregonCottage]

No, it breaks down each year, so it's not noticeably higher. Maybe an inch or two.

[@marymorizio5637]

Would the cardboard method work with field bindweed ? If you would like to add annuals afterwards, would you put them in pots and place over the mulch?

[@AnOregonCottage]

Oh, man, bindweed is one of my top dreaded weeds because it's almost impossible to eradicate. I've pulled and carefully dug (any bit of root left will sprout…) and then covered with plastic and then cardboard. If you are diligent in layering every year it will keep them down better than anything else I think!

[@elnaferreira8418]

Thank you so much!!! That was brilliant advice. Will definitely do the cardboard option.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MJ-nl6ee]

Exactly what i needed to know...thanks a lot .will try this

[@janefarquharson9394]

Thank you about newspaper tip for weeds the other may ring they sell is rubbish the weeds grow under it and I shall use cardboard as well cheers both

[@AnOregonCottage]

Sounds great!

[@elmalifico3708]

So if I were to do this once a year does the mulch break down? Would I be able to just stack more news paper and mulch in top or dig out the old newspaper?

[@AnOregonCottage]

Yes! That's what we do - every year to year and a half we just lay more paper and mulch. It's the yearly chore we do and then we have very little work on those areas.

[@ramaryan1365]

if not the mulch of the kind you display in the video...then is there any other substitute.....please recommend....thank you in advance!

[@xdrive300011]

You said you use garden compost. I wonder if any grass grow out of it. Because I know for sure grass will not grow on Mulch. But garden compost has soil component in it, right?

[@AnOregonCottage]

If you have an area with lots of blown-in weeds or is usually wet, you will have grass/weeds on it. In those cases I use bigger wood chips. But for perennial beds where most of the ground is covered by plants after they've leafed out, this compost/mulch is the best for fertilizing.

[@xdrive300011]

@@AnOregonCottage thank you!

[@PNZTX]

Hoping you are still answering question. I attempted to search most of the comments, did not see my question. Pardon if it's been previously asked. I'm assuming the soaker hose goes underneath the newspaper, or do you position between paper and mulch? Thank you.

[@AnOregonCottage]

I put it over the paper, which acts as a way to hold the paper in place as you're laying the mulch, too. Then you have access to the soaker if you need it.

[@katespilker2883]

Do you have to get rid of some of the mulch each year to avoid making the level of dirt higher and higher?

[@AnOregonCottage]

Kate Spilker We've never had this problem, Katie, not even in the raised vegetable beds we do this with where we use a lot more compost - it breaks down and feeds the soil. If it's a bed that's already really full with dirt, that's a different story, as there isn't room to begin with. But in regular, non-edged, flower beds, it's not been an issue.

[@Guttergirl61]

Gee! Thanks for the Wall Street update!😄😄😄😄😄😄

[@cindyrae2605]

Well done--no annoyances!

[@darrenvigneux2801]

How long does it take until the newspaper decomposes?

[@AnOregonCottage]

About a year, depending on where you live and the amount of rain you get. I plan to layer each year, but sometimes it's a year and a half or even two and there's not much paper left at that point.

[@faye493]

I'm gonna try this.

[@11BB11.]

Great Video!!! Thank You for the valuable information! Time to get this weed control taken care of!

[@AnOregonCottage]

You're welcome - it's been a yard game changer for us!!

[@dmanor013185]

If i already have perennials planted in the bed, If i covvers the bed in newspaper and mulch will the perennials not come up or will they break through the newspaper eventually

[@AnOregonCottage]

Dmanor I always put the paper up to the roots of the perennials, not over them. If it's months between, the paper will break down sufficiently, but I don't think weeks would be enough, so I usually add it all around the plants.

[@dmanor013185]

AnOregonCottage so you mean just wait till they start coming up before laying the paper down so i know where they are located at??

[@AnOregonCottage]

Dmanor that's what I do, but I live in an area where they don't go dormant for long, even if they do at all. I also can always tell where they are by the root crowns. Bulbs are a different story, but they have not problems coming up, probably because the paper breaks down before they do. It's up to you if you want to wait if you can't tell where the plant is at all.

[@dmanor013185]

Yeah i live in ohio. So they all go away and cant tell where they are at.. i might just wait a little before laying newpaper down. havent seen a sign of any of them yet.. but should be long

[@nataliarendon5211]

Very helpful, thanks!!!

[@HealthyGemini]

I'm so trying this ! Thank you so much!

[@ava_and_ben_halleluyah]

3:03 Stops to read the newspaper

[@crystal3570]

Can you do this for rocks also?

[@AnOregonCottage]

No, rocks are more permanent and this needs to be replenished every year to every other year. Also you lose the benefit of feeding your shrubs and perennials with the mulch.

[@barbhambly3651]

how often do you need to re- mulch & spread the papers down?

[@AnOregonCottage]

We do it every spring.

[@Grammapamm]

@@AnOregonCottage Are you using mulch on top of paper or compost? Seems like grass & weeds would be quicker to regrow in compost. Thanks!

[@AnOregonCottage]

@@Grammapamm I am - I like how it looks and that it feeds the soil as it breaks down (vs. wood chips that pull nitrogen). But yes, they well grow quicker here than in larger wood chips. I've found that areas that don't get sprinkled and are only watered with soakers don't have much grow back and when they do it's a year or more later. However, areas that would get sprinkled all the time from auto systems should probably go with a wood chip or pine straw type of mulch.

[@raj2913]

Very helpful !!

[@AnOregonCottage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brittany09]

You said once a year, do you remove any old remnants of newspaper before starting this project every year? Can you also post pictures that say, before, after, a month later etc. ? Thanks!

[@AnOregonCottage]

Nope, you just layer on top of each year. Most of the paper has broken down by that point as well. This article on my blog shares pictures like that: anoregoncottage.com/5-easy-steps-to-organic-weed-control/

[@jojok316]

What about for under pebble rocks? Would it work as well?

[@AnOregonCottage]

No, I wouldn't do this under rocks. The paper disintegrates as the goal is to help feed the soil as well as keep down weeds. If you have an area of rocks, I would use black plastic (NOT landscape fabric, which just grows weeds in it eventually).

[@ks-fz9fq]

isnt the compost an atmosphere for weeds to regrow.?

[@priya48899]

can i use this technique for vegetable gardening as well?

[@AnOregonCottage]

+priya48899 Sure - it works awesome for between vegetable plants or rows with a straw mulch or this compost mulch.

[@vickyfan62001]

When is the best season to do the newspaper mulching?

[@AnOregonCottage]

Spring is probably the best to catch all the weeds and then enjoy your weed-free garden all summer. That being said, anytime is better than never. :)

[@naturalgalwilliams]

Thanks for sharing!!!!

[@brandonsmith5692]

How does this defer from the black plastic stuff? Just not friendly?

[@AnOregonCottage]

This breaks down and feeds the soil. Weeds and grass eventually just grow through landscape fabric creating more of a problem than you started with.

[@josearana7704]

Can I do this but using gravel an river rock's instead of mulch???

[@AnOregonCottage]

No, this is for when you have an area you want to keep the soil healthy by feeding it the compost each year. The paper breaks down and if it were gravel on top, you'd have weeds coming through and a mess. If you want to use rock, I'd lay down black plastic and then rock (do NOT use weed block fabric - it only works for a couple years and then the weeds grow into and through it…).

[@hearfan]

do I see some Bishops Weed in your garden? I have some in bags but I'm afraid to plant them in the ground as I heard they spread rapidly and are hard to get rid of if you no longer want them.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Yes, you did see it! I am very careful where I use it and in this case it's at the base of a 70-ft. fir tree (very dry, mostly shade) that very little else would grow under. The Bishops Weed is held in check, pretty much, by the unfavorable conditions, but fills it in better than anything else I've tried. If you don't have a place like that, I wouldn't introduce them to your garden!

[@thetrumpdayz]

Will this be effective for river rock??

[@AnOregonCottage]

No, this is for when you have an area you want to keep the soil healthy by feeding it the compost each year. The paper breaks down and if it were gravel on top, you'd have weeds coming through and a mess. If you want to use rock, I'd lay down black plastic and then rock (do NOT use weed block fabric - it only works for a couple years and then the weeds grow into and through it…).

[@TheMinibetty]

My flower bed has been overtaken by grass and I can't get rid of it, we had a sprinkler system installed a few years ago and I had them put in a soaker hose in my flowerbeds. Will this method still work well?

[@AnOregonCottage]

+Denise Barajas Yes! That's what we use and it works wonderfully since it's mainly watering the plants only. When I have pernicious weeds like grass in the beds, that's when I use cardboard to really help kill it.

[@brandonsmith5692]

Weeds will still grow right? If any grass gets on it

[@AnOregonCottage]

Blown in weeds will grow for sure, but that would happen if this were there or not. If it's a tough area for weeds, you can use bark chips as a mulch.

[@philpico7698]

Its been almost 5 years, whats it look like now?

[@AnOregonCottage]

We reapply this every year or every other year - you can see our gardens at this link: anoregoncottage.com/aoc-yard-garden-tour/

[@mrbunywabbitthesecond4521]

Anoregoncottage, do you have to remove mulch every year to lay down the paper? Or just apply on top of existing mulch?

[@AnOregonCottage]

@@mrbunywabbitthesecond4521 We just lay it over the existing mulch - it breaks down and feeds the soil.

[@jejelove3240]

Great info. Thanks for sharing.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@venpeddapalli7189]

Don't let the weeds bother you, put them to work instead. After you pull them throw them in the flower bed, they make excellent fertilizer for the flower plants. Its free Nitrogen and they act as mulch too. I use no other fertilizer. Using black compost/mulch looks great in the pictures but its not practical. Keeping your mulch natural hey color has many advantages. You can throw grass clippings, pieces of cardboard, dry leaves, wood chips, twigs, pine cones, anything in the bed. It gives the bed the natural look that I love and it never fades.

[@AnOregonCottage]

Only if the weeds haven't gone to seed or you're just increasing the weed problem which can choke out the plants you really want to grow. There are also perennial weeds that can reroot and grow from torn up cuttings. If you want to use them as mulch, know your weeds and your timing.

[@venpeddapalli7189]

@@AnOregonCottage Never had that problem or I wouldn't be doing it. You are right about the choking part. One time the weeds tried to choke me, I quickly got away and called 911.

[@hs9629]

im very new to the gardening world - what happens if i newspaper an area and then decide to plant something there. will it be alright?

[@AnOregonCottage]

Just cut through the paper!