How to stop weeds from growing
How to stop weeds from growing in your flower beds is as simple as using your newspaper and water. All you need to do is pull the current weeds out from your flower bed and discard them. Next sprinkle a layer of PREEN down on the dirt (this is optional but highly recommended).
How to stop weeds from growing:
Finally you lay the newspaper down making sure to cover the entire area. You may want to saturate the ground first with water, especially if your ground is dry or it is a windy day. This will keep the newspaper from blowing away. This may seem like a lot of work but taking these simple steps will keep your flower beds weed free for at least a year.
You do not want to lay this on grass but instead on dirt beds. Do not use slick magazines or sales papers. Only use newsprint in your flower beds. Once you have layered the newspaper down on the ground, using a hose wet down the newspaper. Make sure you get the newspaper completely wet. If you have not weeded prior to you may want to use a thicker layer of newspaper. This will help keep the weeds from growing back through. If you use preen that will assist too!
Now you are ready for the final step which is laying down your mulch. I suggest a nice thick layer of much as it will decompose as time passes. At this time you are also ready to plant flowers and bushes if you desire. Simply cut a hole in the newspaper prior to laying it down to allow for space for your roots to be in the ground or you can plant and then layer the newspaper strategically around the plants/trees/bushes. It works really well.
Now your flower beds should be weed free for up to a year! The best thing about using newspaper is it is biodegradable and much cheaper to use than buying weed mats at the hardware store. Plus I find this actually works better. It is a nice way to up cycle newspaper and affordable on your budget too! Simply collect old newspaper from friends and family depending on if you subscribe to the newspaper and give this frugal money saving tip for how to stop weeds from growing a try.
Garden/Yard Tips:
Gardening Tip – Vertical Gardening
Shelley is a boy mom, marine wife, and is blessed with an amazing family. She loves sharing recipes, travel reviews and tips that focus on helping busy families make memories.
Can you still do this around flowers already planted?
i have this same question. what about the perennials i have planted?
If you use the newspaper around the perennials you should be fine.
SO how do I plant my plants? In the mulch? I not sure if I understand. I place the news paper over the dirt then water it and then put mulch over it. How do I pant the plants? Do I put dirt over the mulch?
You can pre-cut holes for your plants if you are planning flower beds.
Yes you can.
Mother Earth Magazine wrote about this in the late 1970’s. My grandmother practiced this year’s before she immigrated here. I have used this method of “Weed Control” for 30+ years. And the longer you use this method, the more seeds you actually kill. The ink ised now adays is invironmentally safer than 1979. And after about 5 years,far fewer seed of weeds germinate,!!
I’ve tried this and it works great! In fact it worked better than using the weed-block mats (even after two years). I also found that if I used a container filled with water and dunked the newspaper in it as I worked, the wet newspaper stayed in place. You won’t have to worry about the paper flying away before you hose it down.
Large areas I use cardboard, it decomposes as well as newspaper and I don’t have to get all the weeds and grass out, just overlap so the grass doesn’t grow,through the cracks.
Thank you for that information.
Csn this work in a vegetable garden?
I was thinking after I till the garden and rake it and re p eat, when I plant tomatoes, peppers then put paper? Another other suggestions?
It is worth a try for sure! You could cut a whole for your plants before planting.
Yes you can use it in your garden also! Actually the article I read suggested putting the newspaper under a few inches of garden soil in early spring a few weeks before you plant.
Yes you can.
Mother Earth Magazine wrote about this in the late 1970’s. My grandmother practiced this year’s before she immigrated here. I have used this method of “Weed Control” for 30+ years. And the longer you use this method, the more seeds you actually kill. The ink ised now adays is invironmentally safer than 1979. And after about 5 years,far fewer seed of weeds germinate,. Best part, the best amount os6 layers of newspaper,!!
Did you try this in the vegetable garden? I am learning how to worm compost and you can use black and white newspaper in the veggie garden with worms but not the colored pages. I have some really obnoxious new type of weed in my veggies that is driving me crazy. I am thinking I will try with black and white newspaper, straw and plant big plants like zukes in these spots. Thanks for the idea.
I think yes!
This is how I started my raised beds. I had boxes leftover from my patio furniture. I picked a nice sunny spot. I moved the grass really low. I put together the frames and laid out the cardboard. Once I made sure there was no grass showing I added the vegetable garden soil. It’s been 4 years and this is the first year that I have had a problem with underground weeds from my neighbor’s yard. I also did the same thing with some quick flowerbeds surrounding my patio. I used cheap topsoil, manure and mulch. My knockout roses are outstanding!
When you water with a water hose, does the water penetrate the newspaper and get down to the roots of the plants? I didn’t know if the newspaper would keep moisture from getting to the ground.
It penetrates through to water the plants 🙂
Yes
Does this work just for mulch or can I cover newspaper with rocks?
Either way!
Is it ok to use magazine paper?if not where can I get newspaper from?
You need to use newspaper – you can often get them for free from the recycling center or library. Newsprint or any paper will actually work.
If I done the paper and mulch I didn’t know about the water will it still work
It should – watering it helps hold it down while you mulch 🙂
Check the classified papers like Thrifty Nickel oe Greensheets.
Thank you so much
Is it safe to eat the vegetables if you do this in a vegetable garden?
I would suggest using paper without the print instead.
How long before weeds and grass grow through? Do you think, once grass grows through that I can re-newspaper and re-mulch without pulling it out?
Yes, we do this yearly or bi-yearly.
I was told to lay plastic..does this also work?
I am sure plastic works but this method is really inexpensive and safe for the environment.
Plastic will not decompose like the newspaper will. You would have to remove it if you use it in a vegetable garden each year. However, in a flower bed it would last longer, but the water would not penetrate & water your plants as well.
What if I use a wet newspaper followed by weed shield such as a window screen before I put down a layer of stone?
After I lay my newspaper and then my mulch do I need to cut a whole in the newspaper to plant my flowers
I meant hole
I have done this once and it worked great but hubby doesn’t want me to do again because he thinks it attracts termites. Any thoughts?
I asked my termite guy and he said that if you are laying it under mulch that it doesn’t attract them anymore than mulch does.
Hi, in my garden I don’t want to use mulch, do you think I could use your method but put a thin layer of soil onto of the newspaper? Also, a second question, I have a watering system – that means the system will water underneath the newspaper – will that be ok? Thanks so much for your help! Take care, Anne
I think you could use it in your garden and try it with the soil. As for the watering system I am not sure. Does it lift up when it operates?
How big of a hole do cut in the news paper? Do you plant your plant in the hole where you cut the newspaper?
Yes, you do. Just large enough for the plant to go through.
Will the newspaper stay in place in a large vegetable garden without anything over it?
No, it would have to have dirt or mulch over it.
I’m thinking about using this method but wondered if I can use shredded paper in a thick layer. I use it in my composter and it decomposes really well.
I think you can for sure but not sure it will keep as many weeks from growing as the solid sheet. However, it is going to naturally compost 🙂
After a year you lay more paper and top with mulch again? I would like to know how thick the mulch is when you put it down. I would think this wouldn’t be inexpensive if you have to buy mulch every year. Thanks!!
I really want to try this. It is now August and probably not be able to do it til late September. Any additional information I need to know. ALSO. What is PREEN.? Where do I get it?
I would wait until Fall. Preen Garden Weed Preventer is awesome. You can get it at any home depot, lowes, amazon etc.
What about this method but laying down pine straw instead of mulch?
Oh yes that will work BUT make sure you wet the newspaper and lay down a nice heavy layer of pine.
Do you put paper over last years mulch, then new mulch?
Or do I need to remove last years mulch?
We remove last years mulch but you can do the paper over if you prefer. It breaks down throughout the year so it depends on how compact it is.
I am a bit confused so do you put the paper down. Then your soil, plant your flowers then add your mulch?
Yes!
I like your Ideas ,my biggest problem is with nut grass,cant seem to get rid of it.does preem work on nut grass?
I want to use this method, but there are already bulbs in the soil, would I have to find all of these and replant them?
Yes. It sounds like a lot of work but it does really help stop the weeds from growing.