Use newspaper to kill weeds

SF Chronicle ^ | 6-22-02 | Scott Aker, WP

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Newspaper can be used to great advantage to start flower beds or extend their boundaries. It will form forming a barrier that kills existing vegetation and then rots away, improving the soil as it does.

To start, closely crop the existing grass or vegetation and then place a generous layer (about 10 sheets thick) of newspaper on the ground.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Some of my favorite compost material:

[eno_]

Before I do this to kill the weeds that have taken over the kitchen garden I didn't get in this year, do you have any idea what they use to make the Financial Times pink?

[shezza]

I think it's their rosy outlook.

[mewzilla]

My cat, back in the bad old days before scoopable litter, wouldn't have deigned to have those publications lining his box!

Hee hee. Things must be pretty bad, though, if the only way they can get someone to purchase their rag is to convince them it makes good weed killer. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

[chiefqc]

Great choices as they don't tell the true News, at least they are good for something.

[eno_]

And what about those "champagne" and "mint" accents on page 1 of the Wall Street Journal? It used to be the one thing that was reliably black and white throughout.

[mewzilla]

Aaaargh, my mew reminded me that venerable The Washington Times is NOT on his (or my) disapproval list.

Note to the Washington Times: Sorry, guys.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

The Daytona News Journal works great as toilet paper.

[Mom_Grandmother]

Thank you Oldeconomybuyer for this post, we just happen to be doing quite a bit of work on our patio. Would anyone have any sugestions on how to spif up a small, round brick pond. We built it after seeing someone that spent a fortune for theirs, ours we did ourselves. It is about 2ft deep and we will put some sort of fountain in the middle. My husband wants to put those ugly little statues of leprecauns (spelled wrong I know) around the top edges of this pond, he's bought 2 already. He said he was going to cement them there, what do you think? Anyone here like this fantacy idea of his?

[Rebelbase]

My local paper doubles as a fertilizer as well.

[Kermit]

Only one problem, who buys newspapers anymore?;^)

[tubebender]

Our solution to the "weed problem" is Roundup by the gallon but it is good to have another use for news paper since the Feds have stopped most fishing in Calif eliminating the need for Fish Wrap.

[Tijeras_Slim]

If your screename is accurate, you've probably been aware of this type of behavior for a while. The next stage after garden gnomes is usually plastic flamingoes and gazing balls. :-)

[A. Pole]

My local paper doubles as a fertilizer as well.

Just make sure that you avoid the pages with the paint containing lead. Read how to distinguish them at: http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF8/823.html

[snippy_about_it]

[Rebelbase]

Sorry, forgot the /sarcasm.....my paper is full of sh_it.

[B Knotts]

Does it work if you just read Maureen Dowd's column to the weeds?

[Catspaw]

The rule of thumb, according to one of the local county ag agents, is to stay away from glossy paper & highly colored paper when using newspaper as mulch. We usually just stick to the newspaper itself, not the ads, when we've used newspaper as mulch. Grass clippings will also work as mulch, but make sure of the source. A lawn that's been treated for weeds will have traces of weedkiller in the clippings and will kill vegetable plants and flowers.

Currently, we use black plastic as a cover, weight it down, poke slits in it and plant the plants.

[Elle Bee]

I think you must mean The Washington Compost not TWT

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