How To Use Newspaper for Mulch

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. That's what many of us try to do to make a light footprint on mother earth. If you buy and read a newspaper, whether daily or even just once weekly, you can reuse them in your garden as a mulch to keep down weeds. Newspapers are best used under another natural mulch when used in garden beds. Not only are they somewhat unsightly when used alone, but they can also blow all over the homestead if they are allowed to become dry during the growing season. Newspaper is good at holding in moisture during dry periods when used under a natural mulch. When using newspaper as a mulch, use about three or four layers over the soil being sure to overlap the edges about 5-6 inches to keep weeds from poking through. After laying out the newspaper spray it down well with a garden hose and then cover with your natural mulch.