Hi, Angie, If the cardboard’s purpose is to block weeds, ink shouldn’t be an issue. Newspaper Mulch Adds to your Soil As It DegradesThere are lots of ways to use newspaper as a mulch to control weeds outdoors without using poisons. All you have to do is lay some cardboard or newspaper {about 5 layers thick for newspaper} down in your beds, leaving a small square opening for the plants you actually do want to live. I want to put down a weed block to keep the bermudagrass from growing in the area. Is this true, and if so, how many sheets should I use? Make sure the pages overlap and your newsprint barrier is thick, at least 5 to10 sheets in thickness. I was planning on using the fabric type of weed block, but remembered reading that using newspaper is an even better weed block. Hi Kevin, I am 78 years old, n still garden, using the newspaper, paper bags n cardboard for years, also using severel things for mulch, best I have found, is I catch by grass cuttings in the bag of mower. Remove existing weeds before applying mulch. (affiliate link) Use it in garden paths. When adding a newspaper around plants or trees, the newspaper should stretch away from the plant to the drip line. we used newspaper last year and had decent results. Or should the cardboard be a certain level of thickness? An inexpensive and green alternative is to use old newspaper as a weed barrier under your mulch. Thomas Boni June 27, 2018 at 1:38 pm. Reply. I'm too cheap and don't want to spend the money on a weed mat. it probably would have been much better except for two things: i got pregnant and wasn't able to tend to the garden like i should have, and it was also insanely hot last year. Layer newspaper over the grass or garden area. In fact, the longer you go without taking action, the worse they’ll get. Put a 2-3 inch layer of newspaper over the base of the plant, ensuring that no newspaper comes into contact with the plant. And while you are thinking about the safety of using newspapers in a garden, particularly vegetable gardens, consider if employing a newspaper weed barrier will stop you from employing chemical products or weed killers or not. I know when laying newspaper, it’s better to not use colored newspaper, like the comic section. Then water the cardboard or newspaper thoroughly. It will smother out the weeds, without the backbreaking pulling, and still let the water in. Use several sheets and be sure to overlap the newspaper so no dirt is showing through. Use 8-10 layers, spray with water to get the layers to stick together well, and cover with your favorite mulch (I use bark mulch). I use this for mulch, adding it to garden all year long. A: Both items are somewhat effective weed fighters but neither one is perfect. Newspaper is great for using in your garden to block weeds! way too many 100+ degree days. This stops the seeds of weeds that are in your soil from germinating. Water the newspaper and then cover it with a layer of mulch. How To Use Newspaper To Block Weeds. Free, and really builds up the soil. Using Newspaper to Kill Weeds No matter how mad you get at the nasty weeds invading your meticulously planted gardens, they’re not going to go away on their own. Water thoroughly. When you line the garden beds with lots of newspapers, the weeds will greatly reduce. Ask an expert: Layer of cardboard can be used as weed barrier - with caveats Posted Mar 21, 2020 Cardboard can be used in the garden as a weed barrier, but with certain drawbacks. A bit of experimentation revealed newspaper mulch was just the thing to keep quack grass and other weeds under control in the author's garden. , like the comic section all year long sheets in thickness from plant... For using in your soil from germinating will greatly reduce weeds that are in your soil from.! The plant, ensuring that no newspaper comes into contact with the plant is to use old newspaper a. 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