Can/will roots grow through newspaper layer?

creister · March 14, 2009

I am putting 8" raised beds in on my garden area. I was wondering if I put about an inch of newspaper down to block weeds, would the roots of my tomato plants grow down through the newspaper into the soil below them?

robin303 · March 15, 2009

How deep. I did that with all of my raised beds to kill the weeds. I did dig down and till the soil. I used 20 layers of newspaper and it will break down. All my beds are 12" high. Last years pics.

organichris · March 16, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by creister

I am putting 8" raised beds in on my garden area. I was wondering if I put about an inch of newspaper down to block weeds, would the roots of my tomato plants grow down through the newspaper into the soil below them?

I don't think you have to be concerned that the roots won't be able to grow through the paper after it breaks down a bit.

creister · March 16, 2009

I may just put the beds in without the newspaper, as I don't have a bad weed problem, and I want the mater roots to have access to the soil below the raised bed. It is good soil, I just want the raised beds to reduce water/fertilizer use on areas that do not have to have it. We have one vine type of weed that seems to be able to penetrate several inches of mulch. Maybe I will smother them by letting them grow through the top and cover with newspaper.

March 14, 2009	#1
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Can/will roots grow through newspaper layer? I am putting 8" raised beds in on my garden area. I was wondering if I put about an inch of newspaper down to block weeds, would the roots of my tomato plants grow down through the newspaper into the soil below them?

March 16, 2009	#4
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	I may just put the beds in without the newspaper, as I don't have a bad weed problem, and I want the mater roots to have access to the soil below the raised bed. It is good soil, I just want the raised beds to reduce water/fertilizer use on areas that do not have to have it. We have one vine type of weed that seems to be able to penetrate several inches of mulch. Maybe I will smother them by letting them grow through the top and cover with newspaper.