Paper on rolls for mulch?

tomatoguy · April 28, 2013

I have tried several methods of mulching, here. Normally, I just use a heavy blanket of wheat straw and weed, as needed. This year, I am working many more hours than usual, so I decided to go with newspaper first, then straw on top of it. The problem with newspaper is that it is hard to lay it down very well and there are usually some spaces that develop, where weeds will poke through. It also makes me a bit nervous about what is in all of that ink.

I was wondering if any of you have used other kinds of paper, that comes on a roll, for mulching. I have looked at plain brown wrapping paper and several kinds of biodegradable agricultural paper. The latter is a bit pricy but I am concerned about what nasty things might lurk, in the former. Any anecdotes or suggestions will be appreciated.

mater

Worth1 · April 28, 2013

Go to the paint department at home depot there is some brown masking paper there.
It comes in rolls and works pretty well with drip line under it.
You will need help putting it down as the slightest breeze well you lnow.

It will biodegrade also within that year.
Do not get the red rosen cloth for flooring it is the brown stuff you want.
I can't spell rosine LOL.

Worth

rxkeith · April 28, 2013

i have been thinking the same thing.
in past years, keeping up on weeding and watering has been a bear. what i am planning on doing is getting some remnant rolls of paper from the local newspaper, and laying that down between the rows, and then covering it with straw. between my wife and i, one of us can hold the end of the roll and as it is being rolled out the other one of us can spread the straw down before the paper becomes a sail.
another idea is to get some wood chips from a tree trimming service for mulch. i can get a dump truck load delivered for a low price.

keith

JamesL · April 28, 2013

Brown or white butcher paper comes in different widths and lengths. I believe it is a little thicker than the home depot kraft paper.

20 bucks for 48in by 200 ft.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NDKVJY

Redbaron · April 28, 2013

I have researched this all last year and started trialing various products for this year in my Red Baron project.

For paper I found Bogus paper

For cardboard I found Single Face Corrugated Cardboard

April 28, 2013	#1
tomatoguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rockvale, TN Zone 7A Posts: 526	Paper on rolls for mulch? I have tried several methods of mulching, here. Normally, I just use a heavy blanket of wheat straw and weed, as needed. This year, I am working many more hours than usual, so I decided to go with newspaper first, then straw on top of it. The problem with newspaper is that it is hard to lay it down very well and there are usually some spaces that develop, where weeds will poke through. It also makes me a bit nervous about what is in all of that ink. I was wondering if any of you have used other kinds of paper, that comes on a roll, for mulching. I have looked at plain brown wrapping paper and several kinds of biodegradable agricultural paper. The latter is a bit pricy but I am concerned about what nasty things might lurk, in the former. Any anecdotes or suggestions will be appreciated. mater

April 28, 2013	#3
rxkeith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Back in da U.P. Posts: 1,848	i have been thinking the same thing. in past years, keeping up on weeding and watering has been a bear. what i am planning on doing is getting some remnant rolls of paper from the local newspaper, and laying that down between the rows, and then covering it with straw. between my wife and i, one of us can hold the end of the roll and as it is being rolled out the other one of us can spread the straw down before the paper becomes a sail. another idea is to get some wood chips from a tree trimming service for mulch. i can get a dump truck load delivered for a low price. keith Last edited by rxkeith; April 28, 2013 at 05:46 PM.

April 28, 2013	#5
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	I have researched this all last year and started trialing various products for this year in my Red Baron project. For paper I found Bogus paper For cardboard I found Single Face Corrugated Cardboard __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

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April 28, 2013	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Go to the paint department at home depot there is some brown masking paper there. It comes in rolls and works pretty well with drip line under it. You will need help putting it down as the slightest breeze well you lnow. It will biodegrade also within that year. Do not get the red rosen cloth for flooring it is the brown stuff you want. I can't spell rosine LOL. Worth

April 28, 2013	#4
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Brown or white butcher paper comes in different widths and lengths. I believe it is a little thicker than the home depot kraft paper. 20 bucks for 48in by 200 ft. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NDKVJY