Mulch from shredded brown paper grocery bags

[Ted Freedman]

Any issues?

[ScottinAtlanta]

Sounds good to me. I mulch with shredded office paper of all colors - all works the same.

[cythaenopsis]

There was a time when paper grocery bags were treated with a lot of chemicals to help prevent them from breaking down, but now they're made from mostly recycled paper. I'd think that there wouldn't be a problem. Maybe mix it with with fine wood shavings and chips.

[zeroma]

I just asked the hubby. He is in the paper/food product business. The company works a lot with the very Green state of Oregon, which is on the leading edge of biodegradable products.

He says just look at the bottom of the bag where it all comes together. It will say 'biodegradable'. It might say 75% biodegradable or 90%...etc. If it has nothing printed there, it most likely is a paper product that is old school, and will not be very biodegradable at all, will hold up and may have something chemical not so good for the earth.

[spacetogrow]

How do you keep shredded paper from being blown all over in the wind?

[Rideau Rambler]

Or shredded leaves, for that matter?

[ScottinAtlanta]

Just wet it down a little. I have had no problem with it blowing it down - it sticks to the dirt once you wet it.