Center of row mulch

UFXEFU · January 9, 2015

I have been thinking about mulching between my tomato rows with newspaper to control weeds. Any ideas or suggestions?

Ed of Somis · January 9, 2015

How would this work in windy conditions? I keep seeing straw in people's photos...wonder how that works. I have wood chips from tree trimmer chipper. It works well for my avocado trees.

JJJessee · January 9, 2015

I use cardboard in places, but the wind will get if I don't lay something on it. I heard a recommendation to buy end rolls of blank newsprint underneath, and something like woodchips to hold it down. It takes a lot of leaves, chips or whatevers to hold back weeds unless there is an underlayment. I'm currently putting on a thick layer of oak leaves for next season -some spots have cardboard too. I like straw, but I use what's free first.

UFXEFU · January 9, 2015

I make a trench around my row for watering. I plan to use the soil from the trench to cover the edge of the papers.

PaulF · January 9, 2015

Newspaper and straw is what I have used for several years. I get end rolls from the local paper and roll out the paper and make a solid paper and straw area. Then push the mulch back where I plant the tomatoes. A little breeze will push the newsprint rolls around so I do a row of paper and then put the straw on top. After it is all done even a big wind doesn't displace the straw.

AlittleSalt · January 9, 2015

I have seen many examples of how to control weeds. A sheet/roll of plastic with an inch of dirt on top is one example. I've seen some using other things that I would not suggest. Roofing Shingles, Tar Paper, and wood/plywood.

I use oak leaves.

Tomato Beth · January 11, 2015

Our office shreds a LOT of paper (it's an optical/eye doctor office). I'm using some of it in our worm bin, but we have so much of it that just gets thrown away. I wonder if I could mix it with grass clippings and lay down one of those red plastic sheets I keep hearing about to hold it in place.

UFXEFU · January 11, 2015

Shredded paper and grass clippings would be a good mulch, but I would not use plastic.
Also, shredded paper can be added to compost as browns (carbon).

PaulF · January 11, 2015

The reason I have not used plastic, no matter the color, is that it is not water permeable. At the plant stem you can water but I think the entire root area needs moisture and water tends to be channeled or left on top of the plastic and is not usable. My opinion only.

paulgrow · January 11, 2015

I planted white clover between my rows. It prevents weeds and adds nutrients to the soil. If it gets to high I just knock it down with the weed whacker.

January 9, 2015	#1
UFXEFU Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Gloster, Lousiana 71030 Zone 8a Posts: 253	Center of row mulch I have been thinking about mulching between my tomato rows with newspaper to control weeds. Any ideas or suggestions?

January 9, 2015	#5
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	Newspaper and straw is what I have used for several years. I get end rolls from the local paper and roll out the paper and make a solid paper and straw area. Then push the mulch back where I plant the tomatoes. A little breeze will push the newsprint rolls around so I do a row of paper and then put the straw on top. After it is all done even a big wind doesn't displace the straw. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

January 11, 2015	#7
Tomato Beth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: PA 6b Posts: 277	Our office shreds a LOT of paper (it's an optical/eye doctor office). I'm using some of it in our worm bin, but we have so much of it that just gets thrown away. I wonder if I could mix it with grass clippings and lay down one of those red plastic sheets I keep hearing about to hold it in place. __________________ I'm a geek and a mom, and I write about it at Confessions of a Geeky Mom: http://confessionsofageekymom.com/

January 11, 2015	#9
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	The reason I have not used plastic, no matter the color, is that it is not water permeable. At the plant stem you can water but I think the entire root area needs moisture and water tends to be channeled or left on top of the plastic and is not usable. My opinion only. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

January 11, 2015	#10
paulgrow Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Allen Park, MI Posts: 178	I planted white clover between my rows. It prevents weeds and adds nutrients to the soil. If it gets to high I just knock it down with the weed whacker. __________________ A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins. ~Author Unknown~

January 9, 2015	#2
Ed of Somis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somis, Ca Posts: 649	How would this work in windy conditions? I keep seeing straw in people's photos...wonder how that works. I have wood chips from tree trimmer chipper. It works well for my avocado trees.

January 9, 2015	#3
JJJessee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Abingdon, Va Posts: 184	I use cardboard in places, but the wind will get if I don't lay something on it. I heard a recommendation to buy end rolls of blank newsprint underneath, and something like woodchips to hold it down. It takes a lot of leaves, chips or whatevers to hold back weeds unless there is an underlayment. I'm currently putting on a thick layer of oak leaves for next season -some spots have cardboard too. I like straw, but I use what's free first.

January 9, 2015	#6
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I have seen many examples of how to control weeds. A sheet/roll of plastic with an inch of dirt on top is one example. I've seen some using other things that I would not suggest. Roofing Shingles, Tar Paper, and wood/plywood. I use oak leaves.