Newspaper mulch question

the999bbq · January 8, 2008

I keep the first batch of mowing/aerating the lawn to keep the first layers of mulch (cardboard, but it can be newspaper too) down. both let water through I guess but I water by the upside down water bottle dug in the ground anyway so that isn't that important to me; my complete mulch setup is more about keeping the soil moist than moisting the soil..

Maybe that was my biggest 'discovery' last year - it is a relatively small investment (material and time-wise) with a very big return (hardly any weeds to pull, they pull more easily, the soil is improved, activity is increased, loosens the soil, keeps it moist,...) so this technique will be in my toolbox for the rest of my gardening life (permaculture is built around it).
Maybe shredded (news)paper can be more managable than just sheets.

I don't really think you could layer it too thick, if you don't depend on water soaking through the layers that is...

I read somewhere that in some greenhouse they wet hay to increase CO2 as plant feeding - wetting the dried grass clippings could have the same nutricious effect...

January 8, 2008	#1
the999bbq Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 191	I keep the first batch of mowing/aerating the lawn to keep the first layers of mulch (cardboard, but it can be newspaper too) down. both let water through I guess but I water by the upside down water bottle dug in the ground anyway so that isn't that important to me; my complete mulch setup is more about keeping the soil moist than moisting the soil.. Maybe that was my biggest 'discovery' last year - it is a relatively small investment (material and time-wise) with a very big return (hardly any weeds to pull, they pull more easily, the soil is improved, activity is increased, loosens the soil, keeps it moist,...) so this technique will be in my toolbox for the rest of my gardening life (permaculture is built around it). Maybe shredded (news)paper can be more managable than just sheets. I don't really think you could layer it too thick, if you don't depend on water soaking through the layers that is... I read somewhere that in some greenhouse they wet hay to increase CO2 as plant feeding - wetting the dried grass clippings could have the same nutricious effect...