Landscape Fabric Alternative

Question

I need to do some weed control under some trimmed hedges and in a new flower garden. I have mulch to put down but wonder what I can use before the mulch (i. e. newspaper or something other than landscape cloth). Any suggestions?

Answer 1

You can easily smother grass or weeds quickly and effectively by using cardboard or newspaper. Fill the area with cardboard or several layers of newspaper and saturate with water. For the flower bed, add about six inches of compost or soil on top of this, and then add your layer of mulch over this.

Answer 2

newpaper it needs to be layered so it is thick

Answer 3

I lay down layers of newspaper and cardboard. I have choked out invasive plants and/or this way and the paper disintegrates as compost. It does have to be "re-done" occasionally, however.

Answer 4

I have bark nuggets, it has helped so much, you may get the odd one creeping through but it is so much easier to keep them under control. In my other area I mix in peat moss every year and every other year along with the peat moss I mix in black top soil this also helps with keeping them under control and prevents my flower garden soil from getting hard making it easier to water

Answer 5

You can definately use newspaper. Make the layers thick say at least 7 sheets of paper thick. Eventually it will break down but it is the best alternative to matting that I know of. Good Luck
Earthlady