If you have a subscription to your local newspaper then you know just how quick those papers can stack up. There is many ways to recycle old newspapers, however most of us just toss them in the trash. Did you know that you can use old newspapers to help create a beautiful garden or flowerbed? You can find a variety of weed barriers at your local home improvement store but, the price deters many of us from buying them. Your old newspapers create a wonderful weed barrier, and it doesn’t cost you a dime.
First you will need to prepare your soil. If you have sandy soil, you will want to add a few bags of potting soil to it. To do this you just simply dump the potting soil on top of the sandy soil, and then using a gardening hoe, mix the two soils together. This will make your soil richer, and your garden will flourish. Once you have your garden or flowerbed planned out, and the soil is ready for planting, you can lay down your weed barrier.
To make a weed barrier using recycled newspaper you will need a bucket of clean water, and of course old newspapers. First make sure you have 5 or 6 layers or paper together. Usually, one section such as the classifieds is enough layers. Next fold the section of paper in half, just as it comes to you. Dip the folded newspaper section into the water, making sure it is completely wet. Once the paper is soaked, remove it from the water, and gently unfold it. Now your ready to create your barrier by simply lying the 5 or 6 page sections on top of your soil. When you lay the next section down, allow it to over lap the first section about 1 inch. Repeat these steps until your garden or flowerbed is covered with newspaper.
While the paper is still wet, use a small gardening tool to punch a hole the size you need for your plant. Gently remove the dirt from the hole you made in the paper to create a hole for the roots of your plant. Next place the plant in the hole, and use the dirt you removed from the hole to fill in around the plants roots. If you accidentally rip the paper or make a hole to large, you can go back once your finished a patch in the spot. To patch in unwanted holes, simply cut the size of patch you need from the old newspaper, soak it in water, and place it over the unwanted area. If you are working with a large flowerbed or garden, you might find it easier to work in small sections at a time. If your paper does dry out, use a garden hose and apply water to the newspaper using low pressure.
Now you garden or flowerbed is weed free! The only problem is, it is also the ugliest flowerbed or garden you have ever seen right? To cover up the newspaper simply add soil to the top of the paper until it is fully covered. This will give your garden or flowerbed a natural look. For a more finished look to your flowerbed you can add mulch to the top of the paper. No one will ever know that you have used newspapers in your gardens once they are covered up. Once all the work is completed, the only thing left to do is care for your plants. Treat your new garden or flowerbed as you would any other. It is safe to water, and walk on.
Commercial weed barriers are made of cloth, or plastic. They only work against protecting your garden against weeds for a short amount of time. However, the barrier takes years to break down. Some commercial weed barriers can take as long as 25 or more years to break completely down. In short, the commercial weed barriers cause more harm to the earth, then the weeds do to our garden. You can find natural recyclable weed barriers in some home improvement stores. But, like all natural products they are more expensive. Gardening with your old newspaper is good for your garden, good for the earth, and good for your wallet.
