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HomeSafeHome:  "Newspaper Gardens"  |
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Betty J.
True Blue Farmgirl
1404 Posts
Betty
Pasco
WA
USA
1404 Posts |
 Posted - May 01 2010 : 3:20:31 PM
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I have a question: Do you wet your newspapers before you place them on the ground?
Betty in Pasco |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2010 : 7:13:51 PM
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Betty - I haven't, I have just covered them with straw. I think though, that if you laid the newspapers down, them wet them thoroughly, then covered them with straw it might work just a bit better. I'm going to try that on the next go-round. I have also discovered that if you buy a bale of straw in the fall and let it sit all winter, then use it it is more effective than fresh straw, it holds together better and makes more of a mat.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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Betty J.
True Blue Farmgirl
1404 Posts
Betty
Pasco
WA
USA
1404 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 06:57:02 AM
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Amy, I have no idea how to get straw. I live in a development and not many people grow their own veggies. I do not like to put grass clippings on the garden because the grass has been chemically fertilized and has no place in the garden. Even when I wasn't fertilizing the grass, I have difficulty getting the grass to compost and usually end up putting it in the garbage.
Betty in Pasco |
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justbe
Farmgirl in Training
48 Posts
Kris
Garland
Texas
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 07:50:48 AM
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That's such a great idea. I've never considered that but will be getting some newspaper today. Thanks. |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 09:06:02 AM
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Betty,
I buy my straw at our local feed and pet stores, there should be a feed supply place somewhere close to you. Ours are Aslin Finch, and Northwest seed and Pet. I didn't know where to get it either when I started doing this - I don't blame you for not wanting to put your grass clippings on if they are fertilized. I was reading an article about just that - a fellow had gotten some grass clippings from a friend and put them on his potatoes and killed them -yikes!!
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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Bart
True Blue Farmgirl
115 Posts
115 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 08:41:47 AM
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Hi, I'm new here and just love it!!
I have a 16'X16' raised bed garden with nice walkways. I put thick newspaper and free burlap sacks down (in the walkways) then water them and add crushed granite. Makes a nice solid, clean area to walk and set planters etc. The newspaper and burlap will eventually biodegrade. Nice way to recycle, too. |
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delicia
True Blue Farmgirl
917 Posts
delicia
cincinnati
ohio
USA
917 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 1:13:04 PM
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Where did you find free burlap sacks that sounds like a great addition. Welcome you will love it here there are always things to learn from each other.
delicia |
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antoinette
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Toni
East Freedom
PA
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 4:34:27 PM
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If I put my newspapers down now and put compost over how soon could I use
the bed? |
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Diane B Carter
True Blue Farmgirl
1270 Posts
Diane
Blasdell
N.Y.
USA
1270 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 06:17:25 AM
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I have put news paper down a few times and I do like to use it but some times I just forget it. I was told not to use the colored paper or the shiney add sections.
Hope all your days are Sunnydays.
dianebcarterhotmailcom.blogspot.com |
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miss kris
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
kris
mi
USA
118 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 07:54:33 AM
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I have never done this but we have been saving feed bag for the garden weed control. So, later this year will be able to add to the reports. I am in agreement that it will work. Last year weeding took precious time away from other things. Hoping that it will be different this time. Happy Spring, Kris
For I know the plans I have for you...Jer.29:11 |
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Bart
True Blue Farmgirl
115 Posts
115 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2010 : 08:05:52 AM
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Hi all - In the walkways I do use shiny and/or colored paper but in the planting beds I don't. Feed sacks, potato sacks and grain sacks are all free and great to use (I use them for a ton of things (I sew purses and grocery sacks with them too).
The veggie beds have a layer of fine chicken wire (keeps out gophers), a layer of weed fabric then a thick layer of mulch & compost then dirt. I only use the newspaper between rows (which I don't often have since I plant very concentrated with few spaces).
(Antoinette) If you put the newspaper down now and compost/dirt over it you could plant immediately. Once the plants are up, just add newpaper between and around the plants
Happy planting! I love this time of year. |
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antoinette
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Toni
East Freedom
PA
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2010 : 08:07:32 AM
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| Thank you Bart!! |
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delicia
True Blue Farmgirl
917 Posts
delicia
cincinnati
ohio
USA
917 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2010 : 08:59:55 AM
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Bart, that is a great idea about the chicken wire. The gophers are killing me here. I am going to check around for some free feed sacks.
delicia |
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AliciaNak
True Blue Farmgirl
405 Posts
Alicia
Elko
Nevada
USA
405 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2010 : 08:14:10 AM
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I've put newspaper down and then built my soil up on top of it, never tried strips in between the plants. Thankx for the tip! How do you put down the chicken wire? We have voles that have decided the garden area is nice.
Alicia
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.~Ralph Waldo Emmerson
www.blondenak.blogspot.com
www.artfire.com/users/BlondeNakCreations |
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Tammyb
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Tammy
Bluffton
Ohio
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2010 : 09:13:53 AM
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I have been doing this for years now. At the end of the season when we put the garden to rest we just till everything under. Never knew it had a name but I can tell you it works great for keeping the weeds away and adding new compost to your garden each year.
Tammyb
Sisterchick #541
Live to leave a legacy
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Terryindiana
Farmgirl at Heart
2 Posts
Terry
Marion
Indiana
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2010 : 3:52:59 PM
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I do lasagna gardening which consists of:
1st layer - newspaper
2nd layer - compost
3rd layer - peat moss
4th layer - top soil
You end up with a raised bed - grew some great vegetables last year.
Newspaper is great to control weeds but you have to have something on top to hold it down.
Terry |
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Bart
True Blue Farmgirl
115 Posts
115 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2010 : 06:28:46 AM
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| Alicia - I put the chicken wire down all over the garden (it's only 16 X 16') and run it up the fence about 6-10"; then put down the geotextile fabric (weed blocker), then the dirt and composted material and then the plants and the "top dressing of paper etc to mulch it all. |
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debtea2
True Blue Farmgirl
1853 Posts
deborah
nutley
nj
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2010 : 6:33:13 PM
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i use newpaper for lining the bottom of my pots so the dirt does not run out and it does make great mulch
at the beginning of the spring when i empty to containers into the garden or around my flower beds
http://jerseyfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
inch by inch we find our way
jersey farmgirl
#1330
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Carla Bynum
Farmgirl in Training
14 Posts
carla
Bedford
KY
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 07:54:21 AM
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My Mom and her Mom always had newspaper gardens and were always beautiful!!!! hugs
Never let fear stop you from dancing on the Moon!!!! |
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Carla Bynum
Farmgirl in Training
14 Posts
carla
Bedford
KY
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 08:00:13 AM
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| My Mom and her mom always had newspaper gardens and they were always beautiful!!!! hugs |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 4:24:23 PM
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Your Granny was a smart lady! It's great because it doesn't disturb the earthworms and other beneficial critters.
I've been "lasagna gardening" for the last three years. We have beautiful, dark, healthy soil from it. We save newspapers minus the colored sections, paper bags and corrugated cardboard. This Fall we will be starting a new section of garden and allowing it to compost over the winter. In the Spring there will be nice soil. Patricia Lanza wrote a book entitled, Lasagna Gardening, published by Rodale, that gives clear, precise directions and great pix.
It's easy and less weeds.
Happy Gardening,
Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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HealingTouch
True Blue Farmgirl
3448 Posts
Darlene
Kunkletown
Pa
USA
3448 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 8:41:17 PM
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I have done this for years in my flower beds and I have 20 sections of rail fencing that I used newspaper and topped with soil and all I do is add more soil to dress it off every spring. No weeds since and all my perenials are great. This year I did something different in my veggie garden. I had a few pallets around here and I decided to use them in the garden. I planted my zuchinni and other squashes in the openings in the pallets as well as peppers and beans. I took out slats where I needed to then put newspaper and straw around them. I put newspaper and straw around my other plants and walkways. No weeds at all. Next year I will get more pallets and plant everything in them. The squashes don't like to lay on the ground and the slats will give them an area to rest on. They look so healthy. My husband told me I was crazy doing it but since has decided that I made a garden with less hassle and was able to plant more than if I had just planted in rows. I'll keep you posted as to my progress.
Closer to God in my garden.
Darlene |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 07:05:33 AM
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Nice idea Darlene! I have access to lots and lots of large cardboard boxes at work so I use those with grass clippings on top of them for areas of the garden that I'm not ready to really work yet - I have a large garden space that was completely overrun with very tall weeds when we bought the house so I'm working a bit at a time.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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KanMogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
349 Posts
Katherine
Rock
Kansas
USA
349 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 12:18:11 PM
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Some call it lasagna gardening where you layer newspapers and compost. I have a book called Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces: A Layering System for Big Results in Small Gardens and Containers by Patricia Lanza. But of course, the method can be used for larger gardens, also.
I would rather wear out than rust out.----Richard Cumberland |
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Lida
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Lida
Rochester
NY
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2010 : 11:30:42 AM
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Great thread. I am doing newspaper gardening in my home garden and am happy with the results so far; minimal weeds.
This year I planted a large garden at my mother's house, about 4 hours from where I live. A popular method of gardening in her area is using black plastic. So many gardeners there told me about their successes with it that I am trying it too. I laid out a large sheet of recycled agricultural grade black plastic on the untilled sod. I cut holes through the plastic, where I wanted to plant the seeds or the transplants, to reveal the grass and sod under it, used a small round piont shovel to remove the sod and work up the soil. I prepped the small revealed area of soil with a handful of compost and then planted in the hole in the plastic. The plastic is weighted down with old tires. I haven't been back to check on the garden since I planted in Memorial Day weekend. I will be there this weekend, so I will know if it is working or not.
I also planted a newspaper garden next to the black plastic garden.
Lida |
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HomeSafeHome: "Newspaper Gardens" |
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"Newspaper Gardens"
