Weeds are sneaky. One day, your garden looks great, and the next it’s a mess of green you didn’t plant. Instead of reaching for chemicals or expensive weed fabric, there’s a simpler, cheaper fix—newspaper. Yes, the same kind you used to read with your morning coffee can help you win the war on weeds. It’s low-cost, eco-friendly, and surprisingly effective.
Here’s how to use a newspaper to block weeds without turning your yard into a science project.
1. Gather What You Need
You don’t need much—just newspaper, water, mulch, and your hands. Avoid glossy or colored pages (like ad inserts); stick with the black-and-white newsprint. It breaks down cleanly and won’t mess with your soil.
2. Prep the Area
Start by clearing out existing weeds. Pull them up or cut them down close to the soil. You don’t need it to be perfect, but removing the bulk makes the barrier more effective.
3. Lay Down the Newspaper
Spread out 6 to 10 sheets thick over the soil where you want to block weeds. Overlap edges so there are no gaps—think like shingles on a roof. If it’s breezy, dampen the paper with a hose as you go so it stays put.
4. Wet It Down
Once it’s all in place, soak the newspaper thoroughly. Wet paper hugs the ground, starts breaking down, and sticks better under mulch.
5. Add Mulch on Top
Cover the paper with 2 to 3 inches of mulch—wood chips, straw, leaves, whatever you like. The mulch hides the newspaper, keeps moisture in, and adds an extra weed-blocking layer.
6. Planting Through the Newspaper? Easy.
If you’re doing this in an existing bed, just cut holes in the paper where your plants are. If you’re starting fresh, lay the paper first, cut Xs where you want to plant, and tuck your seedlings right in.
That’s it. You’ve just turned yesterday’s news into today’s weed control. Using a newspaper in the garden is one of those old tricks that still works. It’s simple, cheap, and good for the earth. Plus, you’ll spend less time pulling weeds and more time enjoying your garden—and that’s the whole point.