newspaper layers
- To: i*@egroups.com
- Subject: newspaper layers
- From: M* B*
- Date: Wed, 06 Sep 2000 08:40:05 -0400
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Years ago Ralph Snodsmith, former director of the Queens (NY) Botanical
Garden and teacher at NYBG, who hosts a nation-wide call in gardening
radio show, said that 6 sheets of newspaper were needed to prevent light
from reaching seeds and germinating them. Since then I've used
newspaper, covered with an inch layer of pine mulch, around shrubs and
in the perennial beds. It works! You just have to remember to omit the
newspapers where you planted bulbs and at the edges of expanding
perennials. Over time the newspaper deteriorates, and occasionally a
wee beastie will shred it, but it's easy to plop another layer on top
and a bit more mulch.
A tip, having a hose or watering can handy when you're applying the
newspaper and wetting it down immediately will keep it from flying all
over the neighborhood as you lay it out and then apply the mulch.
Margaret Boehm
Wilton, CT zone 6
