Newspaper weed barrier

Hi, everyone :) Well, I know this topic has been addressed numerous times in numerous ways, but I can't really find the specific info I'm looking for. I've been searching DG for "lasagna gardening" tips, and still came up a little short.

So..... what I am wondering is this:
If I lay out a decent, thick layer of newspaper over sod and then cover it with roughly 4" of topsoil, when will the sod & newspaper be decomposed enough to simply till through? I'm wanting to start perennial beds in sodded areas of our yard, but would like to skip tearing up the grass. Do I even need the newspaper layer? If I'm not planting right away, could I just lay the 4" of topsoil down right on top of the grass & till it all together 6 months later? I was thinking that if I laid out the topsoil now, I'd possibly be able to till & plant in September.

Can anyone give me a few tips on this? I definitely don't want to be fighting grass in my perennial beds :) Thanks!!!

Hugs :)

Hi!
I do lasagna gardening in a lot of my beds - but I never till the layers under. If you were to cover your sod with a thick layer of newspaper, some topsoil, then some good compost or manure you could actually just plant right away, without waiting. That's the beauty of lasagna gardening! :)
I wouldn't recommend leaving the newspaper out though - the grass will eventually grow right through the top of the new soil.
Good luck - new beds are so much fun!

You need at least 8 sheets thickness of newspaper..more is better, and yes, without it grass will just grow up through your tposoil.

The roots of the grass you are covering will remain for quite some time . I'd figure on tilling at the end of the season if you till at all.

Well, the reason for the tilling is that our soil is seriously compacted from construction. Ours is a new property and our "soil" is basically compressed clay. Sounds like a gardener's dream doesn't it? LOL :) Also, several of the "foundation" plantings in these beds will require planting holes past the grass layer, so that's why I thought I needed to wait for the grass to die.

Thanks for the info on the 8 sheets of newspaper layer. Sounds like that's definitely not step I want to skip :) I just came up with another part of the yard that I want to prep this way. I actually think I could plant right after I do the initial bed building. Just putting in some zinnia seeds.

So, do ya'll think 6 months is long enough to let the grass die off and newspaper breakdown before I till??

Thanks!
Hugs :)

If you have Bermuda, nothing will kill it but to till it up and pick out all the roots, several times. There have been many threads on the subject, ask Terry. (I can't find the threads without the old "search program".) It lives under the newspaper or anything else for forever!!! Horrible stuff for a gardner.

FYI if you read the last part of this thread there is some interesting info about Alfalfa conditioning the soil. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/433894/

Hope I've been of assistance.

Judy

Thanks, Judy :) It's a tall fescue. I think I've decided to postpone this until the fall and let it sit over the cold months. That way we aren't having a lot of plain dirty ground all through the summer. It'll be less noticeable, I think, if we do it in the fall & then plant it up in spring next year. Whatcha think?

I've often wondered why anyone would plant tall red fescue when there's creeping red fescue that covers much more evenly and doesn't have to be mowed so often.....
I think a lasagna treatment that long should work just fine.

This message was edited Mar 13, 2005 7:14 PM

Hi, when I create new perennial beds these days, I just skim off the sod enough to plant my plant and give it a nice margin of maybe 5 inches around it, then after I get all my stuff planted I lay down the thick sections of newspaper and mulch on top of that and I have instant perennial bed. Now, granted, I live in Iowa and have good Iowa black dirt, so it's not like I have to build up my soil first. I use to use round-up and kill off all the grass, till and rake to build a garden. That was a lot of work. This new way is much faster and a whole lot easier.

Edging can get a bit tricky depending on how you edge, what you want for an edge, etc. I try to trench edge and then fill the trench with sawdust or mulch.... I might start looking into a more permanent edging material. Anybody have any favorite permanent edging?

Diann

My DH and I had an area we decided to make a fenced run for our three dogs, but it was full of weeds, ie thistles,crab grass, etc. We cut the weeds down to a stubble, leaving the tops where they fell, then covered with thick packs of newspapers. We have a small town newspaper (not really very thick) and used the whole paper for each pack during the week and divided the Sunday paper in half. After covering the weeds, we put down a layer of 3/4" minus gravel. So far, no weeds are showing and we don't expect any. If one here or there show their faces, we'll add more paper and gravel. I have used the same procedure to get rid of weeds in an area I wanted to put containerized plantings. Works like a charm.