newspaper or weed barrier fabric and mulch

Hi, I have been gardening for a couple years. It seems that I keep fighting what I think is quack grass (or regular grass for all I know). I just know it takes me forever to weed out my gardens. The blades are tiny but the roots are very long!!! Should I spread newspaper for a weed barrier or use the fabric? Is it even nesessary? Can I just use plain mulch with nothing or will weeds and grass find its way through? What about leaf mulch? I have lots of that but not sure if it is weed seeds growing in it too? i am on a very limited budget this year but need help with this grass.

I used newspaper covered with inexpensive cypress mulch that I bought at Lowe's or HD, and it really did seem to keep the grass back. Not 100%, but much better than the section where I didn't use anything. Next time I'm going to use more than a single layer of newspaper, and that should do the trick. I don't think mulch alone will be enough to keep that nasty grass at bay.

Quack grass is the enemy, was there anything every so insidious ?? Check out the loooong, stout root/rhizome system.
http://www.msuturfweeds.net/details/_/quackgrass_45/



I find that keeping an edge on my beds helps somewhat. Roundup works also, placing a bottomless and topless coffee sized can over nearby plants to protect them from the overspray. Keep the can in place until the spray dries.

Please don't use that fabric. The roots will grow right thru it and then you'll have a nasty time pulling it up. And, if, or when you ever change your mind about plant placement, it will be the chore from hadies. If not for you, then the next person. I have a friend who is going thru that now. She can't till and if she wants to add, move or change plants, what should be a simple chore turns into an all afternoon task. I use layers of black & white newspaper, a whole section at a time. In my cutting bed, it is topped with straw. Works very well to keep the weeds down (way, way down) and when it decomposes adds to the soil and conserves moisture. Lay down the paper and wet it very well, then the mulch. . You wouldn't want to use a paper with a shine to it, it would be slippery. I checked with my local paper and they use only soy-based inks, nothing containing toxins. That is only for what they print, not for the supplements, magazines, etc.

I have been doing good keeping it out of my old beds except one. But it has really invaded my new side hummingbird garden. I will try the newspaper and then some of the mulch. i really would like to enjoy my new garden not weed it all the time. Although I do enjoy weeding. I am hoping that once my plants get really established and thick that will help the problem too. I cant afford to treat my whole lawn for this stuff. I have an acre. So, if I can get it out of my gardens though, how sweet that would be.

Thanks, Sheb! I will use more than one layer too.

Hi Granny,

I have always seen straw for sale in the paper and wondered if that is good to use for mulch. I have leaves that I let decompose for a year at a time but I am not sure what 'seeds' are lurking in there too. I have real sandy soil and I have no problem getting weeds to grow and quack grass. That stuff is all over. Straw seems inexpensive too.

Thanks for the input. Now , i will go check out your link but I am almost afraid too. LOLOL.

Straw is the stalks of oats and wheat. If there has been enough rain, then those plants grow taller and straw is cheaper.
It is very compressed. Once you cut the baling twine, it almost explodes into a huge amount. I also re-use the baling twine as long as it isn't nylon. A bale will fit into my car trunk. Makes a bit of a mess, but, oh well. I do get some seedlings, but they're easy to pop out. I buy the bales at my local feed store. We live about a mile from Lake Superior, so our soil is sandy (old sand dune) and after two years, can already see the difference in our soil. I leave the mulch on during winter and then till it in just before planting. By then most of the newpaper has decomposed too.
A nice layer of leaves would work too.
For either, keep it dampish until it packs down a bit.