Old newspapers are very handy in the garden as they are biodegradable and do not have heavy printing on them. They can be used as weed suppressors and turned into useful garden tools.
Here are some creative ways to repurpose old newspapers in your home:
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Suppress weeds
Weeds can easily take over gardens if not removed regularly. To prevent this, cover the soil with layers of newspaper, with 1 to 3 inches of mulch on top. This method also works well for raised garden beds, suppressing existing weeds and grass seeds. A newspaper can also be used as a base layer in lasagna gardening techniques.
Use an old newspaper to make seed pots
Create biodegradable seedling containers using newspaper, a paper towel tube, and paper tape for an eco-friendly alternative to plastic pots. Cut newspaper into sections, wrap around the tube, and tape together. Or fold the newspaper into a hollow square shape and fill it with soil and seeds if you choose.
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Wrap tender bulbs
Dahlias, gladiolus, and ranunculus are among those sensitive bulbs that farmers and gardeners in cold climates normally harvest in fall and keep indoors during winter to protect the plants from extreme cold. To avoid drying their bulbs in winter, they are kept in boxes filled with sand or sawdust. Wrapping single bulbs separately in newspaper also protects them from drying out and bruising.
Old newspapers are more than just yesterday’s news, they’re a sustainable, versatile resource for any gardener.
From suppressing weeds and starting seedlings to preserving tender bulbs, these sheets of paper offer eco-friendly solutions that reduce waste and support a thriving garden. So next time you’re about to toss out the daily paper, think twice, it might just be your garden’s new best friend.
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Featured Image: Unsplash
This article was first written by Thimna Matika for Garden&Home.
