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Growing Tomatoes

Can I Use Cypress Mulch & Newspaper in Tomato/Veggie Garden?

12 years ago

I've noticed posts here and elsewhere that recommend using newspaper with mulch for weed control. We've never done that so a couple of questions.

Basically, how do you put the newspaper down? Full single or multiple sheets flat, or shredded? Between rows or around the tomato plants? We have some old bags of cypress mulch, can that be used on top of the paper to keep it from blowing away? Or will the cypress mulch just wash out?

In the spring time every year we want to get outdoors and plant, plant, plant. Once it starts getting summer and hot we wonder WHAT were we thinking when the weeds grow faster than we can hoe and pull!

Comments (7)

dickiefickle
12 years ago
why not just use the mulch and forget the newspaper
kcchiefsfan
Original Author
12 years ago
I thought the newspaper would help keep weeds down.
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It isn't generally recommended for use in vegetable gardens but is considered more of a decorative mulch. In addition to the slow decay problems, it is difficult to hoe or till, it isn't that effective at weed supression or moisture retention and has the potential to bind up nitrogen needed by the plants. There are many other far more beneficial mulches for the vegetable garden. Just search 'mulch' here or over on the Compost & Mulch forum. The link below is to a couple of recent discussions on this question. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: Cedar/Cypress mulch in veggie garden?
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Many people will suggest removing the plants that grew there this year taking nutrients from your soil. These, now dead, plants can be composted, extra work, or can be left in place and covered with the paper and leaves to put those nutrients back into the soil they grew in. The shredded leaf mulches I put down in the fall usually are digested by August and the soil really needs more mulch, and some years I have some to put down while others I don't. If I do have mulch material I will add it but if I don't I don't get overly concerned about it. Shredded leaves will be digested by the soil bacteria sooner then whole leaves would, depending on the tree species, which means the whole leaf mulch will last longer but will not feed the soil as soon and whole leaves are known to keep some plants from growing if they cover them. I add compost to the mulch and do not concern myself with "fertilizer" since the compost and leaf mulches keep the soil in my garden well supplied with necessary nutrients, as periodic soil tests have shown.
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lilycrazy
12 years ago
mulch of any kind will help keep the weeds down and preserve moisture in the soil- you can use both, or just the cypress, that's up to you. I personally would use both and till it into the soil in the fall and let it decomp over the winter.
br33
12 years ago
I use news paper with wheat straw on top of paper. one section open (giving 2to 3 sheets) long ways, gives good cover and straw keep rain water splash off toms.Cypress is ok but should be raked up and removed after season (can be used next year) it is slow to brake down. GOOD LUCK Bill
digdirt2
12 years ago
Newspaper is fine either shredded or used in multiple sheets overlapped in the lay out. Some pre-soak 4-5 sheets at a time, lay them out and then overlap them with the next 4-5 sheets. It's easier to get them wet before laying them down than after.

Wood chip mulches don't generally belong in vegetable gardens as they can cause nitrogen binding issues. You'll find many discussions about this problem over on the Soil & Mulch forum.

If you choose to use the cypress then as Bill suggested, it really needs to be raked aside and removed at seasons end, NOT tilled in.

There are many really great veggie garden mulches available that not only keep down weeds but also improve the soil at the same time and any one of them is far better than any wood chip mulch - straw, hay, compost, leaf mold, chopped fall leaves, grass clippings, etc. Consider using your newspaper topped with one of them instead and save the cedar mulch for its purpose - decorative mulching in a flower bed.

Dave
chuck60
12 years ago
It was really windy when I was laying down the newspaper this year, so I was wetting it before putting it down. I then used a handful of compost on the corners and edges to keep it down. That usually works pretty well, but if it is really windy and dry you might have to keep up dropping compost or whatever until you get it stable. I have used grass clippings in the past and they work and look great, but mine tended to be full of seeds. The rotten hay that is available to me is also pretty weedy, thus the compost.

Chuck
huntoften
12 years ago
KcChiefsfan...I'm in Kc as well. I use Silver Reflective Mulch film...a plastic, VERY shiny film to keep down the weeds and retain moisture and repel aphids. I amend my soil with compost each year so I'm not in need of a mulch that breaks down. You can see it on my beds in some pics from my blog from last summer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kc Tomato Times

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