Plain shredded paper is a safe and budget-friendly material when used correctly. Apply in thin layers and top with natural mulch to prevent matting. Shredded paper can also be used in your compost bin ...

Don’t ditch those cardboard boxes; instead, put them to use in your garden, smothering out weeds, creating perfectly prepared soil, and composting in the process. “Using cardboard is a sustainable ...

Q: I work in an office that produces a lot of shredded paper. Is it safe to use it as a mulch or in a compost pile? A: First, a word of caution: Be sure that your employer permits removal of the ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Back when Americans regularly read the daily newspaper at home, it was common practice for gardeners to repurpose those pages in flower beds ...

The author’s garden midway through the growing season, full of vegetables and pest-repelling flowers. How long does cardboard take to decompose? Find answers to using a cardboard weed barrier in your ...

Many years ago early in my agriculture/gardening career, I discovered a book written by a woman who developed a novel way of gardening. Ruth Stout’s gardening technique involved applying layers of ...

Mulching is an essential task in the fall, and you can choose between different materials. However, if you are like me and enjoy a gardening bargain, you may lean towards free mulch. Not only does it ...

Switching up your yard usually means ripping up the grass, tilling, and fertilizing the soil to prep for new vegetation, but why not just cover it up? Sheet mulching uses a simple form of composting ...

This weekend was great for weeding. The 2.5 inches that fell between Thursday and Saturday at our house loosened the ground to where I could pull the pigweed and nut grass without popping them off ...

Through the years, I’ve used a lot of different kinds of mulch, ranging from natural materials such as straw or grass to man-made materials such as plastic sheeting. The plastic I’ve tried has been in ...