Paper - Anti-Weed mat?

[nmu98]

I am getting ready to plant my pumpkins... 1.3 acres of them.... I am looking into affordable ways to keep the weeds away from the plants as they start. I can easily get the tractor around the plants, just not overly close. So, after reading about composting and using paper products, i started to think I might be able to use our recycle paper from work as a weed mat. It might be a little awkward since There would have to be some dirt covering the paper so it does not blow, but it would seem that 10 to 15 sheets could surround a plant and stop growth?

I see paper plant mats advertised, but in order to make a profit on the pumpkins, I need to spend the least amount possible. I have collected almost 3 paper boxes of scrap paper from the office that was going to go into my compost pile. But, I have been thinking of trying this. Any comments?

If this worked, it might also work well on the potato hill sides and valley?...??!! I do not have any implements to work the center of the potato rows except a small tiller.....

 

[chh]

My parents, who where big garderners, used newpaper quite often. They used about 3 sheets of newspaper thick as I recall with some dirt on top. Sounds like your plan is a winner to me.

 

[kthompson]

At one time the color ink was not safe to use but other than that you are going great. The paper will rot and you can cut it into the ground.

For ease solid black (not clear for that will help weeds grow) plastic is very simple. Before unrolling it take a pitch fork and poke a few holes through it so rain will soak through. Cut an X so you can pull plant through it. But if you use plastic be sure you pull it up and don't cut it into the ground.

You don't want mulch that rats will like for snakes like rats and most people don't like snakes.

 

[dmccarty]

The only negative about using newspaper is that the black ink can be a problem. Soy ink is supposed to be ok. So what kind of ink is used on your newspaper is the question to answer.

Later,
Dan

 

[MossRoad]

I am getting ready to plant my pumpkins... 1.3 acres of them.... I am looking into affordable ways to keep the weeds away from the plants as they start. I can easily get the tractor around the plants, just not overly close. So, after reading about composting and using paper products, i started to think I might be able to use our recycle paper from work as a weed mat. It might be a little awkward since There would have to be some dirt covering the paper so it does not blow, but it would seem that 10 to 15 sheets could surround a plant and stop growth?

I see paper plant mats advertised, but in order to make a profit on the pumpkins, I need to spend the least amount possible. I have collected almost 3 paper boxes of scrap paper from the office that was going to go into my compost pile. But, I have been thinking of trying this. Any comments?

If this worked, it might also work well on the potato hill sides and valley?...??!! I do not have any implements to work the center of the potato rows except a small tiller.....

I've planted pumpkins many times. The pumpkins always become the weed and invade the rest of the place. I've never had any weeds that could compete with them. Have you had problems with weeds overtaking your pumpkins in the past?

 

[nmu98]

I am not thinking of newspaper. I have abunch of very lightly printed material from our office. Its 8.5 x 11 sheets of white paper with a little laser ink on it. I like the fact that I do not have to pick it up and it might add a little to my heavy soil. The plastic is expensive! And I need to keep costs down.

I've planted pumpkins many times. The pumpkins always become the weed and invade the rest of the place. I've never had any weeds that could compete with them. Have you had problems with weeds overtaking your pumpkins in the past?

Once the pumpkins get large enough to branch out, the weeds are no longer an issue. In the beginning, the weeds are bad and with the amount of time we have and the size of the garden, its a pain. We are not people who can let our garden have weeds So I am looking for anything to help!

 

[forgeblast]

I use cardboard all the time, it makes a great weed mat, also seems to trap mositure in and raise the temp of the soil in the spring. There are not too many weeds that can push their way though that.
When i plant my tomatoes this year, i am going to use cardboard and drill a hole in them with the proper spacing and then just put it down and plant in the hole. I then put a rock on each end. I also used cardboard in our compost bin, i can get as much as i can use from work.

 

[MossRoad]

I am not thinking of newspaper. I have abunch of very lightly printed material from our office. Its 8.5 x 11 sheets of white paper with a little laser ink on it. I like the fact that I do not have to pick it up and it might add a little to my heavy soil. The plastic is expensive! And I need to keep costs down.




Once the pumpkins get large enough to branch out, the weeds are no longer an issue. In the beginning, the weeds are bad and with the amount of time we have and the size of the garden, its a pain. We are not people who can let our garden have weeds So I am looking for anything to help!

If you have a local newspaper (don't laugh, they might have one) you may want to ask them if you can have the ends off of the roll wrappers. Newsprint comes in rolls about 3.5-4 feet in diameter. They are wrapped in heavy brown paper and have a round piece of paper on each end with a 4" hole in the middle. Lots of folks put them down on the ground and plant a tree in the hole. They last almost all summer before decaying. You need to pile some dirt on the edges to keep them from blowing up.

If that is not what you want, you could also ask the newspaper for core ends. When the newsprint gets down to under an inch or two on the core and the press stops for the night, they will not start up with those small cores and change them out. They usually have a hundred feet of paper or more left on them. The rolls come in 1, 2, 3, or 4 page widths. Newspapers usually let you have them for free. Sometimes they charge you a core deposit and you get it back when you bring the cardboard tube back. It is worth looking into as it is a free source of clean paper in wide sheets.

 

[nmu98]

Thanks I will look into that!

 

[RobertN]

I use cardboard all the time, it makes a great weed mat, also seems to trap mositure in and raise the temp of the soil in the spring. There are not too many weeds that can push their way though that.

My wife does too. She put a little straw or rice hulls over the top. Keeps weeds out, retains moisture, and breaks down by the end of the season.