weed liners vs. newspaper

[snowwhite]

[align=left]I put down newspaper in some of my beds to keep weeds under control (I also use mulch and planted ground cover but of course it takes a while until it covers the whole areas). Now I am thinking in the other ones I might just use the weed liners. Are there any pros and cons using either one? Any personal experience?[/align]
[align=left]I just read that termites can become a problem when using newspaper so that's why I want to use the weed liners for the other beds.[/align]
[align=left]Most certainly, there still will be weeds growing. What do you use to kill it? Is there anything out there that won't hurt my plants and won't harm the critters? In some*of my beds*it will probably easy to pull them out by hand but I bet it'll be hard in*my butterfly/hummigbird garden.[/align]
[align=left]Thanks![/align]
[align=left]Snowwhite[/align]
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[Newt]

Termites eat wood - period.* So if you put mulch on the bed, you are at just as much risk of termite problems as you would be to put either newspaper or weed block under the mulch.* The biggest cause of termite problems with shrub/flower beds around the foundation is when the soil level is too high and gives the termites a short run to the wood.* The top of the soil level, including mulch, between the sill plate/bottom of the siding should be 8" to 12".*

The problem with weed block is it's made from plastic and plastic is not organic.* When you put mulch on top of weed block the mulch can't break down into the soil.* So you will have to remove the mulch to refresh it instead of mixing what has decomposed into the soil.* Weed seeds can still sprout in mulch even if you have weed block, they just won't be able to take root as easily.* But weed block has tiny holes in it so the roots can eventually work their way through.* Any plants that spread by underground runners will not be able to sprout beneath the weed block.* Any plants that spread by seeds also won't be able to get a good hold into the soil.

With newspaper, it breaks down over time, can be mixed into the soil and is organic, thereby benefiting your plants.*

Keeping after weeds is the best way to prevent a problem.* Sometimes it can take just 15 minutes devoted to a flower bed once a week to keep weeds at bay.* If there are large spaces between your newly planted flowers and shrubs a stirrup hoe, circle hoe or even a collinear hoe is the easiest tool to use as they sever the stems of weeds.* The stirrup hoe is best for larger spaces.* Use one of those once a week and you shouldn't have a problem with weeds becoming established.* You can push or pull them just below the mulch.

Collinear hoe - my favorite for tight spaces and flower beds.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7...Hoes%20009.jpg

Scuffle hoe great for paths in veggie gardens and larger spaces between plants/shrubs.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7...ScuffleHoe.jpg

Circle hoe in different handle lengths.
http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/product.asp?PG=384

Here's a bunch of hoes.* The scuffle hoe is called an 'action hoe' here.
http://www.hgtv.com/gl-tools-equipme...oes/index.html

More hoe info.
http://www.oldhousejournal.com/magaz...nt-digIt.shtml

I don't use synthetic herbicides, but if I needed one I'd use vinegar. It's non-selective so it will kill anything it splashes on, so you need to be very careful.* There is household vinegar at 5% acidic and horticultural vinegar at 15% to 20% acidic.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/pub..._no_115=131932

Newt

[snowwhite]

[align=left]Oh yeah, mulch is wood too DUH - one of my blond moments...[/align]
[align=left]I remember back in Wisconsin I put down weed block. If the ground isn't completely level, the mulch would slide on the fabric and I still had weed coming through (although it did help a lot and it was easier to pull out).[/align]
[align=left]You are right - spending a few minutes pulling every now and then is probably the best prevention and I don't have to use any chemicals.* Wow, there are quite a few hoes out there.[/align]
[align=left]On some areas I can actually use the corn gluten granulate. We used it in Wisconsin on our lawn and our lawn looked better than the neighbors who used Scott's. Right now we can't use it on our lawn here since we have some problem areas were we do want the grass to grow but if we use the granulate, it won't (since it prevents everything from growing).[/align]
[align=left]I tried vinegar on our driveway before (weeds between the cracks) but for some reason it didn't do much (it was sunny and didn't even rain).[/align]
[align=left]So the ground cover will still grow if I use newspaper in between and mulch? Once it's established I guess I won't need the mulch anymore but for now.[/align]
[align=left]Thanks![/align]
[align=left]Snowwhite[/align]
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[Newt]

Did you used horticultural vinegar or household vinegar?* If you used the household vinegar and the weeds were established, that could be the reason you didn't see much results.

So the ground cover will still grow if I use newspaper in between and mulch?

Yes, if you either surround your plants with it or puncture holes in the paper when you plant.* By the time the groundcover is mature enough to spread, the newspaper will have decomposed.

Once it's established I guess I won't need the mulch anymore but for now.

Correct

Newt

[snowwhite]

[align=left]It was houshold vinegar...[/align]
[align=left]Oh good to know that the groundcover will still grow (I got a little worried...)[/align]
[align=left]Thanks![/align]
[align=left]Snowwhite[/align]

[Newt]

When using household vinegar that is 5% acedic, you should mix salt into it. The recipe is at the bottom of the page here a well as other environmentally friendly ideas for weeds.
http://www.ghorganics.com/page25.html

Horticultural vinegar is 15% to 30% acedic and doesn't need the salt added.* It's VERY strong and is a non-selective herbicide and will kill just about anything it splashes on.

Newt

[snowwhite]

[align=left]Oh I see. Thanks for the link![/align]
[align=left]snowwhite[/align]

[Newt]

You're welcome!* :)

Newt