Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
littie

Newspaper mulch

littie
17 years ago

If I cover my newly planted bulbs with newspaper and beauty bark, will the bulbs grow up through the paper in the Spring?

Comments (18)

  • milin
    17 years ago

    Yes, they will if the paper coat is not too thick.

    Milin

  • laperouse
    17 years ago

    Are 8 pages too thick?

    Marianne

  • Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
    17 years ago

    I think that may be a little too thick, but maybe not. I'd think that smaller bulbs (crocus, grape hyacinths, smaller varieties of daffs, etc) might have a hard time emerging.

    Bigger things like tulips, and bigger daffs might be all right.

    I usually use 4 sheets, and mulch enough to cover the paper well, without it (the paper) surfacing. I never use any of the 'slicks' as they don't break down as fast.

    Sue

  • shrubs_n_bulbs
    17 years ago

    I'm a little confused as to where you are. What I think of as West Washington state has very wet winters and the bulbs should have no problem getting through the saturated newspaper.

    But you list zone 5, which would be a more arid area to the east of the Cascades, somewhere like Grand Coulee or Spokane. Nice place to grow Crocus but not so great for getting newspaper to disintegrate in winter. Freeze maybe, but not disintegrate ;)

  • Wellerg
    9 years ago

    While searching for an effective way to plant my Daffodils and have a weed free garden in the spring; I came across this very old thread - with no recent activity. Just wondering if anyone has had any additional experiences covering bulbs with newspaper mulch and having them emerge in the spring? Happy sprouting!

  • Eimer
    9 years ago

    Won't the voles and squirrels complain about the chemicals in the newspaper they'll have to chew and dig through to get at the bulbs? And what about the worms and others? Have a heart: look for newspaper that's entirely organic.

  • Wellerg
    9 years ago

    Eimer, for as many of my bulbs as the little varmints have eaten over the years; if I thought I could get rid of them that easily I would personally FEED them newspaper! As for the worms...I think as long as they say down in the soil they will be fine. As for using entirely organic newspaper (omg).

  • Eimer
    9 years ago

    The worms do have to surface when the rain is heavy enough to saturate their soil. And then if the Robins come along and eat the worms contaminated by your newspaper mulch, well then there may be sick Robins. And then Batman will be very angry at you.

  • Embothrium
    9 years ago

    Slugs love paper mulch, it seems shoots of any bulbs they might gnaw growing under layers of paper are liable to have maximum damage. And voles might be encouraged to attack bulbs of kinds on the menu by a paper blanket during the winter. But the first thing that occurs to me is that if the paper decays enough to allow the bulbs to come through normally at that point it is no longer going to be suppressing weeds much.

    The best way to avoid the work involved with maintaining flowers is to plant shrubs instead.

  • Eimer
    9 years ago

    In most cases for bulbs: mulch is not necessary and may be a detriment. I have grassy areas full of hundreds of bulbs, and the only mulch they ever get is when I have to cut the tall grass and other growths in early June after the leaves of the bulb plants have all died. All those cut leaves decay quickly. Mulch of any sort would only attract voles.

    Further in the trees, where grass does not grow, I have bulbs under the natural mulch of pine needles, other decaying leaves, and etc.; there, daffodils do well.

    My approach is that the little critters, including invertebrates, also deserve their places. So, I keep some areas "messy" and undisturbed by my own often-misguided sense of neatness and order. Natural mulches of leaf litter and etc. are essential to healthy ecologies.

    This post was edited by Eimer on Mon, Oct 6, 14 at 13:58

  • NHBabs z4b-5a NH
    9 years ago

    I put down several layers of newspaper and then shredded wood mulch on top without any issues for my bulbs being able to come through. I don't have issues with slugs, but do have issues with voles, but they are bad whether there is mulch or not.

    As far as questions about toxics in newspaper, my local paper uses non-toxic soy-based ink, so it isn't an issue. I don't use the glossy paper from magazines or advertising brochures.

  • Eimer
    9 years ago

    I wonder why our yard has not had that many slugs this year. It's not the moisture: last year had the most precipitation on record, this year is above normal. But there certainly seem to be fewer slugs. Perhaps the record cold winter? And I haven't noticed any ducks in the area eating slugs. What else eats slugs?

  • emerogork
    9 years ago

    There are very few chemicals, if at all, in newsprint. The ink is soy based. The glossies have the chemicals in them.

  • Pyewacket
    9 years ago

    Newspapers ARE organic! Paper and corrugated cardboard are both on the list of approved materials for organic mulch.

  • emerogork
    9 years ago

    I have a friend who is in the business of making corrugated paper boxes. He adamantly corrects anyone by telling us that "The common box made up of two layers of paper glued with a corrugated paper middle. Cardboard on the other hand is that which your cereal box is made. There is no such thing as corrugated cardboard".

    My reply was "I stand corrected and rebuked." (-:

    He also includes: "Yes, corrugated paper, with its adhesives, and cardboard are both organic."

  • raestr (z8 Central Ala)
    9 years ago

    Eimer, toads love slugs and I love my toads.

    I'm glad I don't have voles. I have enough problems with slugs and snails. I tried marigolds this year and the slugs decimated them. They don't seem to bother my daffodils or daylilies though.

    I've heard newspaper will also add phosphorus to your soil which is suppose to be good for bulbs, but I can't verify that information. I do use newspaper in my flower beds and it works great for discouraging weeds. You just have to replace every season.

  • Eimer
    9 years ago

    Well, this year I noticed more little toads around and fewer slugs. The marigolds, growing near where I usually find toads, were splendid. So I should thank the toads?

  • emerogork
    9 years ago

    If the bulbs can grow up through inches of soil then newspaper is not going to stop them. (-:

Sponsored
Grow Landscapes
Average rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars8 Reviews
Planning Your Outdoor Space in Loundon County?