Apply paper to suffocate weeds and apply mulch atop paper (cardboard is even better than paper)

Keep in mind that a sunny, well watered area will be ideal for plants AND weeds so expect weeds next year, and the next; hopefully though at a decreasing rate each year

This post was edited by bossyvossy on Mon, Jan 19, 15 at 20:29

Newspaper and cardboard do not "suffocate" unwanted plant growth but they will deny those plants the sunlight they need to grow. Whether the old mulch needs to be removed of the depth of that mulch. A thin layer of mlchl, about an inch, could be left in place and covered up with new mulch while mulches with a depth of 3 or 4 inches should be removed beforfe placing the paper.

Yep, leave it in place unless it's already pretty deep. I've put as much as 4-6" of shredded yard waste mulch or wood chips in perennial beds with no ill effects, but it depends on your conditions.

old seeds are in and on the surface of the soil ....

most weed seed.. needs direct sunlight to germinate ... and that is why covering with mulch ... dissuades much of such .. if not applied thick enough ... if sun hits soil surface.. you didnt accomplish much ...

if you pull weeds WITH SOIL ... thru the mulch.. you are bringing soil and weed seed on to the top of the mulch.. completely defeating the purpose ...

pull it aside ... place barrier... but NEVER man made ... and push it back... and just work across the garden ...

ken

Thanks for the replies guys. I probably have 2-3 inches of mulch down right now. I think what I'll do is clean out the top layer of mulch and weeds and then lay down the newspaper and then put down new mulch. I figurethe old mulch will decompose at some point.

Yes it will. Most of us put new mulch on top of the old. In fact, decomposable mulches are great for improving a poor soil in an area you can't dig like a perennial bed. I used tons of free municipal shredded yard waste mulch on clay soil. It decomposes faster than just wood chips since it has grass, leaves etc. in it. People tend to want the most durable mulch possible, but in some cases you really need the opposite. But I digress. Your plan sounds fine. :-]