Newspapers as garden mulch Newspapers as garden mulch Newspapers as garden mulch Save all your old newspapers to use in your garden. But stick to the black and white print. The ink used by most publishers is water based. However, inks used in advertising supplements or glossies may contain heavy metal. Placing a layer of newspapers over bare dirt makes a great mulch and has many organic benefits.
Soil moisture is conserved by allowing rain to penetrate it.
The cold is kept out and the paper protects root crops against early or late frosts. It reduces weeds, keeps vining vegetables off the ground, and helps to build soil structure. Lay the newspapers on the ground at least four sheets thick. Overlap them so that none of the ground is exposed, and anchor them with rocks. To have an early seedbed in the spring, layer the ground with an inch of newspapers, top with leaves, hay or grass clippings in the fall.