Layering cardboard or moistened newspaper across new beds can keep weeds from sprouting, especially if you top it off with a thick, 1 to 3” layer of mulch. Wood and bark mulches are ideal for ornamental beds since they are weighty enough that they are rarely dislodged by heavy winds. You can also keep weeds from sprouting by practicing no-till methods whenever possible and by planting your garden thickly so that there’s no room for weeds to creep in.