Simple Solution To Prevent Weeds

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - My friend Chris hasn't really weeded her garden since early June. But she hardly has any weeds at all. And she didn't use herbicides or sprinkle stuff to stop weeds from emerging.

So, how come her garden is full of flowers and pretty foliage and almost no weeds? You'll find the answer in the newspaper.

Before laying mulch, many smart gardeners put down a barrier of newspaper or cardboard on the soil first.

Dampen the ground, lay at least a few sheets of newspaper - but Chris has found that using a full section of the newspaper is much more effective. Wet the paper with a hose, and then cover with a couple of inches of mulch.

The paper lets water reach plant roots while keeping weed seeds from sprouting. And it's easy to cut through the paper to plant anytime you want.

So, next spring, collect plenty of newspaper to use under your mulch so you can spend next summer doing a lot less worrying about weeds.