Waging War on Weeds

Here's a handy trick to keep weeds in check. Spread a layer of newspaper, 5 or 6 pages thick, on the soil, around your perennial plants. Cover with mulch. The newspaper will absorb water and keep the soil moist as it slowly decomposes. This works great for big, spreading perennials because damp newspaper is pliable, allowing the root ball to expand. Plastic weed barriers aren't so forgiving and tend to stunt a big plant's growth. Pulling weeds is a never-ending battle. Try blocking out the sun so dormant weed seeds can't sprout.