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Old March 14, 2009   #1
creister
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Default Can/will roots grow through newspaper layer?

I am putting 8" raised beds in on my garden area. I was wondering if I put about an inch of newspaper down to block weeds, would the roots of my tomato plants grow down through the newspaper into the soil below them?
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Old March 15, 2009   #2
robin303
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How deep. I did that with all of my raised beds to kill the weeds. I did dig down and till the soil. I used 20 layers of newspaper and it will break down. All my beds are 12" high. Last years pics.
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Old March 16, 2009   #3
organichris
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Quote:
Originally Posted by creister View Post
I am putting 8" raised beds in on my garden area. I was wondering if I put about an inch of newspaper down to block weeds, would the roots of my tomato plants grow down through the newspaper into the soil below them?
I don't think you have to be concerned that the roots won't be able to grow through the paper after it breaks down a bit.
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Old March 16, 2009   #4
creister
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I may just put the beds in without the newspaper, as I don't have a bad weed problem, and I want the mater roots to have access to the soil below the raised bed. It is good soil, I just want the raised beds to reduce water/fertilizer use on areas that do not have to have it. We have one vine type of weed that seems to be able to penetrate several inches of mulch. Maybe I will smother them by letting them grow through the top and cover with newspaper.
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