Shredded Paper for Mulch

By bob
October 8, 2011

Go paperless in your office, then use your shreddings as mulch in your garden.

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Oct 7, 2011 6:08 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

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Bob, that sure is a great idea. I'm not among the working but have a shredder in the study here at home and I don't know why I never thought to use the shredded paper as mulch. I will be emptying the big container tomorrow for sure! Thanks for sharing this great recycling tip!
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Oct 7, 2011 6:26 PM CST
Name: Christine
North East Texas (Zone 7b)
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Very good idea! Thumbs up
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Oct 7, 2011 6:34 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
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I agree Thumbs up Thumbs up
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Oct 7, 2011 6:41 PM CST
Name: Stephanie Gonzales
Texas (Zone 8a)
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I agree Hurray! Hurray!
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Oct 7, 2011 6:44 PM CST
Name: Allison
NJ (Zone 6a)
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don't the shreds blow around?
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Oct 7, 2011 7:00 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
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Wow, I never thought about doing that. Thanks Bob.
As wet as it is here right now, it won't be blowing anywhere. Whistling
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Oct 7, 2011 7:08 PM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Trish
Grapevine, TX (Zone 8a)
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Onewish1 said:don't the shreds blow around?


This is my concern as well...

I'm all ears!
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Oct 7, 2011 7:15 PM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Dave Whitinger
Southlake, Texas (Zone 8a)
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Cover with leaves.

Nice tip, Dad. Smiling
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Oct 7, 2011 7:24 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
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Or mulch/compost. Smiling
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Oct 7, 2011 7:32 PM CST
Name: Rick Corey
Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a)
Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f
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Hmm! They don't pack down too tight for aeration?
They semi-gloss coating isn't a bad thing?

I guess the answers must be "no".

I was working my way around to tearing up non-glossy newspapers and phone books but this sounds good.
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Oct 7, 2011 7:33 PM CST
Name: Becky (Boo)
Phoenix, AZ 85022
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Bob's Dave's Dad? Thumbs up

Well, I love this tip and even without leaves, you could water them a bit and then they won't blow away. Or put coffee grounds on top too. Big Grin
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Oct 7, 2011 7:43 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
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Boopaints said:Bob's Dave's Dad? Thumbs up


Is that true? Smiling
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Oct 7, 2011 8:16 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
????????????
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Oct 7, 2011 8:20 PM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Dave Whitinger
Southlake, Texas (Zone 8a)
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Big Grin
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Oct 7, 2011 8:24 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
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It's a great tip, you just have to keep the paper wet by whatever means.
But I don't use glossy or colored ink.
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Oct 8, 2011 12:24 AM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Hurray! Hurray! It is, it is. Hurray! Hi Dave's dad, Bob. Thumbs up
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Oct 8, 2011 4:51 AM CST

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I personally haven't had a good experience with using shredded paper. However, I do use (whole) newspapers under my mulch and it does help to keep the weeds down somewhat.
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Oct 8, 2011 5:41 AM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Trish
Grapevine, TX (Zone 8a)
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Charter ATP Member Region: Texas Roses Herbs Vegetable Grower
Composter Canning and food preservation Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Organic Gardener Forum moderator Hummingbirder
I also use whole paper. Being homeschoolers, we accumulate a TON of paper. I just keep all of the stuff we don't need to keep in a box and when it is time to start a new bed or mulch, I grab that along with whatever newspaper and cardboard and away we go.

Corey- we learned that the glossy papers are actually just fine to use. The ink is the same. The issue is that the glossy makes it harder for the water to penetrate, and thus they break down a bit slower. However, under mulch, it hasn't really made a difference, and I'm sure that by shredding the paper, you are increasing the surface area such that the water would have no trouble saturating it.

Hi Bob/Dad/Grandpa! Big Grin Hurray!
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Oct 8, 2011 9:18 AM CST
Name: Horseshoe Griffin
Efland, NC (Zone 7a)
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Hi, Dad, I mean Dave's Dad! Glad to see you at All Things Family...er, uh, All Things Plants! Smiling

Good tip. And remember you can also use those shreds in your worm bins or worm pits, too.

Shoe
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Oct 8, 2011 2:49 PM CST
Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)
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And you can use them to pack plants when you are mailing them. Wonderful for that. Then maybe the recipient can use them for mulch too. Doubly good. Big Grin
I garden for the pollinators.

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