Stefan Buczacki solves your plot problems
Stefan says: This is a most interesting question, with a number of implications. As I understand it, you lay old newspaper on your flower beds to control the weeds and then place normal mulch on top. I confess, I’ve never done this, and I’m unsure if I’ve seen anyone else do it either, for two reasons. First, because I layer compost or leaf mould on the beds as a mulch I find this suppresses the weeds without needing anything else. And second, I’d be concerned the layers of newspaper would prevent the proper penetration of water.
You tell me, however, that because you now do your shopping online, you no longer have your regular supply of newspapers and that’s why you wonder about using shredded paper instead. My feeling is that this would probably be better, because a layer of shredded paper will be more porous and allow rainwater to pass through, although I admit it may not be as good at weed suppression.
I’d also sound a note of caution in asking you to ensure the paper you use is fully degradable. Some glossy magazine papers do not break down well, even when shredded.
But I‘ve been meaning for some time to say a word about shredded paper in another context. I use a paper shredder daily and have been putting the shreddings in the compost bin where they break down fairly well; although, again, I avoid glossy magazines. However, my old shredder finally expired and I replaced it with a cross-cut machine. As you might imagine, this chops the paper in two
directions, so you have something resembling coarse confetti instead of strips, and I find this rots down even better and quicker because the rate of decomposition of anything in a compost bin is more efficient, the larger its surface area.
But a final, timely word about newspaper sheets. Some gardeners use newspaper as a lining in a runner bean trench but there, too, it will prevent the penetration of rainwater. Compost alone is far better.