As soon as organic matter gets on top of the tarp, weeds will start growing and they will push their roots through it. At the end of the season you will have tarp shreds tangled with weed roots -- a real mess.

Newspapers covered with grass clippings or another mulch will work just fine. You can even use junk mail.

Tarps will not work the same as materials made for the purpose, such as plastic mulch, weed barrier or landscape fabric. These materials are porous or perforated to let water penetrate. To work the same, a tarp would need to be well punctured all over.

I and several of my gardener friends have had good results with weed barrier. It not only kept the weeds down but plants grew better with it, probably because it reduced loss of moisture. I've seen good results with a thick layer of grass clippings as well and next year I may try newspaper.

Jim

Tendrils do not grow into the ground, they are for clinging. Pumpkins do send down feeder roots everywhere a vine branches out. Tendrils and feeder roots are totally different. Zucchini squash does not get runners like pumpkins and cukes. Zucs grow from the top and fall over after awhile. Yellow squash are similar to cukes and are short lived so don't need feeder roots. Pumpkins take months. So, you may use a tarp on the zucchini but, who has more than one or two plants anyway.

As Jim said, a plastic tarp isn't the same thing as plastic weed barrier. A solid plastic tarp will not allow water, fertilizer, or air to reach the roots - they need all three - and will trap all that heat. You'd more likely find yourself with a bunch of cooked plants with dead roots from the trapped heat and lack of air.

Dave

Dave, You are so right with everything you said. I don't like mulch unless it is natural, like grass clippings. Years ago I did plant early corn with black plastic down to heat up our cold soil in Western New York. It worked great for the first corn in the neighborhood. I do like natural better.

I would like to try the newspaper method. I've just finished covering by main garden plot with weed barrier. However I have a small plot where I could experiment with newspaper. Those who are experienced at it, please tell me how to anchor the paper. Also, tell me any other tips or hints I may need to know.

Thanks,

Jim

Just wet the newspaper down as you apply it with a watering can or hose. I usually layer several full unopened sections thick, in overlapping layers. On top of the newspaper put a thick layer of your favourite organic mulch. I like layers of used coffee grounds, leaves, and compost.

The idea here is to completely cover the paper and provide a growing environment for the roots that keeps moisture through the dry spells.

If you do it this way, and resist the temptation to cut holes in the newspaper when planting (add some soil to the hole but leave the paper intact), you'll have zero weeds coming up from below. Now you just have to worry about the ones that grow from the top, and they'll come out easy from the mulch.

Cheers,
Kyle

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shredded news paper and junk mail work great and when you are done just till them into your soil worms love rotting paper

Those small rigid plastic wading pools for tots are great for wetting newspaper in full sheets. Drag it out to where you're working, add a few inches of water, and set your fully opened newspaper in it. I put in at least half a dozen pages at once, so they stick together and form a nice, wet mat. Remove them promptly though, or you'll end up with soft, mushy papier mache instead. Cover it with mulch before it dries out, or it will fly away and your downwind neighbors will hate you.

Cardboard is even easier.

Sue

Thanks, Sue, not so much for the wading pool idea, because I don't have one, but for the other important details, such as how many sheets, how long to soak and, very importantly, to cover the newspaper mulch with another type of mulch. I can do that. I am now confident that it will work for me.

Jim

You don't have to cover the newspaper. I have success using 4 ft newsprint end rolls - just layer it around 4 sheets deep, wet it, and lay 2x4's down each side of the bed - works great. I do cut holes for the plants. You can get some weeds through that if you're starting off with a growbed with a lot of weeds. If your growbed doesn't have many weeds, then you shouldn't have any real issues with them sneaking up through the holes you cut for the plants. I tend to cut the holes in a sort of "flap" so I can just lay the flap back down for a more snug fit with the plant.