AndyS wrote:
I have read that one should avoid the funny pages or pages that
use color ink as it contains chemicals that do bad things to the soil
and to earthworms. I don't know how accurate that was, but
avoiding those pages shouldn't
be a problem anyway.

Some time ago, many inks were lead-based. The non-black inks were
commonly leaded beyond the time that black inks were commonly leaded.
This was long enough in the past that you don't even have to worry about
the details. Leaded inks are no longer used in newspaper production.
Inks are now vegetable-based -- even the bright colors.

What you should avoid are the glossy inserts -- but even that's a
non-issue if you're not talking about an area that's going to be a
vegetable garden. I wouldn't start tossing magazines into the mix, but a
few ads from the Sunday paper aren't going to kill you. If it is no big
deal to separate those inserts from the rest of the paper, sure, go
ahead. Just don't let the work to separate them be an excuse for not
doing anything at all.

If you're using newspaper, it doesn't matter if you wet it down or not,
unless it's a windy day. Even then you'll want to get the mulch on top
of the newspaper in short-order. Either way, use 6-12 sheets, and
generously overlap them. Too much is never a problem.

For very large areas, I've had good success with large, corrugated
cardboard boxes. It cuts the time needed for work down considerably.
Don't use waxy food boxes, and single-layer cardboard seldom comes in
pieces large enough to save you any time over newspaper.

Within two years the newspaper is going to be essentially broken down to
the point that it is no longer any kind of barrier. However, by this
time you'll have choked-out nearly all the weeds, and hand weeding
shouldn't be a problem. You'll probably have more weeds germinating on
top of where the newspaper was than below it, which would be the same as
if you used the fabric.

The big problem with the fabric is eventually you'll see it on the
surface. The only time I use fabric is when I'm going to put something
substantial on top of it, like a paver path, or a couple inches of
1/4-minus tamped-down.

--
Warren H.

==========
Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my
employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife.
Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is
coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this
response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants
to go outside now.

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http://www.holzemville.com/mall/blackanddecker/