The method you showed is a real garden technique, and it’s a smart one when you want to create a flower border quickly without digging up the whole area first. It combines two ideas:
- Sheet mulching (using newspaper to suppress weeds and grass)
- Top-layer planting (adding soil/compost above it and planting into that layer)
In simple terms, the newspaper acts like a temporary weed barrier, and the soil on top becomes the new planting zone. Over time, the paper softens and breaks down.
What the method is doing
When you place newspaper over grass or weeds, you are blocking sunlight. Without light, most weeds and grass underneath weaken and die back. This gives your flowers a cleaner space to establish without immediate competition.
When you add soil or compost on top, you create a fresh root zone for seeds or plants. That top layer is what your flowers use first while the newspaper below decomposes.
This is why the method works well for:
- Narrow flower borders
- Porch and walkway edges
- Foundation beds
- Fast makeovers where you don’t want to dig deeply
Does putting seeds on the newspaper work?
It can work, but it depends on the seed and how thick the soil layer is.
Why it can work
If seeds are scattered over the newspaper and then covered with moist soil/compost, they can germinate in the top layer and root downward. As the newspaper stays damp, roots eventually find their way through weak spots or through paper that is beginning to break down.
Why it can fail
If the newspaper stays too dry, or if the soil layer is too thin, roots may struggle. Also, very tiny seeds can be difficult because they need very specific moisture and planting depth.
Best practice
For the most reliable results:
- Scatter seeds on top of the newspaper only if you will cover with enough soil/compost
- Use a deeper top layer for stronger-rooted annuals
- Keep the bed consistently moist during germination
This is the key difference between a method that “looks good on video” and one that actually grows well.
Materials you need
- Newspaper (plain black-and-white pages are best)
- Water (to soak the paper)
- Soil or compost (or a mix of both)
- Seeds or starter plants
- Optional: Mulch (to finish the top after planting)
Best newspaper type
Use:
- Plain newsprint (black-and-white)
Avoid:
- Glossy magazine pages
- Heavy colored ad inserts
- Coated paper
The goal is a paper layer that breaks down naturally and allows water through when wet.
Step-by-step method
1) Prepare the strip
Clear away large weeds, sticks, and debris. You do not need to dig deeply, but flattening the area helps the newspaper lie tight to the ground.
If grass is tall, trim it low first.
2) Lay the newspaper
Place newspaper in overlapping layers across the strip.
A good target is:
- 4 to 8 sheets thick (more if the grass underneath is aggressive)
Overlap edges by several inches so weeds do not grow up through gaps.
3) Wet the newspaper thoroughly
This step is important.
Wet paper:
- Stays in place
- Molds to the ground
- Starts breaking down
- Allows roots to penetrate more easily later
Dry newspaper can curl, shift, and act more like a barrier than a planting base.
4) Add your seeds (your version of the method)
If you are using the seed-on-newspaper approach, scatter seeds evenly over the wet newspaper.
This works best with:
- Medium or larger seeds
- Easy-to-direct-sow flowers
For very tiny seeds, this step is trickier because they can clump or be buried too deeply once soil is added.
5) Cover with soil or compost
Add a layer of soil or compost over the newspaper and seeds.
A practical depth is:
- 1 to 2 inches for very easy germinating seeds
- 2 to 4 inches for stronger annual flowers and better root development
- More depth if the strip is uneven or the ground is compacted
Lightly shape the bed so it looks neat and slightly mounded (but not too high).
6) Water gently
Use a soft spray so you don’t wash the soil away.
The goal is to moisten:
- The top soil layer
- The seed zone
- The newspaper underneath
This keeps everything connected and encourages roots to move downward.
7) Maintain moisture during germination
This is where most seed beds fail.
Keep the top layer evenly moist, especially in the first 1–3 weeks. If it dries out completely, young seedlings can die fast.
A light daily watering is often better than heavy soaking every few days (weather depending).
8) Thin and tidy
Once seedlings grow, thin crowded spots so plants have room. Crowding is common when seeds are broadcast by hand.
You can also add a light mulch around established plants to reduce weeds and hold moisture.
Why this method is popular
This method is popular because it is:
- Low-dig (less labor than removing sod)
- Budget-friendly (newspaper is cheap/free)
- Good for fast visual improvements
- Beginner-friendly
- Useful for long, narrow borders
It is especially good for people creating flower strips along porches, fences, sidewalks, or foundations.
Best flowers for this method from seed (popular in the U.S.)
These are reliable, widely loved, and easier than petunias for direct sowing:
1) Marigolds
- Very popular in U.S. gardens
- Germinate quickly
- Handle heat well
- Great for borders
2) Zinnias
- One of the easiest annual flowers from seed
- Fast growth
- Bright color range
- Excellent for a bold row
3) Cosmos
- Airy, tall, and easy
- Great for a soft cottage-garden look
- Tolerates average soil
4) Nasturtiums
- Easy and forgiving
- Good for edging and spilling
- Seeds are large and easy to handle
5) Sunflowers (dwarf varieties)
- Strong seeds, easy germination
- Great in back rows of a border
- Choose dwarf types for smaller spaces
6) Bachelor’s Buttons
- Good direct-sow performer
- Works well in simple borders
- Tolerates cooler starts
What about petunias?
Petunias are extremely popular in the U.S., but they are usually not the easiest flower to direct-sow outdoors, especially with this method.
Why petunias are different
- Seeds are very tiny
- They need careful moisture control
- They usually do better when started in trays or bought as plugs
Best way to use petunias with this method
Use the newspaper + soil method to create the bed, then plant:
- Petunia plugs
- Small starter plants
That gives you the clean border look and much more reliable results.
So your technique is still valid for petunias—it just works best if the petunias are transplanted into the prepared bed rather than direct-seeded.
Common mistakes to avoid
1) Too little newspaper
Thin paper layers break down too fast and weeds push through early.
2) Newspaper not wet enough
Dry paper can repel water at first and slow root penetration.
3) Soil layer too thin
Seedlings need enough depth to root before reaching the paper layer.
4) Letting the bed dry out
New seed beds dry quickly, especially near porches and concrete.
5) Using hard-to-germinate seeds
Some flowers are much less forgiving than others. Start with easy flowers if you want consistent success.
6) Planting too densely
Broadcasting seeds often leads to overcrowding. Thin seedlings early.
How long does the newspaper last?
Newspaper usually starts softening fairly quickly once wet and covered. Depending on weather, moisture, and thickness, it may break down over weeks to a few months.
That’s exactly what you want:
- Long enough to suppress weeds early
- Temporary enough to allow roots to move through later
Is this the same as a raised bed?
Not exactly.
This is usually a garden bed or flower border, not a framed raised bed. It is built up slightly with soil, but it doesn’t need wood or stone sides.
Good names for it:
- Flower bed
- Border bed
- Planting strip
- Foundation bed (if along a house)
When this method works best
This method works especially well when:
- You want a quick visual transformation
- The area has light-to-moderate weeds
- You can water regularly during setup
- You are planting easy annual flowers or starter plants
It is less effective when:
- The area has very aggressive perennial weeds
- The bed is extremely dry and hard to keep watered
- You are using delicate seeds that need precise germination conditions
Final practical advice
If you want the same look as your video and want the highest chance of success:
- Keep the newspaper layer (real and effective)
- Wet it well
- Add a generous top layer of soil/compost
- Use easy flowers from seed (zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, nasturtiums)
- If you want petunias, plant plugs/starter plants into the finished bed
That gives you the best combination of a clean method, a neat border, and reliable blooms.
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