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On Thursday, October 23, 2003, at 02:41  PM, Gregory Miller wrote:

> Ginda:
>
> I have used the newspaper plus mulch method, and it works great.
>
> HOWEVER,
>
> I would not do it in the fall as it creates prime lodging conditions 
> for various rodents.  I had that problem using clumps of strawbales 
> (that held together after getting wet) and had the problem of the 
> rodent tunnels around some blackberries.  I think it would be even 
> worse with newspaper.  I would suggest the spring, just as the grass 
> is starting to sprout.  It is easy to place that time of year, the 
> mulch you put on will stay wet, and there is less time for the rodents 
> to get established before summer comes.

Thanks.  Not sure what to do, as fall is when I have mulch - aka leaves 
that need to be removed from the lawn.  It just seems so inefficient to 
haul them away in the fall and buy lots of mulch in the spring. . .

Ginda