I started saving old newspapers a few years ago instead of throwing them away, and I’ve been surprised by how often they come in handy around the garden.

What began as a simple way to cut down on household waste turned into a cheap gardening trick I use for everything from weeds to compost. A pile of newspapers can take care of several small garden jobs without requiring a trip to the store for another bag of supplies.

Newspaper also breaks down over time, which makes it useful for jobs where you eventually want the material to return to the soil.

So, if you have a stack of old newspapers sitting around, hold off on putting them in the recycling bin. Here are 11 ways to use them around your garden.

Smother Weeds

If your garden bed is full of weeds, newspaper can help cover them without spending hours pulling every plant by hand.

Lay down six to eight sheets of regular black-and-white newspaper over the weedy area. Wet the paper thoroughly so it stays in place, then cover it with a layer of mulch.

The newspaper blocks sunlight from reaching the weeds underneath. Over time, the paper breaks down while the mulch gives the bed a cleaner appearance.

Line the Bottom of Plant Pots

If you have a plant pot with a large drainage hole, a few sheets of folded newspaper can help keep potting soil from falling out every time you water the plant.

Place the paper over the drainage holes before adding soil. Water can still drain through, while the paper helps hold the soil in place.

The paper will eventually break down, so you don’t have to worry about removing it later.

Add It to Compost

Old newspaper makes a useful source of “brown” material for compost piles.

Tear or shred the newspaper into smaller strips and mix it with “green” materials such as vegetable scraps, fruit peels, and grass clippings. The paper adds carbon to the pile and helps balance out the wetter kitchen and yard waste.

Avoid glossy pages and paper with heavy coatings. Plain newspaper is the better choice for the compost pile.

Make Seed-Starting Pots

You don’t need to buy a collection of small plastic containers every time you want to start seeds. A few sheets of newspaper can be turned into small biodegradable seed pots.

Fold or roll the newspaper into small pots, fill them with potting soil, and add your seeds. Keep the pots in a tray so they don’t fall apart while you’re watering them.

Once the seedlings are ready for the garden, you can plant the newspaper pot directly into the soil. The paper will break down while the roots continue growing.

Use It as Garden Mulch

Newspaper can also serve as a temporary mulch layer if you’re short on other materials.

Place several sheets around your plants, wet them thoroughly, and cover the paper with straw, shredded leaves, or compost. The paper helps block sunlight from reaching weed seeds while the material on top keeps everything in place.

This can be especially useful when you’re clearing a new garden bed and need an inexpensive layer between the soil and the weeds.

Create Garden Bed Borders

If grass keeps creeping into your garden beds, newspaper can give you another layer of protection beneath your edging.

Lay several sheets along the edge of the bed, then place bricks, stones, or another edging material on top. The paper can help slow grass and weeds from growing through the space.

It won’t last forever, but it can give your garden border some time to settle before the newspaper breaks down.

Help Deter Slugs and Snails

Some gardeners use crumpled newspaper around plants as a simple way to make the area less inviting to slugs and snails.

Place pieces of dry, crumpled newspaper around the plants you want to protect. The rough surface can make it harder for these pests to move across the area.

This isn’t a guaranteed pest solution, but it can be worth trying if you’re looking for another inexpensive garden trick.

Wrap Harvested Vegetables

Newspaper can also come in handy after you’ve finished harvesting.

Root vegetables such as carrots, beets, and turnips can be wrapped individually in newspaper before being stored.

The paper can absorb some excess moisture and keep vegetables from rubbing against each other. For refrigerator storage, place the wrapped vegetables in a breathable container or bag rather than sealing them tightly.

Insulate Plant Containers

A sudden cold snap can be rough on plants growing in outdoor containers, since the roots have less protection than plants growing directly in the ground.

Wrapping the outside of a plant pot with several layers of newspaper can add a little insulation and help slow down temperature changes. Secure the paper with twine, or cover it with burlap to keep it from getting wet.

Just keep the paper away from direct heat sources and remove it if it becomes soaked.

Make a Worm Bed

If you keep worms for composting, newspaper can make inexpensive bedding for their bin.

Tear plain newspaper into strips, moisten it with water, and mix it with your other worm bedding materials. The paper gives worms a soft place to move through while also adding carbon to the bin.

Don’t soak the paper until it’s dripping wet. It should be damp but still loose enough for air to move through it.

Clean Up Garden Spills

Newspaper is handy for small messes in the shed or around your garden work area.

For a small oil or grease spill in a shed, place several sheets of newspaper over the area and let them absorb as much of the liquid as possible. Once the spill has been soaked up, dispose of the newspaper according to local waste rules.

It’s a simple use for old papers that might otherwise end up in the recycling bin.