Smothering technique

Don’t let invasives spread! Start by cutting weeds down as short as you can. Then layer sheets of newsprint or cardboard on top, overlapping the pieces several inches. Finally, cover the paper or cardboard with organic mulch to hold it in place, just like we did here. This cuts off the plant’s light supply so it can’t manufacture food.

Killing weeds this way saves you a lot of work digging up an extensive root system — just watch for sprouts along the edges and pull or dig them as they appear.