Newspaper Mulch

Fall and winter is the perfect time to prepare a space for a garden next spring. Put down a few layers of newspaper over the spot you want to use. This will keep the weeds down and rot any sod underneath.

Cover the newspaper with raked leaves, grass clippings, and compost. In the spring it will be ready to plant. Just cut holes in the paper where you want to grow a plant. The newspaper will work as a weed barrier and will decompose to make soil in a year or two.