Do you save your old newspapers for recycling? Well, recycling your paper is fab, but repurposing is even better for the Earth. Here's an idea for gardeners to consider: mulch it. That's right. You can use old newspapers to mulch the garden.

Now, I know what you're thinking: old, shredded newspapers scattered around your garden beds will not endear you to your neighbors. I'm not suggesting you use newspapers as a top layer on the garden (although I have seen this very silly idea presented as an option in various gardening books). Instead, you can use them as a foundational layer, then top it off with a layer of regular mulch -- shredded pine or cypress bark, pine chips, or pine needles. Whatever floats your boat.

Bear in mind that it takes a lot of old papers to mulch even a fairly small garden bed. So the key thing is to start saving those old papers now. I've been accumulating my daily newspapers in a huge cardboard box in the garage all summer, and it's now full to the brim. Fall is finally upon us. Here in the South that's prime gardening season and I plan to make the most of it by creating at least a couple of new garden beds in my front yard. I know that huge stack of newspapers will come in mighty handy.

This idea is so simple, yet so effective. Not only do you help the planet by reducing landfill, but you also save precious dollars by buying less mulch at the garden center. You'll only need a fairly thin layer of regular mulch on top -- just enough to disguise the newsprint lurking underneath. No one will know but you, me, and the fencepost!