I have an asparagus patch that is sufficiently mature to produce a good crop this year.

I also am trying to control the weeds in my garden through a technique suggested by the book "Weedless Gardening". The technique is to construct beds, place three layers of newspaper on top, wet the newspaper, and then put 3 inches of mulch on top of that. Then you plant seeds in the topmost, mulch layer.

I am wondering if I could use this technique on my asparagus before it emerges in order to make it a weedless bed as well. The newspaper would not prevent it from emerging, or would it? If I cannot use this technique is there another technique to keep my asparagus bed weedless ( or as weedless as possible)?

Traci, I would be concerned that the newspaper until it is adequately decomposed would keep the asparagus from emerging. I would recommend using other mulch without the newspaper to help keep down weeds.