[learning]

Got free tar paper from a building project, lots of it...
I have a large area that I want to stop invasive alders and bush from growing. I will cut these down as can do this more easily now because leaves are not out yet. Once cut I just want the place to stop growing them, or, at least allow a bit of leeway.
I can hardly get through paths any longer.
I can't afford stone or something to cover the "paths" once I get rid of the bush right now, also the time work involved, all the material has to go over a stone wall.
Questions:
Is this a possible solution?
Is tar paper harmful to the earth?
If I don't put anything on it... dirt etc... apart from some bricks to hold it down, will it just eventually break down and I will have plain old dirt there which is what I want and with trampling will remain like old pathways.

I think the family will have to stay of it for quite a period as I feel it will break underfoot but in the meantime will be killing the vegetation as light can not get to it

After that I can keep it up with regular maintenance.
Is landscape fabric a better option, just hate not to be able to use up the tar paper.

All suggestions will be appreciated.

[iamarcin]

I heard of a guy that used plastic with soil over it and left it for a while which made a moist area underneatha and harmfull mold started to form there

I don't think it will break down any time soon

[dMacII]

The paper part will break apart but the tar will last as long as roof shingles, or asphalt roads. Tar is an oil-base product and doesn't break down easily.

We get many seedling trees growing in our lawn every year from the little nuts dropped from the trees our yard. I kill them using a regular weed killer. If you spray it on them once every one or two weeks during the Spring you can stop the new trees from growing. I buy the concentrate (Weed-B-Gone) and dilute it in a gallon milk jug and then pour the diluted mix into a hand-held spray bottle. Also, because I spray for weeds regularly, I have purchased a quality spray bottle from Home Depot - found it in their cleaning supplies section. You may want to consider doing the same.

If your path isn't too long, you can use a spray bottle. If you have a large area, I would use a 2 or 3-gallon pump sprayer.

You could also use a more heavy-duty vegetation killer. Ortho Ground Clear is specifically meant for killing all vegetation growing in paths or walkways or gardens. Check out the link for product info.