"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message
...
In article , Victoria
Clare writes

If you have a shredder, shredded hedge clippings also make a good mulch,
and can look very neat. I tend to stick a layer over my other mulches so
people can see my efforts are deliberate!

After a while you get a nice thick buildup of rotted mulch (which the
plants like much better than my thin stony soil!)


Victoria don't you find that rotting clippings would take the nitrogen
from the soil? I always thought that it had to be well rotted or the
action of the decay locks up valuable minerals in the soil. On the other
hand if it's on top of a layer of well rotted stuff perhaps it doesn't
matter?

Janet

--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

My own thoughts on this is that whilst its true the break down proccess will
take nitrogen, if the material is on the surface there is no problem as its
surrounded with the stuff (air :~) also because its green so to speak it is
attractive to worms and worm poo is as good as any other sort! :~)
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)