In article , "lbbss" wrote:
I like the idea of using grass clippings as mulch around my tomatoes, black
berries, grapes, and fruit trees. I am just not sure if that is
recommended or a good idea? I want to find a cheap way to prevent weeds
from growing and keep the ground moist.
I heard that the grass clippings can spread disease to the vegetables.
My dad found the clipping breeding some kind long centipede insect in the
grass.

I'm in the desert, and I use grass clippings as mulch -- not so much
to prevent weeds, but more to keep in moisture so seeds don't dry up
before they get established. Without it, there's no getting grass
started from seed (grass from turf doesn't root down well enough
here).

Let the grass get *thoroughly* dry before using it as mulch -- dry it
in the sun, well spread out, turning it occasionally until it is
completely crispy. (It will turn brown over time, but that's not
critical here.) If there is any moisture left, that will mold and
that's not good for your veggies.

Use only a THIN layer -- just enough that you can't quite see the dirt
anymore. That way the grass can dry up again after you water it, so it
won't mold underneath. The finer the grass is chopped up, the more
important this is. LONG grass, once dried, does not tend to mold quite
like grass that's been ground up by a lawn mower.

You can also use last year's DRIED dead leaves from northern-type
deciduous trees (ash and elm are best) but all the same caveats apply.
This has the benefit that it breaks down into the very best of soils
(whereas grass, just laying in a pile, takes YEARS to break down).
Squish them down to flakes for best results, then mix lightly with the
top inch of dirt.

If the mulch tends to get soggy and stay that way, remove it. Some
soils just don't work with grass type mulches.

If you don't have ground termites (which we do in the SoCal desert,
YMMV), try coarse sawdust instead -- it works better than grass and
breaks down into good quality soil over time. I don't mean sawdust
like you'd get from a home project (tho you can use that), nor chips
(which make things too soggy), but rather the stuff about 1/4" size,
about like very small gravel or coarse sand, from the ripping saw pit.
Sawmills usually give it away. It also makes a nice ground cover for a
dog kennel.

~REZ~