Hi guys,
I recently started cutting the elderly couple's lawn next door (it was way too
overgrown this time) and ended up with several enormous sacks of clippings,
mainly grass but some small branches and leaves (but good deal, no
garbage--straight organic stuff)

the question is, how do I use it on the garden? I'm sure there are weed seeds
in there, but i could really use something to keep the soil from drying out
these days, and also something to help build up the soil for next year.

right now, I just have the clippings in black lawn trash bags in the back yard,
where they get REALLY hot during the day. they are only like 3 days old, and
already starting to sort of fermented and starting to smell bad. I want to do
something with them before they turn into a slimy mess on me.

should I just spread them out on the driveway (in the sun too) to dry them out,
then spread them? I would like to compost it, but don't have that going this
year either.

thanks,
john

Just put it around the plants like any mulch straight out of
the lawnmower collection bag. I've been doing it more than thirty
years.

Only do this if you know there are no weed killers spread on the grass
or it might kill your veggies.

On 25 Jun 2003 21:31:15 GMT,
(JohnDKestell) wrote:



right now, I just have the clippings in black lawn trash bags in the back yard,
where they get REALLY hot during the day. they are only like 3 days old, and
already starting to sort of fermented and starting to smell bad. I want to do
something with them before they turn into a slimy mess on me.

should I just spread them out on the driveway (in the sun too) to dry them out,
then spread them? I would like to compost it, but don't have that going this
year either.


Since they are primarily grass clippings, you can use them
as mulch - as is. Just spread them a couple of inches (no
more) thick - they'll dry and become like hay.

Pat

(Gary The Rookie Farmer) wrote in message m...
Only do this if you know there are no weed killers spread on the grass
or it might kill your veggies.

John..I have a little grass cutting business, and at the end of the
working day haVe about a dozen sacks of clippings.These are spread out
on my allotment (250 sq m.) They eventually rot in, but the beauty is
that they give weed control.No hoeing, or very little.Also ,I had this
year some of the ground undug.Like concrete,yet it is growing potatoes
like normal,broad beans like normal,runner beans like normal.All
pre-chitted or pre-grown in modules and then banged into the
ground.The crops are obviously drawing nutrients and water from the
grass cuttings,which by now are quite thick.As Gary says, no
weedkiller clippings which are composted separately.I shall know more
at the end of the season ,but it's beginning to look like no more
digging.Comments welcome....Regards Ken

On 27 Jun 2003 15:29:42 -0700,
(Ken Saunders) wrote:



John..I have a little grass cutting business, and at the end of the
working day haVe about a dozen sacks of clippings.These are spread out
on my allotment (250 sq m.) They eventually rot in, but the beauty is
that they give weed control.No hoeing, or very little.Also ,I had this
year some of the ground undug.Like concrete,yet it is growing potatoes
like normal,broad beans like normal,runner beans like normal.All
pre-chitted or pre-grown in modules and then banged into the
ground.The crops are obviously drawing nutrients and water from the
grass cuttings,which by now are quite thick.As Gary says, no
weedkiller clippings which are composted separately.I shall know more
at the end of the season ,but it's beginning to look like no more
digging.Comments welcome....Regards Ken

I've done this. If you can mulch deeply enough, yes - no
more digging.

In early spring when the soil is cold and wet, the mulch
needs to be pulled back, IMHO. You need to be watchful for
slugs also.

Pat