Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
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. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 12:22:48 -0400, "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 wouldn't use freshly cut grass for mulch. Too much nitrogen. I'd only use decomposed grass for mulch. If nothing else, at least the grass should be old enough to be brown. scr |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
I use straw, its pretty cheap
"lbbss" wrote in message ... 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. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
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~ |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
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. Grass clippings might grow if there are any nodes... Might make _more_ weeds! K. -- Sprout the Mung Bean to reply... ,,Cat's Haven Hobby Farm,,Katraatcenturyteldotnet,, http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...user id=katra |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 13:07:38 -0400 in
, "Stoph" graced the world with this thought: I use straw, its pretty cheap it lasts longer, too... but most people have free grass clippings readily available. I like straw around, well... strawberries. "lbbss" wrote in message ... 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. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
In article ,
"Stoph" wrote: I use straw, its pretty cheap "lbbss" wrote in message ... 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 use leaves, mostly picked up in bags alongside the road where other fools are throwing them away. It's free. ;-) K. -- Sprout the Mung Bean to reply... ,,Cat's Haven Hobby Farm,,Katraatcenturyteldotnet,, http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...user id=katra |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
As long as there are no pesticides used on it.
Grass is high in nitrogen, so be careful not to use too much. From: belly Organization: . Newsgroups: rec.gardens.edible Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 17:52:05 GMT Subject: Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing? On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 13:07:38 -0400 in , "Stoph" graced the world with this thought: I use straw, its pretty cheap it lasts longer, too... but most people have free grass clippings readily available. I like straw around, well... strawberries. "lbbss" wrote in message ... 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. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
Katra wrote:
...Grass clippings might grow if there are any nodes... Might make _more_ weeds!... More likely, if you don't cut it frequently enough, it will contain seeds. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 17:58:12 GMT in
, Ross graced the world with this thought: As long as there are no pesticides used on it. good point. However, if you're buying it to spread around pens, my guess would be that it's safe to use for mulch. Best to check and know what you're using though. |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
I put news paper down first then grass on top. It's a good way to recycle
the old paper. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Support American Families, Buy Made In USA! Kentucky Rustic Barrels http://www.KentuckyRustic.com "lbbss" wrote in message ... 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. |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
|
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
"lbbss" wrote in message
... 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've done it, but ended up with lots of grass sprouting after the mulch decomposed. Bob |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
Glenna Rose wrote: .................................................. ... I cannot imagine not mulching with grass; I mow to mulch. I use grass for mulch around trees, rhodies, etc., after my garden is advanced enough to make it inconvenient to place it around veggies. There has not been any disease in my garden nor have has there been in insect problem........................................... .... Glenna Glenna, that could have been written by me. I feel the same. I collect all the grass clipping I can get from my own yard. I use it right out of the mower bag to mulch around my fruit trees (not touching the trunk) and any bare ground in the garden and even the flower beds. It works very well between my rows of corn and extra nitrogen is certainly never a problem with corn! Actually, I find no reason to worry about extra nitrogen anywhere else, really. I put it on about 4 inches thick. Mostly it just gets dry and not enough decomposes into the soil at any one time to boost the nitrogen very much. Steve |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing?
"lbbss" wrote in message ... 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 use grass clippings all the time without incident. The key is to use a layer thick enough to inhibit weeds but not so thick that it decomposes into a slimy mess. About one inch at a time is my recommendation. With this, even freshly cut grass can be used. You'll have to renew it several times over the summer, as grass decomposes. Earthworms love it - when I dig where I've mulched I always find an abundance of earthworms. Guy Bradley Chesterfield MO zone 6 |
Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Use Weeds Killer to Keep Weeds Out of My Flower Garden? | Gardening | |||
Use Weeds Killer to Keep Weeds Out of My Flower Garden? possibly OT | Gardening | |||
Use grass clipping as mulch to keep weeds from growing? | Gardening | |||
grass clipping mulch | Edible Gardening | |||
grass clipping as mulch? | United Kingdom |