Alternatives to leaf mulch
 

I will be planting my veg. garden this week and have traditionally used
leaves (chopped up with my mower, saved from the fall) as mulch at my old
house (which worked just fine). At my current house, I didn't have enough
leaf mulch (fewer trees) and the weeds took over at times during the growing
season last year. What else should I use for mulch that will be effective
and improve the soil over time (like next year when I till again)?

Thanks, Elizabeth

Alternatives to leaf mulch
 

Some years ago I used shredded newspaper from the N&O. I can't remember if
it was free or if we paid a small fee. It was after the paper switched to
soybean based ink, so it was safe. We would pick up bales of it downtown at
the N&O building. It was the best mulch I have ever used for a vegetable
garden! It was clean and neat, and did not blow around as you might suspect.
I think the individual shreds sort of held onto each other. Unfortunately,
it's not available anymore as far as I know. If someone reading this
newsgroup knows otherwise I'm sure we will be told!

-Martha


"Elizabeth Lyne" wrote in message
...
I will be planting my veg. garden this week and have traditionally used
leaves (chopped up with my mower, saved from the fall) as mulch at my old
house (which worked just fine). At my current house, I didn't have enough
leaf mulch (fewer trees) and the weeds took over at times during the
growing season last year. What else should I use for mulch that will be
effective and improve the soil over time (like next year when I till
again)?

Thanks, Elizabeth

Alternatives to leaf mulch
 

Straw that has run through the mower or shredder works really well in my
garden. I line the paths with the stuff, spread right from the bale... and I
shred some of it for mulch in the beds.

Normal course of business, at the end of the season, I rake up and shred the
straw that was on the path, shred it, and cover over the beds for the
winter. I put down fresh straw on the paths, and let it begin it's job of
keeping my feet clean, and starting to compost.

Had done a great job of breaking up the clay.

BTW - I add shredded leaves when I have them, but I try really hard to keep
the pine needles out.


"Elizabeth Lyne" wrote in message
...
I will be planting my veg. garden this week and have traditionally used
leaves (chopped up with my mower, saved from the fall) as mulch at my old
house (which worked just fine). At my current house, I didn't have enough
leaf mulch (fewer trees) and the weeds took over at times during the
growing season last year. What else should I use for mulch that will be
effective and improve the soil over time (like next year when I till
again)?

Thanks, Elizabeth

Just another thought here.
I also collect my leaves in the fall, shred them and hold them until the spring planting season or use them in the compost pile. The new shredder I got makes it so easy and reduces the piles so much that I went around the neighborhood collecting bagged leaves that others left out for collection. There doesn't seem to be any shortage of bagged leaves at the curbside in the fall !!

Tim

Alternatives to leaf mulch
 

A thick layer of grass clippings works well. It will leach less from
the soil if you pile them up somewhere else and let them dry out a bit.
I then take a pitchfork and pile them on as mulch about six inches
thick, sometimes thicker, depending on the height of the veggies i have
growing there. Of course you wouldn't want to use grass clippings if
they've been treated with weed killer or other such things. Otherwise,
they work fine as mulch. I actually find them easier to work with
than chopped leaves, which mostly go into the compost pile instead.

Alternatives to leaf mulch
 

What type of shredder, Tim? Where, when, and how much? ;-)