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#1
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natural area
Is there any problem with using grass clippings as a bedding in my natural
area? Or should I always mulch the grass and buy some pine straw or bark? -- Lance |
#2
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natural area
You can use the grass clippings as mulch if you want to, but the drawback is
that it won't look very fresh like mulch or pinestraw. Grass is actually a very healthy mulch for plants because it breaks down and provides nitrogen, provides protection from weeds and retains moisture. It really acts the same as other mulches except that it provides more nutrients. You could add a thick layer of grass clippings in the natural area and then top with a thin layer of hardwood mulch or pinestraw to ensure that it looks fresh. I use grass clippings as a mulch on my vegetable gardens. I first layer the beds with sections of newspaper and then put the grass on top. If it's fresh, be careful not to let it touch the plants because it will become very hot and burn the plants while decomposing. You can spread the clippings out on a tarp for a few days and let it brown up first. If your question was about mowing and mulching the clippings to leave on your lawn, that is also a very good way to continuously feed your lawn. After I finish mulching my gardens, I usually mow and let the mulched clippings stay in the grass. You don't see the grass unless you wait too long between mowings and the blades of grass are really tall. Hope this answers your questions. Penny "Lance R." wrote in message ... Is there any problem with using grass clippings as a bedding in my natural area? Or should I always mulch the grass and buy some pine straw or bark? -- Lance |
#3
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natural area
Penny, I'm hoping that others might also chip in on this, but my experience
was the opposite of yours. In Indiana, I collected my clippings and used them for mulch as well. However, as the grass composted beneath the 'crust' formed by the dry grass on top,, I found that it cut back on plant growth. I was told that the composting grass clippings robbed the area of nitrogen and that I should first compost the grass clippings separately, turning them frequently, and adding urea before spreading them out in the garden. I constructed a pen where I'd dump my clippings and would toss in a cup of urea pellets each time. I kept a pitch fork handy and would "turn" the new grass into the old. It composted fairly rapidly and made a good topping for the garden. In the fall, I'd empty my pen of the balance of the composted grass and spread it on the garden before tilling. -- Tom Gauldin, Las Vegas NV NEW EMAIL NEW PHONE (702) 263-8804 voice/fax "Penny Morgan" wrote in message . .. You can use the grass clippings as mulch if you want to, but the drawback is that it won't look very fresh like mulch or pinestraw. Grass is actually a |
#4
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natural area
Hi Tom,
What is the purpose of the Urea? Is it a catalyst to activate the compost. I have heard of adding a handful of 10:10:10 fertilizer or other compost activator but never straight urea pellets. I guess it worked well for you or you wouldn't have done it, eh? I think I will give it a try. My compost is always on the cold side. (Partly due to less than adequate sun) Granted, it will heat up but never to the degree that I desire. I want to kill all those weed seeds. Regards, Brad Tom Gauldin wrote: Penny, I'm hoping that others might also chip in on this, but my experience was the opposite of yours. In Indiana, I collected my clippings and used them for mulch as well. However, as the grass composted beneath the 'crust' formed by the dry grass on top,, I found that it cut back on plant growth. I was told that the composting grass clippings robbed the area of nitrogen and that I should first compost the grass clippings separately, turning them frequently, and adding urea before spreading them out in the garden. I constructed a pen where I'd dump my clippings and would toss in a cup of urea pellets each time. I kept a pitch fork handy and would "turn" the new grass into the old. It composted fairly rapidly and made a good topping for the garden. In the fall, I'd empty my pen of the balance of the composted grass and spread it on the garden before tilling. -- Tom Gauldin, Las Vegas NV NEW EMAIL NEW PHONE (702) 263-8804 voice/fax "Penny Morgan" wrote in message . .. You can use the grass clippings as mulch if you want to, but the drawback is that it won't look very fresh like mulch or pinestraw. Grass is actually a |
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