Mulch question

**wjcalderon** · 04-04-2010, 07:39 AM

What is the best mulch to put in my raised vegetable gardens?
I have 2 small gardens - about 50 square feet each - so I don't need much.

**ladykemma2** · 04-04-2010, 08:00 AM

mississippi? i would use your plentiful pine needles and ground leaves as mulch. i wouldn't buy anything.

**SimplyPrim** · 04-04-2010, 08:10 AM

I was going to mention Pine needles as well. Also we compost so we use that as well.

**ladykemma2** · 04-04-2010, 08:25 AM

chopped newspaper and urine works well too. composting in place.

**wjcalderon** · 04-05-2010, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by ladykemma2

mississippi? i would use your plentiful pine needles and ground leaves as mulch. i wouldn't buy anything.

Believe it or not, I don't have any pine trees anywhere near me. (Between Katrina and the occasional ice storms in the winter, pine trees break easily, so most people have gotten rid of them.)

I do, however, have an abundance of oak leaves.
How do I keep them from blowing away?

**frugalfranny** · 04-05-2010, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by wjcalderon

I do, however, have an abundance of oak leaves.
How do I keep them from blowing away?

Not sure exactly 'where' you are going to put them.......or what you are planting.......but oak leaves are very acidic.........if just for in between the rows, it might be okay.

As for blowing away.........chop them up (a lawn mower will work) and wet them down.......then a little dirt on them.

This article might help............

Whole or shredded?leaves are good mulch | Flower & Garden Magazine | Find Articles at BNET

**Russ** · 04-05-2010, 03:19 PM

Oak leaves tend to not breakdown as readily as other leaves so you almost have to shred them.

**fairydana** · 04-05-2010, 08:43 PM

wjcalderon,
I am new to all of this. I was wondering what made you decide to do a raised vegetable garden. I looked at a kit the other day at a store but I wasnt sure about it.
Is this the first time you are trying it or have you done this in the past? Sorry that I have so many questions.

**wjcalderon** · 04-06-2010, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by fairydana

wjcalderon,
I am new to all of this. I was wondering what made you decide to do a raised vegetable garden. I looked at a kit the other day at a store but I wasnt sure about it.
Is this the first time you are trying it or have you done this in the past? Sorry that I have so many questions.

I started this about 3 years ago. I wanted a small garden, but didn't want to dig up the yard (too many weeds and not the greatest soil).
I made a rectangle with concrete blocks, then bought a load of really good garden soil from a local nursery.
It worked so well, I added a second one.
I grow tomatoes, peppers, squash, corn and cucumbers. In the "holes" of the blocks, I plant herbs (basil, oregano, cilantro, thyme, parsley, etc.) and marigolds.
I can space the plants a little closer than in a traditional row garden, the soil never gets walked on, and I wind a soaker hose throughout to make in easy to water.
(I found some great flat soaker hoses at Wal Mart - about $15 for 75 feet - just buy a box of garden staples to anchor them.)

Check out the pictures:

**fairydana** · 04-06-2010, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by wjcalderon

I started this about 3 years ago. I wanted a small garden, but didn't want to dig up the yard (too many weeds and not the greatest soil).
I made a rectangle with concrete blocks, then bought a load of really good garden soil from a local nursery.
It worked so well, I added a second one.
I grow tomatoes, peppers, squash, corn and cucumbers. In the "holes" of the blocks, I plant herbs (basil, oregano, cilantro, thyme, parsley, etc.) and marigolds.
I can space the plants a little closer than in a traditional row garden, the soil never gets walked on, and I wind a soaker hose throughout to make in easy to water.
(I found some great flat soaker hoses at Wal Mart - about $15 for 75 feet - just buy a box of garden staples to anchor them.)

Check out the pictures:

Wow!! Thanks so much for replying!! The pictures are great!! This looks like something I could do!! Starting small is what I want to do!! I love love love the way it looks too!! Thanks again!!

**ladytoysdream** · 04-11-2010, 08:25 AM

There is a compost pile in the village near us for people that can take their leaves, tree branches, etc. There is a pile of finished compost that people can take home for their gardens, etc. Maybe there is something like this, near where you live ?

Also if you want firewood, you can help yourself to that pile of big stuff that needs to be cut up more. You do your own hauling.

Currently we have chickens, so when the coop is cleaned (often), that goes on the garden area. We use wood shavings a lot. We did try newspapers shredded in the coop, but we not impressed with them.

Any farmers around you ? Sometimes, you can get free manure that way, if you haul it yourself. A lot of times, you can find these ads on craigslist. And or maybe, put a ad up yourself, that you need some compost.