Garden mulch

**jlxian** · 03-22-2005, 10:55 AM

Its early I know to be thinking of mulching our gardens in the Northern Hemisphere, but the remnants of my last year's mulch got me to wondering what you all use for mulch.

Last year I tried using newspapers in my vining garden area. I absolutely hate wading through weeds (tells you something about my weeding!!!) to get to the cucumbers or melons. So last season I spread layers of about 6 or 7 sheets all around the plants and held them down with fence posts. This worked pretty well, although it did not look very beautiful. If I had laid the papers down earlier I think I would have been able to have a more uniform patchwork of newspapers. Do any of you use newspapers?

I've also thought of using old carpet between the rows.

DH lays narrow sheets (about 18" wide) of corrugated metal along the outside of the main vegetable garden to cut down on the grass and mowing there. I don't like to think of the snakes that might be underneath, but it is nice to be able to step from the sheet into the garden.

We have also raked up our grass after mowing and used that for mulch in the garden. But once I get my compost pile begun I hope to put the grass in there!

So, what do you use for mulch? And do you use it for water retention or weed prevention or both?

**Missy** · 03-22-2005, 12:39 PM

LOL, we have our mulch down INSTEAD of grass, lol. We can grow weeds real well but grass....um..no we kill it

**jlxian** · 03-22-2005, 02:09 PM

I guess I use the term grass pretty loosely -- our lawn is more of a closely mowed pasture so it includes what most folks would consider weeds.

**forestdale** · 03-22-2005, 02:27 PM

Jean, I've used newpaper in the past. I think it's pretty nifty as a mulch. I always put straw over the top of it though so it looks good and doesn't blow away - it all rots down together.

I've also used pine bark fines, which I didn't like at all. I use lawn clippings around my camellias and large trees - but not touching the trunk as they burn and cause rot. I've used compost as a mulch that I put straw on to protect it from the sun.

My favourite mulch is sugar cane trash or lucern hay. Both of them give nutrients to the soil, keep the soil protected from the sun, and therefore keep the soil moist longer.

I use mulch for weed suppression, to protect the soil from drying out and to add nutrients as it rots down.

**DaisyLady** · 03-22-2005, 02:55 PM

Weeds? what are those?

We have tried putting down a commercial wee barrier covered with pine bark chips, straw, newspaper and even plastic bags. Somehow unless I am ruthless at pulling out the weeds, they just keep gettin' bigger.

**jlxian** · 03-22-2005, 05:13 PM

Rhonda, I will try putting straw over the newspapers. That definitely will look better.

I'm pretty sure there is not a source of sugar cane trash near me. And what is lucerne hay -- how is it different from regular hay?

Your point about the mulch rotting nicely into the soil is good -- and well taken -- I won't use that nasty carpet I mentioned!

Thanks!

**forestdale** · 03-22-2005, 05:37 PM

I meant to say something about the carpet, but forgot.

Avoid using it if you can, expecially if you want organic vegies. Carpet often contains glue, solvents and other chemicals what aren't recommended for gardens. It used to be common practise here to use old carpets on top of compost heaps, it kept the heap moist. No one uses them now as they can leach chemicals into whatever is underneath them.

Lucerne hay is a high quality hay that is often used as horse food. It contains protein and minerals and it doesnt contian weed seeds like normal hay and straw often does.

We can buy organic sugar cane trash here. When we were in drought last year, it was the only mulch on sale anywhere. They bale it in plastic wrappers and ship it down to the big cities here too. Depending of course if the US grows sugar cane. I think you might use beets for your sugar. Anyhow, if you do come across it it is a good mulch.

Jean, straw, hay, lucerne hay, newspaper etc. it's all good. Some add more nutirents than others but the real beauty of mulch is to keep the soil an even temp. to keep in moisture, to protect the soil and plant and to add organic matter to the soil when it rots down. So keep on mulching, my friend!