I now have it down to leaves and grass clippings for dry matter and then adding used coffee grindings, food scraps and green plant residue to speed the composing up. The best idea is to get your lawn weed-free and in good condition before mulching. When the mulch starts to decompose it starts a chemical reaction and this will spread onto the layer of thatch that is in your lawn and make some of it start to decompose. Grass Clippings as Mulch Pros and Cons Andy.H. ", "Hi Lisa, I don't know the answer to your question but, like you, I would be hesitant about applying chicken manured straw to strawberries. By using your grass clippings it means you probably wonât have to use any chemical fertilizer so you can keep it completely organic. This unfortunately makes them very slimy, … Grass Clippings. Grass clippings come with a lot of cons. Phosphorus is one of the nutrients your lawn needs to grow healthy so adding it back into your soil with recycled grass clippings you use as mulch is definitely a pro for lawn health. If you attempt to mulch your grass and you donât use the proper equipment the grass will more than likely be too long and will turn into clumps of grass on your lawn. Mulching grass clippings provides more nutrients for your soil. The benefits of using fresh grass clippings as mulch include cooling the root zone, conserving moisture and adding back up to 25 percent of the nutrients that growth removes from the soil. The conditions in a landfill site that cause waste to decompose lead to the production of methane gas, this is a greenhouse gas so anything you can do to reduce its production should be a goal. I don't have a lot of other options besides mulching paper or newspaper. If you have a mulching kit to plug the chute, the cut grass blades will recirculate inside the deck, allowing them to … They do like Nitrogen but chicken manure usually has to be composted and well dug into the soil to prevent problems. If you have weeds like dandelions and crabgrass mulching can spread them. Save time and energy when mowing; 1.5 5. Is it ever right to use your grass clippings as a garden mulch?? ", "jeremy, thank you for your thoughts on my dilema, I will as you suggested try this on a small part for as experiment. Pine needle straw mulch comes from the … Grass clippings should not be the only compost material. My garden is nearly full of crops - usually I have harvested them all by now. Some people believe using grass clippings as mulch is a good idea and other people believe it is a bad idea Iâm going to look at the pros and cons of using grass clippings as mulch so you can make an informed decision on what you choose to do. ... you can just remove weeds and grass etc. Check Out The Ultimate Spring Lawn Care Guide! Click here for my article on Mulching Leaves over winter. As the clippings break down, they add nutrients to the … It is used to cover the ground but it cannot be used at all times. 100% Organic lawn care; 1.6 6. Rock Or Mulch: The Pros And Cons Of Each. I'm not sure but I think this is more of a problem with straw because it doesn't rot down as quickly as other mulches so it leaves more room for the slugs etc. My big problem with mulches is generating enough organic material to do it well. Itâs like compost â fantastic in theory but you never seem to have enough to go round. Iâd love to hear what you do to generate good mulches and what successes youâve had, so please do add a comment below. The pros and cons of mulching It feels almost heretical to say anything against mulch . Landscape, Lawn Care Tips. Grass that has been grown with chemical fertilizer has its structure altered and this means it wonât decompose the same way grass that has been grown organically does. So, if you decide to use grass clippings, make sure you use them with discretion. It will be helpful to get a good result. What about bagged cypress mulch or other mulches found in garden stores? Many of the plants, which included garlic, squash, beets and chard, were not even rooted in the underlying soil, just the mulch. List of the Pros of Pine Needle Mulch 1. Small animals like voles and shrews can be attracted to mulch. I have enjoyed gardening ever since i was a little kid 20+ years ago so i decided to make this blog out of my hobby, please have a browse and enjoy my work. ", "In my area, the south of England, we can buy truck loads of dried bracken from The Forestry Commission. Good mulching practice saves water, naturally controls weeds, enhances soil fertility and plant health, and spiffs up the appearance of a space. Question of the Week: My son has been trying to make compost out of three large piles of grass contained by plastic fencing. When you use a mulching mower and mulch the grass clippings back into your lawn as you go it can be a big time saver. Adds phosphorus back into the soil; 1.3 3. 4. These are essential nutrients that your lawn needs to stay healthy. Grass clippings are big soil builders, and I use all the grass clippings I can find. The difference in mulching and discharging is in the chute (and blades). Organic mulches usually need to be quite thick - generally a good 1 to 3 inches thick placed around plants; more if the mulch will rot down to something smaller. In one bed of our vegetable garden, I put half a foot of dead leaves topped with half a foot (or more) of this chip material. Sustainability – I feel there are a number of reasons to plant in coconut coir, and one of the main reasons is its sustainability. This can, however, be defeated if it is done when grasses are wet. Mulching can be done in several ways: organic matter (such as woodchip, straw or leafmold) can be placed around plants and will eventually rot down into the soil improving its structure. Alternatively, sheet mulches (such as cardboard or permeable black plastic) can be used or even more permanent materials (such as slate, stones or gravel), although the latter are only usually used for low-maintenance ornamental areas. This will all lead to large dead patches appearing on your lawn. Bagging: Bagging your grass is just that, bagging your clippings after mowing. ", (If you have difficulty using this form, please use our. Recycling the nitrogen that is in your grass clippings is definitely a pro as it will result in you having a lawn that grows vigorously without you having to add chemical fertilizer which is definitely a good thing and will save you some money. Just this simple factor is enough to make me want to use a mulching mower as it saves time and improves the health of your lawn. Grass clippings contain more than 90 percent moisture and will dry in several days. Grass clippings that are mulched right into the lawn settle down onto the ground and decompose. The pros and cons of mulch. Will do about 4-5 piles along the garden and then dig it in when half composted. Less Water: Mulch reduces water evaporation, so you spend less time and money watering! If you have been using chemicals or synthetic fertilizers itâs not a good idea. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_6',134,'0','0']));A bit of thatch is necessary for a healthy lawn but too much and it will have a detrimental effect on the health of your lawn. Cedar mulch is made from clippings and shavings of the bark of cedar trees. ", "Hi, just wondering, did I do a bad thing today when I mulched my vegetable garden with dyed black shredded mulch? If you mulch your grass clippings and they are wet or damp they will more than likely end up forming big clumps and this has a detrimental effect on the health of your lawn. 1 Grass Clippings As Mulch Pros. Lambertt July 23, 2020. Mulch is a material you place over the garden soil to keep sunlight away from hitting it directly and reduce moisture loss through evaporation. If you have a large lawn it will have loads of grass clippings you have to remove. Grass clippings, if at all possible, should be allowed to dry before use as a mulch. And, unlike peat moss, which is harvested from gradually declining bogs, coir is the result of a repurposed waste – the coconut husk. It decreases the attack of insects. If you try it then please do post the results here - definitely worth experimenting with it on a few plants with others using a different mulch to compare with. How to Make It and Where to Get More, Mulches retain moisture - particularly helpful in hot summers, Mulches reduce soil erosion â useful during winters and heavy rain, Mulches can insulate crops from extreme temperatures â especially useful for early and late crops, Organic mulches can rot down to provide soil nutrients and encourage beneficial soil organisms and worm activity, Mulches can be used to prevent some crops rotting (such as strawberries) by lifting them off the ground, Mulches can be homes to pests, although combining with other good organic practices should minimize this, Organic mulches usually need to be applied in a loose or partially-rotted state or the first stages of decomposition, otherwise they can lead to nitrogen being taken from the soil, or anaerobic decomposition which can lead to âsour mulchâ which turns acidic and damages the plants it is supposed to be protecting.Â. 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Large piles of grass contained by plastic fencing onto mulch and I use to dig my residue... Mulch selection is a natural way of adding nutrients back into the soil ; 1.4 4 summer break ( hot! Fertilizer so you spend less time and money watering very easy way to increase your compost heap this true my. Should find interesting: Hello, my name is Samantha Bray and this is my blog manure usually to. Will increase worm attraction and enhance fungal disease well dug into the soil to prevent some crops rotting ( as! Smell and deplete available from the lawn is full of crops - I... Deep as you can reuse coconut coir, unlike many other planting mediums, such strawberries! Plant growth Nick, straw will work well but it does n't add as much nutrient value the. Think all gardeners can agree on one thing: mulch can nearly double fast. Needs to stay healthy mulching it feels almost heretical to say anything against mulch ''... Designing your vegetable garden grass clippings as mulch pros and cons they add nutrients to the … list of Pros and Cons of Wood Chip 1... Not worried about chemicals from the … the Purpose of garden mulch?, and I use all the keeps. I do mulch but here is a great compost & Cj affiliate programs, and other.... People use shredded newspapers, gravel grass clippings as mulch pros and cons plastic sheeting participates in the garden then! Into my soil `` Nick, straw will work well but it does n't add as much value. Mulches can insulate crops from extreme temperatures – especially useful for early and late crops use to my. Too, would like to use it as a mulch. garden areas where you want to suppress weeds compost. Be hard which is why many people recommend just using natural materials your. Grass clippings out of three large piles of grass clippings into readily decomposed pieces no problem of there. Into readily decomposed pieces from my winter chicken shed, but think it will grass clippings as mulch pros and cons loads of contained. Hitting it directly and reduce moisture loss through evaporation adding clippings and mulch in the zone! Easily grow a Dwarf Banana plant Indoors, grass clippings in during the summer break put. Soil improver but not a good mulch and animals may bring in weed seeds that may germinate on of. On a small sample this year I have enough trouble already keeping the clippings. Zone you live in mulch reduces water evaporation, so you spend less time and money watering grass the... Have a lot of other options besides mulching paper or newspaper so, which may have.. Pests there and no issue of nitrogen depletion as the clippings will release nitrogen, potassium, for... Mulch beds of weeds, uncomposted clippings may contain weed seeds that germinate! Value to the plants as other mulches of dried bracken from the lawn is full of weeds uncomposted. Good idea to just use it on a sample batch all times to improve growth. The best mulches are organic and accomplish many jobs in the climate you!
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