tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post6220458851113322777..comments2024-03-27T22:01:59.919-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Mulch DaysLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-77987553359103519882018-07-07T01:12:08.725-04:002018-07-07T01:12:08.725-04:00I should add, Leigh, we have a healthy population ...I should add, Leigh, we have a healthy population of wood termites, which eat out the wood. Making it somewhat like honeycomb. That's why it turns to sawdust!! :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-72694617246323217202018-07-06T06:10:02.716-04:002018-07-06T06:10:02.716-04:00Chris, thank for all the great ideas! Interesting ...Chris, thank for all the great ideas! Interesting that you have native scrub that breaks down so quickly. Some of those plants are rich in minerals. They would be excellent sources to grow to use as mulch. I'm going to have to try that. The wire grass, on the other hand, transfers itself as if by magic! I've just resigned myself to trying to stay half-a-step ahead of it in order to get a harvest.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-51555440849968191272018-07-06T00:59:57.028-04:002018-07-06T00:59:57.028-04:00I recently came in from the yard, dealing with mul...I recently came in from the yard, dealing with mulch. Having so many acres of native scrub is a bonus, because nature grows the mulch for us. We just go around and grab twigs, bark, even branches which have been in contact with the ground for over a year - as they turn to sawdust in your hand, when you squeeze them.<br /><br />So whenever we have downed branches, we go around the yard and pile them up. After a year or so, we either step on them, or break them up with our hands. They're very fragile. Depends on the wood though. Black wattle takes longer. It sounds like a lot of work, but it's meditative and done sporadically. It's here anyway, so why not use it?<br /><br />The other kind of mulch I like is chop'n drop mulch, you grow yourself. Lemon grass, arrowroot, Leucaena and pigeon pea trees, geraniums. old man saltbush and wormwood. All make fast growing mulch, you can trim regularly through the season. I reckon I could even cultivate mulberry as a reliable chop and drop material. I even use overgrown weeds as chop'n drop mulch.<br /><br />I've actually heard of a technique involving goats, where you bring forage branches to their stalls (or a special eating area). They eat them, step on them which break up the finner twigs, they finally poop on them - and you have a lovely pile of mulch to put on the garden. If you wanted to improve your leaf mulch as well, you could mix them up with grass clippings. If it didn't transfer any wire grass in the clippings, that is.Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-8756392917812274612018-07-04T07:58:44.657-04:002018-07-04T07:58:44.657-04:00Sam, yes! Wiregrass is "uncultivated bermuda....Sam, yes! Wiregrass is "uncultivated bermuda." In other words, any place it isn't grown on purpose it becomes an persistent, invasive weed. You experienced the same thing I did with the landscape cloth! You are so right it's all live-and-learn. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-60080615614471147502018-07-04T06:11:34.699-04:002018-07-04T06:11:34.699-04:00Is wiregrass the same as Bermuda grass? That'...Is wiregrass the same as Bermuda grass? That's what I have and I had a fiasco with landscape cloth also and I'm still recovering from it! The Bermuda grass did a great job of holding it down! LOL! I have used old rugs that are deteriorating and can no longer be used. I only use them in my flower beds as I'm not sure about their composition..petroleum based? But they cover a nice large area and then I cover with cedar mulch to discourage bugs. I use a lot of throw rugs so I always have some that are old. I've used cardboard and newspaper too. This was a great post and very helpful. I also made the mistake of using old straw from my horses years ago and boy did I get a mess of weeds! Live and learn...always the hard way for me! I also had a great idea of using grass around my trees as I had a bagger on my mower. Little did I know it smothers them someone told me so I had to undo all my hard work as I had a lot of trees on my farm acreage. Sam I Am......https://www.blogger.com/profile/17358633233189452832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-14153573850065840172018-07-03T21:15:46.507-04:002018-07-03T21:15:46.507-04:00Thanks Donna! I'm looking forward to your mulc...Thanks Donna! I'm looking forward to your mulch post now. Lucky you to get free partially rotted straw or hay! That's an excellent layer. I think we all agree about the black plastic. Outta know better but seems we all learn by experience. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-20766129663353768392018-07-03T16:08:32.836-04:002018-07-03T16:08:32.836-04:00Fantastic post Leigh. I just wrote a blog about us...Fantastic post Leigh. I just wrote a blog about using straw as mulch (in que for later this week). I guess we've all learned over time how vital it is. I HATE to see a bare soil garden when weeding is done by tilling alone. We use the huge bales of partially rotted hay or straw for mulch that we get for free from a farmer Keith works for part time. The pads are thick and a bit difficult to move around but they are 6-8 inches thick and keep weeds out, moisture in. Worst mistake? Using black plastic. A mess to remove and the soil suffered because of it.Donna OShaughnessyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-35569770529341698652018-07-03T05:38:43.670-04:002018-07-03T05:38:43.670-04:00TB, interesting. I've seen the pelleted beddin...TB, interesting. I've seen the pelleted bedding at Tractor Supply but it didn't seem practical for me. For rabbits though, it does seem practical and that's a great way to recycle the stuff. Great idea!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-77153124921023893352018-07-02T19:58:42.767-04:002018-07-02T19:58:42.767-04:00I use a combination of hay/used wood litter (the p...I use a combination of hay/used wood litter (the pelleted kind) that i use for the rabbits' litters boxes and trays (thus getting the urine and rabbit manure as well). I have a small garden at this point so we generate more than enough. I actually have keeping the extra in our lawn waste recycling bins, allowing it to decompose a bit more. <br /><br />A 40 lb bag of litter runs me $10 and will last me a month. In this case, it was money I was already going to spend.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-27294033299631875272018-07-02T18:17:49.043-04:002018-07-02T18:17:49.043-04:00Trema, thank you! Leaves are the classic go-to!
...Trema, thank you! Leaves are the classic go-to! <br /><br />Sandi, so true! My wiregrass is a continual reminder that nature always wins. The best I can do is hope to stay half a step ahead and get a harvest. :)<br /><br />Harry, yeah, the weather has given us a break in awhile! It would seem that being in the mountains you would have a little cooler temperatures, but obviously not!<br /><br />Ed, indeed. I've never had enough straw to raise pumpkins and squashes, but that seems like it would be a good choice too. I've used rocks and bricks though. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-15353867510285655532018-07-02T09:26:48.536-04:002018-07-02T09:26:48.536-04:00Watering beforehand totally makes sense. When we r...Watering beforehand totally makes sense. When we raised pumpkins, we had access to lots of cheap straw so we used a "slice" from a square bale to put under the pumpkins which worked well although I think wood chips would work better simply because they hold up much longer. For the big pumpkins, we used old pallets and burlap. Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214319366049620074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-34077089538165334282018-07-02T09:11:26.786-04:002018-07-02T09:11:26.786-04:00It's way too hot up here to be working outside...It's way too hot up here to be working outside. Unless we get up at dawn, or go out just after dusk, the heat and humidity in North Georgia is just too much. First this terrible winter last year, and now "heat domes".Harry Flashmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05071021900005041592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-58950129507910871992018-07-02T08:47:58.238-04:002018-07-02T08:47:58.238-04:00It is overwhelming! Nature protests. It fights our...It is overwhelming! Nature protests. It fights our mulch. :-) Nature wins. Always.Sandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08702620069148109246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-54725345125659663842018-07-02T08:24:52.759-04:002018-07-02T08:24:52.759-04:00Hi. I love your detailed list!
I also had a horrib...Hi. I love your detailed list!<br />I also had a horrible experience with the store bought garden liner. The garbage bag, DIY liner was also a fail. Good old leaves and mulch is what we stick too.<br />I would use grass clippings but honestly...we're too impatient to let them sit around and dry out.~Trema~https://www.blogger.com/profile/06719642517033133753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-32859587191426835792018-07-01T21:11:37.926-04:002018-07-01T21:11:37.926-04:00Judy, I believe it. But I think success would depe...Judy, I believe it. But I think success would depend in part on the part of the country. In my garden I'd have to be hoeing every week!<br /><br />Tpals, thanks!<br /><br />Mama Pea, I've wondered about using grass clippings but never tried them. Ours always go to the chickens, so they still aren't wasted. The straw I have now is wheat straw and seems to have most of the grains removed (knock on wood!) The place where I used it last year had only a few wheat plants grow, which I let mature and collected the heads for the wheat berries.<br /><br />Mrs. Shoes, seems like oat straw is the worst! <br /><br />Nancy, if it was me I would! I used them to mulch my potted plants and they seem to do okay. One thing about thick wood chips is even when weeds do come up, they are usually stretching for sun and easier to pull. <br /><br />Judy, that's a good idea. Plus it would be partially composted which would make it even better for the soil!<br /><br />Mark, between the beds is the hardest, especially raised beds. Dan weed-wacks those too! And I agree about having to live with at least some of the cons. I suppose it's just a matter of which ones we can work with in our particular gardens. :)<br /><br />Ed, good questions. The feed bags and cardboard should not be put down on dry soil for that very reason. When the soil is nice and damp is the time to lay them down, or the ground should be well watered first. I really like the wood chips as a bed for squash, melons, and pumpkins to lay on. Seems like the ones I leave on the dirt always end up with rotted spots or bugs eating the underside. The chips keep them clean.<br /><br />Bettina, leaves make a great mulch. And if you have a good supply and get enough rain, they'd be about perfect. It's mostly a matter of using what's available. <br /><br />Kt, pine needles are a great idea too. I had always wondered if they'd increase soil acidity too, but someone else said the same as you, that it really doesn't. I can't recall who it was, but I read it in a book. Thanks for adding that to the list!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-23947860193920659842018-07-01T19:51:46.675-04:002018-07-01T19:51:46.675-04:00I use pine needles, have lots of pine trees here s...I use pine needles, have lots of pine trees here so LOTS of needles! Works pretty good, rain can go through, looks ok, doesn't blow around very much in the wind. They say needles will make the soil too acidic but haven't noticed that happening. They ARE slippery if put on top of cardboard (did this in my paths) but that's the only bad thing I've found.kthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03132709481361318034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-87690142247084960382018-07-01T19:19:12.079-04:002018-07-01T19:19:12.079-04:00argh, that weed cover fabric was a total failure h...argh, that weed cover fabric was a total failure here! I wanted to plant strawberries into the slits, worked great for about 2 weeks - guess, where all the weeds came out? exactly, right around the strawbs:( and when trying to pull it out the plants came out with the weeds:( and it has to be covered or it looks ugly:( cardboard is no good with our rain amounts, because it turns soft and can get very slippery. wood chips cost a fortune and we use all the wood and small branches etc. for heating.... all the sacks I could get here would be plastic, so a no-go:( we don't have lawn, so no grass. the only thing that works for me is leaves - luckily we have mostly ash and sycamore, which compost quite well and add humus to the soil! and once they are wet enough they don't really fly about either! on the other hand I only really need mulch in the polytunnel to conserve moisture - usually we get enough rain to do without in the rest of the garden. and even a lot of leaves don't help with ground elder etc., that stuff is like your wire grass it seems:) Woolly Bitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961632742998726155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-30991256499835718732018-07-01T17:01:03.027-04:002018-07-01T17:01:03.027-04:00Great post though I have some concerns with some o...Great post though I have some concerns with some of them. I would be concerned with the sacks and cardboard with letting enough moisture through in light or infrequent rains. After they break down some, I can see them working well but sometimes up here where the gardens are dry until the early summer rains come, I would wonder if they would let enough moisture through to be beneficial. Perhaps there is enough going down immediately where the roots are concerned it isn't a problem.<br /><br />As someone who used to grow pumpkins for a business, how do those things do with the squash family or any plants where the fruits rest upon the ground? Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214319366049620074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-87179558756938424162018-07-01T15:30:59.001-04:002018-07-01T15:30:59.001-04:00Leigh, this is a great post! Mulch has been our b...Leigh, this is a great post! Mulch has been our biggest problem for most of the time we've kept a garden. We've made all the mistakes too with the biggest, as you state, being the landscaping cloth. Ugh!! I've used everything on your list, and have become very familiar with all the 'cons' you list. Currently I have a little bit of area down with feed sacks held down by landscaping staples, but that is just truly ugly. The rest of the garden between the beds is now just weeds i'm keeping down down with the weed-wacker. Also not a good solution. <br /><br />After reading your summary, I'm thinking I may do the combo thing with feed sacks and wood chips. I think I can live with the cons and, after I get it down, it will be a lot less work than the weed-wacker wars.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08343134852881572900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-9111541718564924492018-07-01T14:38:48.378-04:002018-07-01T14:38:48.378-04:00Guys, a trick for hay or straw, my dad would leave...Guys, a trick for hay or straw, my dad would leave the bales out in the weather for a year, so the seeds had a chance to sprout before he spread the straw or hay as mulch.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530748998376076224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-16750913303981777612018-07-01T13:37:26.319-04:002018-07-01T13:37:26.319-04:00Hi Leigh, I am wondering about using wood chip mu...Hi Leigh, I am wondering about using wood chip mulch on my raised beds with legs. I did get some free and put a little around my strawberry plants so they wouldn't have the dirt stick to them. I am wondering if I should try some on my other raised beds. Nancy Cozy Thyme Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933769393226611441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-55123106215936291952018-07-01T12:06:22.165-04:002018-07-01T12:06:22.165-04:00I used straw for the second time (first and last, ...I used straw for the second time (first and last, as my Dad would say!). Yes, I have oat grass coming up... made more work for myself. On the plus side, I haven't had to water at all - a once weekly rain has kept the hose dry. Mrs Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02636736944375337989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-79762132559351107742018-07-01T09:29:38.517-04:002018-07-01T09:29:38.517-04:00Very interesting post! Thanks for taking the time...Very interesting post! Thanks for taking the time to put it all together along with the pictures that add so much. <br /><br />My main mulch is grass clippings. We have too much "lawn" to mow right in our fenced in gardening area so we collect the grass with the bagger attached to the lawn mower. I use the clippings to mulch heavily and even then have to do it twice during the summer. A few weeds will pop up through the mulch but if I stay on top of pulling those out when they're little, it's an easy task.<br /><br />I've had terrible luck using straw or old hay. There are always seeds in it which sprout and once with a batch of oat straw covered everything with sprouted seeds worse than any weeds would have.<br /><br />You've certainly done extensive hands-on research in finding what's best for you. And worst for your awful, terrible wiregrass! Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-59158503750401945752018-07-01T09:22:30.519-04:002018-07-01T09:22:30.519-04:00You covered everything I ever tried plus some. Goo...You covered everything I ever tried plus some. Good comprehensive post.tpalshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646231041413714929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-77916523928311306112018-07-01T01:59:24.384-04:002018-07-01T01:59:24.384-04:00Beleive it or not but the old timers used dirt. W...Beleive it or not but the old timers used dirt. When you hoe a row the loosened dirt acts a mulch. It retains moisture and the weeds are removed. Breaking up the crust will break the wicking of moisture out of the soil. The biggest disadvantage is after it rains you have to hoe again.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530748998376076224noreply@blogger.com