Re: grass clippings as mulch
- To: d*@iname.com, m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: grass clippings as mulch
- From: S* G* <s*@hotmail.com>
- Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 03:40:34 PDT
Damian
I have used raw grass clippings (but not any more) - the main problem I
experienced was grass and other weed seed germination in my garden beds -
but certainly better than no organic matter at all (especially on sandy
soil) - another problem might be the so called 'nitrogen draw down' effect
(basically as raw materials rot/compost they use up nitrogen in the process)
but if this is a concern additional nitrogen can be added. Personally I now
put all my grass clippings in the compost bins and given a few months with
other ingredients they are great (if you can get it to the right temp you
can even cook the seeds) - no problems! - but you have to have the space,
time and energy to invest.
Susan George
McCrae, Victoria, Australia
>From: Damian Martin <iberbier@cgac.es>
>Reply-To: damianmartin@iname.com
>To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
>Subject: grass clippings as mulch
>Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 10:05:34 +0200
>
>Dear Med-planties,
>
>Can anyone comment on the relative benefits of raw grass clippings as
>mulch? I have recently started experimenting with it rather
>enthusiastically, mainly to give protection from heat and fierce sun to
>my last round of native plantings in our wildlife garden (wild olives,
>tamariscs, carob trees, figs, arbutus, wild almonds). Another benefit is
>water retention for our rather poor sandy soil. The attraction of grass
>clippings to us is availability (unlimited) and cost (zero): Many of my
>neighbours with ample green lawns thoughtfully leave great black bags of
>the stuff outside their gates after the week end. It doesn't seem to
>have quite as big a "sponge" effect with water as leaf mulch and it
>does tend to matt if it dries too quickly after a soaking. This last
>effect concerns me as I have recently lost some newly planted Celtis
>australis and I haven't ruled out "pressure cooking" of the roots due to
>an unwise combination of grass mulch, water and excessive heat. But, as
>I say... its free!
>
>Damian Martin
>Talavera, Central Spain (hot dry Summers, cold Winters)
>
>
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