Re: Grass Clippings
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Grass Clippings
- From: C* M*
- Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1999 19:16:07 +0100
I use fresh grass clippings regularly as a mulch on many of my
vegetables, not just pumpkins, and so long as I spread them in a
reasonably thin layer (not more than 5 cm, 2 inches at a time), I
have no problems with them heating up too much, or `cooking'
plant roots. I put them around established plants (i.e. Not tiny
seedlings) and make an effort to keep them away from direct
contact with the stems. I spread them straight from the
lawn-mower, and find that if put around plants while still fresh,
they knit together as they dry out and form quite a good
weed-impervious layer.
I even use them instead of straw as a mulch around strawberries,
and so long as I put them down before the berries are big enough
to weigh themselves down to soil level, the method works very
well. By the time the berries flop, the grass clippings have
dried out and cooled down, and will do them no harm.
As to their nitrogen-depleting effects, I think this only happens
when they're actually mixed into the soil, not when used as a
mulch. I did a control experiment last year (with strawberries)
anf had much better growth and heavier crops on the plants
mulched with grass clippings than on those left un-mulched. I
hope this is helpful,
Catherine
--
Catherine Mason
South Wing, Compton House, Email: C.Mason@icarus.demon.co.uk
Compton Green, Redmarley, Tel: +44 1531 829909
Gloucestershire, GL19 3JB, GB Fax: +44 1531 829901
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