Comments on: 5 Organic Garden Mulch Options

By: Joan

Joan — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 01:38:13 +0000

In reply to Marilyn. Hey, cardboard! You just gave me an idea. I've been "sharing" my garden with opossums and have lost several plants. They like to dig in the soft dirt and look for food. I've tried covering the ground with large sticks and nursery flats to discourage them, but the critters find little spaces to do their damage anyway. Cardboard. I'm going to put cardboard down between the plants.

By: Joan

Joan — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 01:30:20 +0000

In reply to Debbi. Yeah, weeds. I expect weeds have lots of good nutrients. After all, they grow wild, needing no care, and are naturalized to your area bringing up all sorts of good things from the ground to make them strong. So they come free to you and you give their strength as a gift to your garden. Clever girl.

By: Susan Leitson

Susan Leitson — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 00:21:16 +0000

I have gotten straw many times but last year, with a new business, the straw had huge seed heads. I was decreases as it was recommended to me by another home gardener who has great results. I wish I could but I don’t know where to find organic straw in my area (37919, E. Tenn) so I’ve opted for pine needles or pine straw. They are sometimes a bit bothersome but at least I don’t have to worry about seeds. ?

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 22:18:42 +0000

I used cardboard between the garden rows last year. The cardboard stayed where I put it and there are all kinds of worms in the garden for the first time in 35 years.
Are there any reasons for not using cardboard?

By: Melina

Melina — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 03:38:12 +0000

I like to use leaves. But am unable to get a truck drop where I live.

By: Debbi

Debbi — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 19:52:31 +0000

I use the leaves and stems from my weeds as mulch! I don’t have a lawn, so if I get a little patch of weeds I let them get a little tall before pulling, rip off the roots and any buds if they’re starting to flower. Since I mulch everywhere, any weeds that pop up are very easy to pull. Then I drop on any bare or barely mulched soil. I also put them in my compost if I don’t have a patch needing any mulch.

By: The Living Farm

The Living Farm — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 18:31:28 +0000

In reply to The Living Farm. That's right, use organic products always, no chemicals.

By: Joan

Joan — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 14:56:59 +0000

Unfortunately I do not have access to grass in my warm weather climate, but I found a very large tree in a parking strip at the end of my block whose leaves are small. When, in Fall, the leaves drop into the street, I collect them. I use some as mulch and put some in containers to decompose into compost. My other option is to collect trimmings from bushes with small leaves. The leaves from these trimmings are still attached to stems, but if I put them in a container and let them dry, I can rub off the leaves. The stems often are too bulky for mulch and take longer than I wish to decompose into compost so I don’t save them. If I had a large yard for a compost pile that I could let decompose for a long time, I would also throw the stems in the pile. But, I don’t, so they go. I like this system. It serves me well.

By: The Living Farm

The Living Farm — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 13:46:50 +0000

In reply to Maricela Hinojosa. I would recommend not using the hay if it has been chemically sprayed. You don't want any sort of herbicide or pesticide near your plants or precious soil.

By: Maricela Hinojosa

Maricela Hinojosa — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 02:07:15 +0000

I have access to hay, however I found out that the hay that this feed store carries has been chemically sprayed. Is it still safe to use in my garden? I do want to keep it as organic as possible.