Topic: grass cuttings

[cambourne7]

Hi

Hubbies going to cut the grass next few days but I dont have a compost bin was wondering if I could dig it into my 3 sisters bed???

Other than that it's going to big council compost bin in the sky....

cam

[lottie lou]

Use it for mulch.

[manicscousers]

If you've not used any nasty stuff on it, we use it to mulch up the peas  :)

[pigeonseed]

Ooh yes it's great stuff - mulch with it. That's an idea I got on this site actually  :)

[Chrispy]

For peas and beans, I dig a trench and fill it with grass, and then mulch on top.

Same for potatoes, dig a trench, fill with grass and plant the potatoes.

I also use it as a general mulch where ever it is needed

If you are going to use it in your three sisters bed, try digging a deep hole and filling it with grass, and see if it warms the soil as it decomposes.

Unfortunately, I have now lost my supply of grass, such a shame as it is so usefull, being able to mulch so much saved so much in watering and weeding.

[grannyjanny]

We have a gardener who lives opposite ;D & I've taken a roll of wheelie bin lines for his NDN so she will save them for us ;D.

[cambourne7]

cool always thought it would go slimy and rot plants will add to my pea bed mix and the rest I will scatter around :)

[lincsyokel2]

cool always thought it would go slimy and rot plants will add to my pea bed mix and the rest I will scatter around :)

yes it goes slimy but the soil soaks it up, and it feeds the plant.

[cambourne7]

thanks i guess i missed that :)
The lawn was laid last year and has only had a dressing in october i think there is about 2 black sacks of cuttings to be harvested so i am sure i can make good use of these :) I have a as yet unfilled potato planter and am going to fill that with anything i can't make use of for now :) But the pea bed is going in this weekend as the seeds are sown so everything has a chance to soak up this nice rain :)

[lincsyokel2]

thanks i guess i missed that :)
The lawn was laid last year and has only had a dressing in october i think there is about 2 black sacks of cuttings to be harvested so i am sure i can make good use of these :) I have a as yet unfilled potato planter and am going to fill that with anything i can't make use of for now :) But the pea bed is going in this weekend as the seeds are sown so everything has a chance to soak up this nice rain :)

i have a 500 gallon metal tank in one of the outbuildings, if i could invent a way to sink it in the ground as underground water storage on the allotment , without digging a collosal hole ,i would.....

[goodlife]

If grass clippings are not used in large quantities at the time in one place..it doesn't go slimy at all..but dry out nicely.
I love grass clippings..I've got little 'lawn' areas in lotty for just so I can get clippings..and I use them all over the place.
They might not do anything as a 'mulch' if used thin layer at the time on soil..but will add some goodness to it when worms have dealt with them. Good stuff to use on top of something coarser like straw..;)

Potatoes and grass clippings go well together..like hand in hand..

[grannyjanny]

Ah, potatoes & grass clippings hand in hand, how romantic ;D.

[compostbin]

have never before used grass cuttings,...for anything,...have a half-plot allotment,....with about 7 raised-beds on,.....just took several more,......on my motorbility schooter,.....but i think ,..i may build one,........just dedicated,....just to grow grass,.......to then use as mulch,..ect,......any one else think it be a good idea?,.......a big part,....of the M.S,.....i have,.....causes coqnitive imparement problems,.........so i often find,.....that if something appeals,...as a good idea,......might not be,......any suggestions,......from normal working minds,.......would be very much appreciated :-\

[Chrispy]

Not a bad idea, But I would go for a grass/clover mix or somthing like that, I might research it later.

[Chrispy]

I would sow something like this in any spare beds
https://www.cotswoldseeds.com/product/fertility-builder-one-two-year-mixture
The main purpose of this is to improve the soil, so after a year or 2 you dig it in and move to a new bed.

You have to cut it regularly which you can use as a mulch.
I have not actualy grown this myself, so it would be helpfull if somebody actualy has.

I do grow a mix of rye (not rye grass) and vetch over winter, that makes a good mulch, even better that grass.

I am ignoring the bits in you post 'motorbility schooter' and 'M.S.' I am assuming you have somebody helping you.

[Dandytown]

Try 'Mole Seeds', they specialise in green manures and are very well priced

[Susiebelle]

According to Bob Flowerdew strawberries do not like being mulched with grass, think he said something about like the opposite to companion planting, some things just don't go together - like a lamb to water think that should be 'slaughter' I follow his advice so don't know what happens if it is used- Just a thought!

[goodlife]

The 'trouble' with grass clippings and strawberries is down to the nitrogen..strawberries don't need it and once clippings start decompose they release lot of nitrogen that again causes lush green growth in expense of fruit.

So if you want lush and green big strawberry plants..grass clippings it is.. ;) For good amount of fruit..straw is better..low with nutrients.

[pumkinlover]

Compostbin -if you are considering growing grass just for clippings I am sure that it would be far easier to ask friends and neighbours to give you some. With the problems you are describing it seems a lot of work, most people just use grass clippings because they have them from the lawn. I use them to earth up the potatoes as a mulch to keep moisture in and had great crops in last years dry summer.
If you have a spare plot to leave fallow I would suggest that you grow a green manure, but be careful. If left too long they can be hard work, when preety flowers like on phacelia appear I was tempted to leave them. took anothr 10 years to get it off that area!!!

[small]

I don't want to be the Jonah here, but my experiences of using grass mowings has not been as positive. We mow about half an acre so generate an awful lot if we collect clippings. One year I tried to layer them in with my compost heap, but since there was no animal matter that was horribly unsuccessful - slime city! We tried stacking them separately, and I earthed up my potatoes with the resulting dry-ish mass - probably my worst potato yield ever. You won't be daft enough to do either of these things, of course....
Now, we don't bother collecting the grass, so it all walks into the house instead...there's a lot to be said for concrete...