grass clipping "recycling"

[suhayb]

Some people have asked me to look after their lawns this year- bit of extra cash i hope, but loads of clippings!

Will add some to the compost heap as i did last year, but i also wanted to try the 'The Recycling Method' as described in the 'lawn expert' book.-
9" of clippings,
followed by 2 handfuls of carbohydrate-rich material (sawdust or newspaper),
followed by 1" layer of soil
and so on to the top.

Has anyone actually tried this? did it work??
I don't want to be left with a huge pile of shi... er er... sludge ::)

p.s. my romanesco broccoli just headed last week- or rather pin-headed, i got it transplanted well late!!

[suhayb]

[derbex]

Haven't tried it, I do use clippings as a mulch, directly onto spuds and elsewhere on top of newspapers.

[Learner Gardener]

Did try this with slight alteration.  used equal parts shredded news paper and grass clippings mixed in with a handful of compost activator every 12 inches. The grass did compost down put I think I need to lessen the newspaper amount as this did not all compost down, I am trying the addition of soil this year so can't give you a definite result.

Your ingredients certainly sound about right (may be a little bit more shredded news paper) Hey, but they're the experts I'm only a Learner gardener ;D

[Roy Bham UK]

I noticed you both use "news paper" is there something special about shredded news paper as apposed to shredded paper ???  as I seem to accumilate loads of shredded paper ???

[suhayb]

3 very useful answers, thanks

The amount of ink and chemicals in news paper puts me off a bit, and me boook does just say shreaded paper. so i don't see why not. Also says you can use oatmeal or course bran?!?

dear derbex, wow me with your answer as to why do you put newspaper under the clippings (when mulching)?

[oubykh]

would it be to stop the newspaper blowing away???? :-\

[Carrot Cruncher]

IF YOUR GOING TO END UP WITH TONES OF CLIPINGS WHY NOT DIG A BEAN TRENCH FOR NEXT YEAR AND PUT THE CLIPPINGS IN IT THATS IF YOU HAVE A SPARE BIT OF LAND

[philcooper]

Suhayb,

The layers are not a good idea, the 9" of grass cuttings will tend to produce a impermeable sludgy layer.

Mix the clippings with shredded/torn up paper or newspaper (the inks are not dangerous now) - but not the glossy coloured ones, cardboard (old egg boxes) old hay. Oatmeal and bran cost money and should be used as a slug trap if you want to spend money on them.

Don't waste money on accelerator - grass is an excellent activator - if you don't trust it, just pee on the heap or add some nettles. There's no need for soil on top if the heap is made on soil but some cover all round will keep out excess water and retain the heat which will speed things up



Phil

[aquilegia]

And do ask if people have used chemical weedkillers on their lawns - you don't want them ending up in the food chain.

[philcooper]

Aqui,

You're absolutely right - if chemicals have been used on the lawn then the urban green waste bin is the only place for the clippings

Phil

[derbex]

That's it, stops the paper blowing away, and the paper suppresses the weeds, and keeps moisture in (it helps to wet the paper first. It all gets taken into the soil eventually slowly increasing the organic matter over time.

Jeremy