Useing lawn cuttings for mulch

jamesholt · May 2022

What if you want to use lawn cuttings for mulch? Might have weed seeds?

Sendmesun · May 2022

I woulnt use them uncomposted on borders due to the weed issue but the Parks department do leave them on the grass for a few weeks now and then presumably to feed the grass.

Blue Onion · May 2022

I use them as mulch direct on my raised veg beds, several inches thick, with great success. I put down either cardboard or newspaper/brown bags first, then cover with fresh bagged grass clippings. Some times I pile it up for a few days or the week until I need them. Come fall I cover the entire beds with grass clippings. and mown leaves mixed. It really helps build up the quality of my soil. I do not have issues with weed seeds, aside from a few dandelions that just as likely blew in from my lawn directly. I have a lot of trouble with bind weed and couch grass, but that's 70% of my lawn and just comes up into the beds from the surrounding area rather than through the mulch. Being in an arid climate (Utah) I have no issues with slugs or snails hiding under it.

Obelixx · May 2022

Quite frankly our own garden compost is riddled with weed seeds despite being well rotted down and the bagged composts I buy for seed sowing/cuttings/potted on even have germinated seeds in them this year now that I've found new peat free varieties available.

OH tends to put fresh grass clippings on the compost heaps so they can be mixed with more carbon rich brown materials but the longer stuff he has to strim goes straight onto veg beds or the dahlia bed where it provides a moisture retentive mulch as well as protection from winter frosts for the crowns of my dahlias left in the ground.

It all adds to soil fertility and weed suppression - except for persistent nettles and bindweed. In a couple of weeks I'll be planting my courgettes, pumpkins and squashes thru it.

Useing lawn cuttings for mulch

Posts